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Independent Study
The independent study offers 3 hours of credit toward the master's degree. In it, a student may pursue work begun in a regular course, or the student may pursue a topic not available in regular courses. The independent study culminates in a substantial essay, on the content of the academic article or extensive literature review with critical analysis of the work reviewed. The estimated length is 25 pages. The independent study requires a faculty director and one additional reader from the graduate faculty.
Students may invite a graduate faculty member to direct the independent study and will discuss possible methods and directions with this director. Considering the advice of the director and the student, the Director of Graduate Studies will locate and appoint the second reader. Work on the independent study can be spaced throughout the student's remaining time in the program, but the student should register for the independent study hours during the term in which the readers will approve it. For most students, this will be spring semester.
Policies, Procedures and Capstone Projects
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Before registering for thesis or independent study hours, the student must complete a prospectus and have it approved by his or her project director and reader(s) and by the Director of Graduate Studies. The prospectus defines a problem for investigation and a research question. It also includes a bibliography. The prospectus must be complete and approved no later than the semester before the semester of graduation. Thesis students are advised to prepare the prospectus in the second semester of their first year of graduate study.
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The student should work out a schedule with the director and reader(s) at the outset of the research. Adequate time should be allowed for the committee to recommend changes in the project before the Graduate School deadlines for graduation.
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Mandatory meetings of the student with the whole committee include the following:
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Prospectus review and discussion. On the basis of the prospectus, the group will meet to discuss possibilities for development and to establish milestones and a schedule for reaching them. For independent studies, this meeting will take place in the fall semester before spring graduation.