What is an Independent Study?
Independent Studies (IS) in PMA (PMA 3000) offer valuable learning opportunities for students to pursue an area of academic or creative exploration for credit when there is no similar course offered in that area. Independent Studies can be taken for PMA Department credit or College credit or both. All independent Study courses taught by PMA faculty are reviewed by the Department and the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Independent Studies are offered at the discretion of the faculty, and their availability cannot be assured. Similarly, student access to department resources for purposes of an Independent Study, including space, equipment, funding, and personnel, cannot be assumed.
What are the credit guidelines for an Independent Study course?
- An Independent Study is created to be the equivalent of a standard academic course and must meet for 15 weeks (or an equivalent time commitment).
- All Independent Studies must meet the following credit hour requirements:
- For each credit earned: faculty and student must meet in person for one hour per week; in addition, the student is required to complete independent course study of two hours per week.
- Specifically:
- a. One credit: One credit requires 1 hour per week of in person instruction plus 2 hours per week of outside of class independent study dedicated to the course.
- b. Two credits: Two credits require 2 hours per week of in person instruction plus 4 hours per week of outside of class independent study dedicated to the course.
- c. Three credits: Three credits require 3 hours per week of in person instruction plus 6 hours per week of outside of class independent study dedicated to the course.
- d. Four credits: Four credits require 4 hours per week of in person instruction plus 8 hours per week of outside of class independent study dedicated to the course.
- PMA Minor Credit: Independent Studies cannot be used to complete any of the PMA Minors.
- PMA Major Credit: With permission of the faculty and approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Independent Study credit can be used to satisfy the elective requirement for the PMA Major.
- Mentorship: If a student and faculty instructor wish to create a learning experience that doesn’t fulfill Independent Study credit-hour requirements, a non-credit teaching-learning mentorship can be created. Mentorships can be constructed to fit learning objectives without regard to credit hour requirements.
What is the process to create a PMA Independent Study?
- The first step for a student who would like to pursue an Independent Study in PMA is to secure the approval and supervision of a teacher on the faculty who would serve as course Instructor of Record.
- In collaboration with the faculty teacher, the student develops a course outline/rationale for the Independent Study.
- During the semester before completion of the IS, the student works with the faculty teacher to discuss supervision of the IS and refine the IS proposal.
- The online IS proposal form (PMA Independent Study proposal form) is completed, approved and signed by the faculty teacher, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Undergraduate Coordinator no later than the beginning of the Add period of the IS semester.
- If the proposal is approved, the student will then complete the Arts and Sciences IS enrollment form during the Add/Drop period.