Independent Study in CASL

An Independent Study is an individually designed course that requires some up-front work on the part of a student and a faculty member.  Together they develop a learning plan and objectives; this development effort takes place prior to the beginning of the term, so that the projected work can begin as the term begins.

Only students with Junior, Senior or Graduate standing may sign up for an Independent Study course.

The number of credit hours associated with each independent study course and the number of times such a course may be repeated varies from course to course.  Check the Academic Catalog for details.  

Please note that the maximum number of credit hours toward graduation that a student may count through Independent Study work, Independent Research, Internship Assignments and Cooperative Education courses is eighteen.

Summer Independent Studies must be conducted over the full summer semester (May-August).

Independent Study supervision is restricted to full time faculty (tenured, tenure-track, and LEO Ills and IVs).

Once an agreement has been worked out with the instructor, it is the student's responsibility to initiate the Independent Study Contract form.  This is a PDF form (see link at bottom of page) and requires the use of Adobe Reader.  Adobe Reader can be downloaded free.

The student completes the student section of the form and emails it to his faculty collaborator.  The faculty member will upload the contract details, sign the form, and relay it to his department chair. 

In order to qualify for credit, all independent study contracts must be submitted to the Dean's Office no later than the end of the drop/add period.  This assures there is ample time for the department to review, approve, and forward the submitted contract to the Dean's Office.

Once the form has the requisite signatures, the student will be contacted by CASL Advising & Academic Success office with the approval to register.