I.  General Statement

The independent study is intended to provide the student with a specific knowledge and/or competency compatible with his or her career plans and professional development goals and which is available through no other University offerings or mechanisms.  It is to be as academically rigorous and demanding as a regularly enrolled course.

II.  Requirements

A. A formal proposal that includes the following:

1. Statement of purpose, goals, and objectives;
2. Bibliography extensive enough to indicate prior investigation of the proposed topic or area of study;
3. Schedule of topics, activities, and meeting times with instructor;
4. Description of outcome or product (e.g., paper of rigorous quality, handbook or manual, multimedia production, substantive web project, programming project)

B. Approval of the proposal by the instructor prior to registration

C. Credit

1. For one semester hour of credit, the effort should represent 45-50 hours of work during the term;
2. For two semester hours of credit, the effort should represent 90-100 hours of work during the term;
3. For three semester hours of credit, the effort should represent 135-150 hours of work during the term.

Approved 12/11/98