3.1.2.1 Independent Study Courses (RS-990)
Supplemental coursework may include up to 3 credits of Independent Study course(s) of variable credit (1-3 credits). Credits will be determined based on University standards: 1 credit = 1 hr/wk (15 hours per term) personal contact time, with an additional 2 hours/wk (30 hours per term) out of class time; 2 credits = 2 hrs/wk (30 hours per term) personal contact time, with an additional 4 hours/wk (60 hrs/term) out of class time; 3 credits = 3 hrs/wk (45 hours per term) personal contact time, with an additional 6 hrs/wk (90 hrs per term) out of class time. Courses can be taken either for a letter grade or Pass/Fail. Independent Study courses are approved work with a faculty member (typically not the student’s Research Mentor) on a project outside of a regularly scheduled course or program of research. If you plan to complete an Independent Study as part of your approved supplemental coursework, you must first submit an Independent Study Agreement Form for Director/Associate Director approval. This Form includes the University faculty member/researcher who will supervise, the title, rationale, description, objectives, plan of approach, resource materials required, evaluation methods, instructor overseeing the work, and number of credits of the Independent Study. Once approved, the University Registrar will register the student for a section of RS-990. Note: the supervising faculty for an Independent Study must be a faculty member within the University’s PhD program. Students may work with a secondary research mentor or faculty member outside of the University for an Independent Study, but the supervision and grading of the Independent Study will be completed by the Associate Director or another University faculty person. When completing the Independent Study Agreement Form, please list a University PhD Faculty member (the University faculty member overseeing your independent study or the Associate Director) under ‘Faculty Name’. This person will be responsible for entering a grade at the end of the term. A course taken at an outside institution is NOT considered an Independent Study (see section on Transfer Courses) unless designed and overseen by a University PhD-RS Program faculty member.