Independent Study
We also give you lots of opportunities to design your own learning experiences around whatever interests you. Mark Fairweather, a pre-med chemistry major, designed a program that took him to Scotland to study the country's public health system. You don't have to go it solo. For example, eight students created a learning experience studying the full-length play as an art form. It ultimately took them to the Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Ky. As a senior, you'll design and carry out an independent project in your major that could have you presenting your research at regional and national conferences.
Individualized study programs under the guidance of a faculty member are available in the form of both directed studies and independent studies. Both programs will require you to take initiative and work independently. In order to have adequate time to plan and prepare for the course, you should meet with the supervising instructor well before the term begins.
General Guidelines
- The supervising instructor has a primary responsibility to guide you to projects that are feasible in terms of time and personnel, as well as library and laboratory resources.
- The department should prepare for each of these programs a syllabus or outline that is consistent with institutional guidelines and standards and which specifically delineates departmental expectations for directed and independent studies.
- All individual study projects are formal courses that require permission from the supervising instructor prior to registration. The instructor's availability and willingness to supervise a project is affirmed when his or her signature is placed on the registration form.
Independent Studies
- Independent studies projects require you to conduct a serious scholarly project under the supervision of a faculty member and are designed to introduce you to the practice of the discipline. As such, they are often required by departments as the culminating experience in their major program. Independent studies projects carry one full unit of credit.
- An independent study application card must be filed with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs/Registrar by the last day of the drop/add period in the term in which the directed study is to be undertaken. A specific topic and outline must be filed with the supervising instructor by May 15, Dec. 1, or March 15 for enrollment in the Fall, Winter, or Spring terms, respectively.
- You must file a copy of the completed independent study with the Duggan Library before you can receive a diploma.
Directed Studies
- Directed study courses, carried out under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member, are available to selected students who have an adequate background in the discipline and who have demonstrated an ability to work independently and on their own initiative. Directed studies may carry one-half or one full unit of credit, with a work load comparable to that of similar courses in the department.
- Consultating with a faculty member who has agreed to supervise the project, you must develop a detailed course proposal. The proposal should set forth the goals of the study, the materials to be covered, the work expected of you and the criteria for evaluation. A copy of the proposal, bearing the signed approval of the supervising instructor and of the departmental chair, must be filed with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs/Registrar no later than the last day of the drop/add period in the term in which the directed study is to be undertaken.
- Directed study courses are to be carried out at the College during the regular academic year and may not duplicate existing courses, which are a part of the regular curricular offerings of the College. You may take no more than one directed study course per term and no more than three directed study courses during the enrollment at Hanover. Any exceptions to these policies must be approved in advance by the Student Academic Assistance Committee.
