
Rev. 8/19
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Directed Independent Study
Policies and Guidelines
I. INTRODUCTION
An inde
pendent study course provides an opportunity for students who wish to undertake a well-defined research
project. Independent Study courses are restricted to students of proven ability who have sufficient background in the
subject to be able to work with intermittent faculty guidance. While students do perform their work under the
guidance of a faculty member of their own choosing, they conduct the project in an independent manner without
attending regular class meetings. Independent study is characterized by a reduction in formal instruction and an
increase in the individual student’s responsibility and initiative in the learning process. Approval of an independent
study course by the faculty sponsor, the department chairperson, and the academic school dean attests to the
academic value of the study and to the advisor’s professional evaluation that the student has the ability to master a
body of knowledge with minimal faculty guidance.
II. POL
ICIES
1. The independent study option is available only to students accepted to a planned program of study by the School
of Graduate and Professional Studies.
2. Students and faculty sponsors are jointly responsible for defining projects and for justifying them as independent
study projects.
3. The graduate thesis may not be written in connection with an independent study course (3 credits).
4. A student may not apply more than one directed independent study course (3 credits) to a planned program.
5. An approved Application for Independent Study with all required signatures must be received by the Registrar’s
Office before work begins on the independent study.
6. The student’s final report on the independent study project becomes part of the official files of the department in
which the independent study has been accomplished.
III. GUIDELINES
1. The student requests faculty sponsorship through the department chairperson or graduate program coordinator.
Faculty are free to accept or reject student independent study proposals.
2. Student obtains the Application for Independent Study form from
the School of Graduate and Professional
Studies (SGPS) website.
3. Student and faculty sponsor jointly prepare documentation for form. (It will be necessary to attach a separate
page or pages to describe the study.)
4. After required approval signatures have been obtained, the application is submitted to the Registrar’s Office by
the Office of the School Dean.
5. The student and the faculty sponsor meet periodically throughout the semester as necessary to help assure proper
and timely progress of study.
6. By the end of the semester, the student submits a complete final report to the faculty sponsor.
7. The faculty sponsor submits a letter grade to the Registrar’s Office.
IV. OTHER
Departments, programs, and Academic School Deans may develop additional guidelines that must be followed by
all students taking an independent study through that department. Certain additional eligibility requirements may
also b
e established.