Managing an Independent Study Course

Undergraduate Guidelines

Fully admitted students with a 3.0 GPA may wish to pursue individual academic interests through independent study. This study might be an in-depth research project or creative work.

Independent study is the most advanced course a student can take and is comparable in its demands to a 300 level course. Students assume primary responsibility for completing an application form, which includes a statement of the goals, a reading list, assignments, activities, and a schedule.

This application form is designed to prompt a discussion between the student and faculty member of the expectations for the project. A faculty signature is required, indicating a willingness to supervise the project. The form should be submitted to the Student Affairs Committee for approval.

The student also has responsibility for asking an appropriate member of the SCS faculty to sponsor the independent study. If a faculty member agrees to sponsor an independent study, s/he is expected to meet with the student several times over the course of the semester, provide guidance for the student's independent work, evaluate the student's work, and assign a grade. It is not expected that the student will meet with the faculty sponsor each week.

Please see the application for Independent Study (PDF Format).

Graduate Guidelines

If you agree to supervise an independent study project, you and the student should fill out and sign the special registration form. Please make sure your student includes a short description of the work that will be covered. The student should submit an informal proposal to you that includes a timeline, along with a description of how he or she plans to address the research questions they have developed, i.e., what kind of source material or data they'll be collecting. If you are not available to sign the form, please send the student an email agreement in lieu of signing the form.

At the end of the quarter, you will have to submit a grade online just as for an on-campus course, so you will need a Northwestern NetID and email address. The program coordinator can help submit your 499 or 590 grade for a student if you are unable, but you must email your academic coordinator before grades are due.