Independent Study
Designing an Independent Study
Independent study provides students with the opportunity to work one-on-one with a professor on a particular topic or creative project. Often the idea for an independent study arises in a course; for example, in a seminar on early 20th-century American history, a student may develop an interest in the Harlem Renaissance and ask the professor to supervise an independent study focused exclusively on this topic during the next semester. Students may also develop creative projects in areas such as music composition, filmmaking, or fiction writing. Independent studies are graded courses, the details of which are formulated by the student and his or her instructor; these specifics should be described in the proposal form
Students may work independently with their adviser, another NYU faculty member, or in some cases, and with special approval, a professor or professional outside of the University. If a student plans to work with a professor or professional outside of the University, the student must submit the instructor's curriculum vitae or resume with the independent study proposal. In most cases, the student is already acquainted with the instructor who will be supervising the project. If the student has not studied with the instructor prior to the independent study, the student should ascertain the professor's availability and appropriateness before the study begins. If the student is having difficulty finding an instructor in a particular field, the Gallatin Office of Advising may be able to help with a referral.
Designing an independent study is an important part of the project, and together the student and professor should discuss the aims and content of the study. The independent study proposal should include the study's title, theme, readings, and work to be submitted. While plans for the independent study may be tentative at the time the proposal form is submitted, students should fill out the whole form and not leave parts blank or “to be decided on later.” The Gallatin Office of Student Services will not accept incomplete forms from students. Projects often change but it is important to put the plan in writing at the beginning of the semester so that the student and professor have a clear understanding of the work involved.
Generally, the work for an independent study should be comparable to a Gallatin classroom course, but it is up to the student and instructor to determine the specific format of the work to be evaluated by the instructor. They may choose several short papers, or a longer paper written in sections as the work progresses. For some studies, other kinds of work may be appropriate, e.g., video productions, paintings, music compositions, etc. The work for the study should be submitted according to the schedule of due dates agreed upon at the outset, and as with a classroom course, late work may be penalized.
The Role of the Instructor
The instructor should meet regularly with the student to discuss readings and provide feedback on writing assignments or other projects (please see the section below for more details). The instructor will also be asked to notify the Gallatin Office of Advising by the middle of the term if he or she has any concerns about the student's progress and performance. At the end of the term, an anecdotal grade report is sent to the instructor requesting a brief description and final evaluation of the student’s work to accompany the assignment of a letter grade.
Meeting Hours
While the days and times of the student's meetings with the instructor are “to be arranged,” instructors and students meet for a minimum number of hours per semester: for a 4-credit Independent Study, the minimum number of contact hours is seven (7). In arranging contact hours, instructors and students may choose to meet every week for one-half hour, every other week for one hour, or less frequently, if appropriate, as long as they meet for a minimum of seven hours over the course of the semester. Contact hours for an Independent Study which is less (or more) than 4 credits should be prorated accordingly (e.g., a 2-credit independent study should meet for a minimum of 3.5 hours). As in any other course, the student should come prepared for these meetings by completing readings and written work on time
Registration Procedures
Approval Process
Enrollment in an independent study requires the approval of the Gallatin School. Students should bring the completed proposal form to Gallatin's Office of Student Services where it will be reviewed by the Dean's Office. Upon approval, the Office of Student Services will give the student the 4-digit access code required for registration. The student may then register for the independent study on Albert, or in person if Albert is not available. Please note: the student is responsible for the registration process.
Deadline for Submitting the Proposal
Students must adhere to the following deadlines for submitting an independent study proposal to Gallatin:
Fall and Spring semesters: the last day of the second week of classes
Summer Sessions: the first day of classes of the session
Students should be aware that faculty may supervise a maximum of five (5) independent studies per semester. With that in mind, students should pay close attention to submission and registration deadlines to avoid losing the opportunity to study with a particular instructor.
For further information about independent study, please contact Kathe Ann Joseph: (212) 992-9822 or e-mail: katheann.joseph@nyu.edu