Most people are excited and fascinated about pursuing a course that aligns with their academic interests and goals. However, a place of education might not cover some of the educational goals in an existing class. In this case, you should consider an independent study course that enables you to pursue your academic interests.
In addition, most colleges and universities offer academicians independent courses on topics not yet covered in the existing curriculum.
So, what is an independent study, and how does it work? Read on to learn everything you need to know about independent study.
What Is Independent Study?
An independent study involves creating your own course on a topic of the academic interest of your choice and working under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
It is one of the pros of studying abroad which enables you to study a subject unavailable in your established school curriculum or explore a topic of your interest deeper. You develop your course, decide what you want to learn, and then work with a faculty member to earn academic credit.
Based on the amount of work you have been assigned, the number of readings, and the college’s policy, you can earn one to four credits for your independent study.
All colleges have a set maximum number of credits that an academician can earn through independent study. It is not something like an ACT score, you will gain a grade similar to how it is done in standard curriculum college classes.
Most universities and colleges allow both undergraduate and graduate students to undertake independent study. Undergraduates will typically require a particular number of credits under their belt before pursuing this type of study.
On the other hand, the independent study can be beneficial to graduate students because it enables them to take a deeper dive into a topic associated with their thesis, research, or even dissertation.
Why Should You Do It?
Independent study can be rewarding, particularly to students who enjoy working with an instructor and researching a creative project or another particular topic.
Although independent study needs strong self-motivation and study habits, it presents a unique learning opportunity that provides you a chance to demonstrate your authority and take-charge attitude to study a topic you find exciting and challenging. It might also enable you to explore more on a topic relevant to your thesis or dissertation.
Through independent study, you can create a class that is associated with your academic goals. You can also earn academic credits that count toward your minor or major.
In addition, most students pursuing independent study have the privilege of meeting with their faculty instructor less than once a week instead of attending classes several times a week. This uncompressed schedule enables them to use the extra time to read, write and explore deeper into the topic of research.
How Do You Plan Your Independent Study?
Independent study needs prior and earlier preparation, such as consulting with your faculty advisor to ensure the topic of your interest has not yet been covered in the existing curriculum.
Although schools have different policies, the typical steps you require to take when planning your independent study include;
Reach Out to the Instructor You Want to Work With
The first step should be connecting with an instructor early, either in-person or by email, to discuss your topic of interest.
Prepare a Study Plan or Proposal
A well-written proposal promotes the success of an independent study. The proposal should describe the need for study on the specific topic and its application in attaining your academic goals.
You should also develop a syllabus with the study objectives, assignments, assessment methods, due dates, and the number of earned credits. Finally, remember to come up with a schedule of one-on-one meetings with your faculty instructor.
Get the Proposal Approval
The final planning step is getting your written study plan approved by your faculty advisor and the faculty resident dean. When approved, you will be ready to begin your independent study.
What Are Your Responsibilities In Independent Study?
Independent study is conducted outside the regularly scheduled lessons. Therefore, before applying for the independent study course, ensure you have sufficient time to conduct more profound research. Your instructor expects you to work on several hours weekly based on the number of credits you will receive.
For example, to earn a three-credit course, you will need to undertake three hours of class and two coursework hours weekly for every credit. This means you will spend about nine hours every week on a 3-credit independent study course throughout the semester.
Similar to regular course classes, you are expected to submit all the assignments on time. The faculty instructor also expects you to stay organized, self-motivated, and self-directed when undertaking the independent study class.
The instructors usually decide on the number of times you should meet. Some might need weekly meetings, while others might require sessions once per month.
Therefore, you should weigh whether you will meet the expectations of your instructor before you start. It would help if you also remembered the need and significance of maintaining a healthy balance between life, work, and school.
What Are The Requirements to Undertake an Independent Study?
Schools have different requirements that you need to meet to be allowed to undertake an independent study. You should hence check out the specific guidelines and process of approval of your college. Some of the standard requirements for most colleges include;
- A certain number of credits or academic levels- most institutions need students to complete two years of college before starting an independent study. Other schools need a specific number of earned credits.
- Minor or major credit- usually, an independent study course applies to your minor or major.
- Minimum cumulative GPA- these requirements mostly range from 2 to 3.0.
- An instructor- you need to have a faculty advisor who is an expert in your field of study. Keep in mind that instructors are often busy with research and regular classes, so finding one to guide might take time.
- Proposal approval- you also require your independent study proposal to be approved by your faculty instructor, program director, or resident dean.
An Independent Study course is an excellent option for students who want to pursue topics not included in the regular curriculum.
However, institutions also limit the number of independent study courses a student might undertake. Talk with your instructor to guide you in determining whether the independent study is suitable for you or not.
