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Independent Study

Show Your Independence

In addition to your regular courses, you have the opportunity to participate in Independent Study.

Independent Study may be taken for credit inside or outside of the student’s major subject or in an interdisciplinary mode. Some major programs require an Independent Study component. A maximum of five Independent Study courses may count for degree credit. Combined Degrees students may count only three. Independent Study numbers 2990, 3990 and 4990 indicate the level of advancement.

Independent Study may be elected as early as the second semester or as late as the last, depending upon the capability of the student for undertaking academic work with a minimum of guidance. Independent Study may take a variety of forms including library research, laboratory research projects or field study. Each Department provides detailed information on its available resources for support of Independent Study.

Admission to Independent Study is achieved through consent of the instructor, who agrees to guide the Study, and by approval of the Department and the Dean. Enrolment may be for a regular semester or during a Summer Session. Credit for Independent Study is at the discretion of the Department, upon recommendation of the instructor. Grades are due at the end of the term of registration, as for regular courses.

Since Independent Study is intended to expand a student’s program beyond the limits of the regular curriculum, it may not be used to duplicate course offerings.

Contact your home Department or Program Coordinator for more information on current Research or Independent Studies opportunities.