What is Independent Study?
The Independent Study provides opportunities for students to create their own course and explore academic topics that are not covered in the established curriculum.
An Independent Study is a for-credit course carried out under the supervision and mentorship of a faculty member. The Independent Study takes place outside of the student’s scheduled class hours and outside of the supervising faculty’s scheduled teaching load.
So it can’t be an existing Pratt course?
That’s right. Independent Study can’t be an existing Pratt course. The Independent Study is all about providing students (undergraduate and graduate) with an opportunity to create their own class and their own project for research and study. For example, a student might take a class with a faculty member whose research/work they are interested in, say a general course on theatre. After the class, the student realizes/decides that they would like to delve deeply into the work of one playwright—but a course with that specificity is not offered at Pratt. An Independent Study could be to propose a course going in depth into the works of that playwright, with the supervision and mentorship of the faculty member who inspired this line of inquiry and work. Or, for graduate students, the Independent Study could constitute deep dives into particular topics that, again, are not offered as for-credit courses, and that relate to their research. Independent Study can be integrated in ways that can truly advance students’ interests, knowledge, competencies, and agency.
Who can do an Independent Study?
Students should be matriculating juniors, seniors, and graduate students and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be eligible.
What are the credit requirements?
A student may take up to 6 credits of Independent Study towards their undergraduate or graduate degree, and may not take more than one Independent Study course during any one semester.
Are there other requirements I should know about?
The Independent Study must be taken for credit. The number of credits allotted for the Independent Study must be determined in consultation with the supervising faculty member and chair of the department hosting the Independent Study. The approved number of credits cannot be changed after the student has registered for the course. Three total hours of work per credit per week are expected on the part of the student over a 15 week semester. For example, a student should plan to spend around 135 hours total dedicated to their three-credit Independent Study over the semester.
What is the proposal process for the Independent Study?
First, a faculty member must agree to guide and supervise the Independent Study. The overall Independent Study proposal must be submitted in one pdf and include:
- The Independent Study form, with all required information and signatures.
In addition to all the information, the Independent Study form must be signed by the student, the student’s academic advisor, and the faculty supervisor, along with the chairperson of the department hosting the Independent Study (and the chairperson of the student’s own department, if different), and the dean of the student’s school. - A narrative document which includes the following:
- A narrative description of the project
- Purpose and methodology of the Independent Study
- Relationship of the Independent Study to the student’s established curriculum
- Timeline of the student’s projected work and the description of the types of works/deliverables to be produced, along with an outline and schedule of meetings with the faculty supervisor,
- Bibliography and other relevant resources if applicable
In addition, a list of three learning outcomes for the Independent Study and methods of assessment for the course should be clearly delineated in the narrative document. These outcomes and methods for assessment should be agreed upon by the student and the faculty advisor.
Can I sit in on a class and count that as an Independent Study?
No. Attending a class “as an independent study” or “in lieu of an independent study” by definition doesn’t constitute an Independent Study.
What about providing the syllabus of an existing class in lieu of generating my own timeline and narrative? Can I just use an existing syllabus to propose the Independent Study?
Providing the syllabus of an existing class in lieu of student-generated descriptions of the project and research threads, along with your timeline and other requirements doesn’t work, by definition. The Independent Study provides the opportunity to create your own course, so by definition you shouldn’t use an existing syllabus. That said, you could use existing syllabi as tools or inspiration to construct your own course.
Can multiple students do the same Independent Study at the same time with the same faculty member?
An Independent Study is by definition an individual and independently created course by one student. A faculty member may supervise multiple approved independent studies at the same time, but the independent studies independent study should not be the same.
What if I sign up for a course that’s cancelled because of low enrollment. Can everyone then just do it instead as an Independent Study?
No. Independent Study provides an opportunity for students to create their own course. A course that is cancelled due to low enrollment can’t then be regenerated ‘as an independent study’.
Can various students work on different aspects of a faculty member’s research project or a group project or a research agenda through Independent Study?
Preferably not. The Independent Study should be generated by the student and address their interests. It is occasionally possible that a student’s interest in creating a course and designing a learning experience for themselves coincides with, or is inspired by, a faculty member’s research/creative work, or a given research group’s agenda. In that case, both student and faculty/research group must make sure that the Independent Study remain a learning experience designed by the student and for the student, while it simultaneously contributes to the research/work of the faculty or research group.
What is the deadline for an Independent Study proposal?
The deadline for all Independent Study proposals is: one week before the last day of the add/drop period in a given semester. This deadline allows students to sign up for an existing course in the curriculum if they need the credits and the Independent Study is not approved—or not approved in time.
When does the Independent Study get registered as a course?
The completed Independent Study proposal, which must include the completed form with all requisite signatures and the narrative document with all requisite information, must be submitted in one pdf to Associate Provost Amir Parsa in the Office of the Provost for review and final approval. If material is missing or is not sufficiently complete, students proposing the Independent Study will have to revise/edit their proposal. Students will be able to register for their Independent Study only if the proposal is approved by the Office of the Provost.
Once the Independent Study is approved, the Office of the Provost will email the Registrar’s
Office. A representative from the Registrar’s Office will register the student for a section of the applicable Independent Study and confirm with the student.
Still have questions?
Please read the Independent Study guidelines and examine the form closely. For more information, contact Amir Parsa at aparsa@pratt.edu and/or Renae Calderon Ramirez at rcalde98@pratt.edu.