Independent Study

Are you a Community Health Sciences Major Considering an Independent Study Project/Directed Readings (CHSC 3P30, 4P30)?

Independent Study Project and Directed Readings are opportunities for students to explore a topic of study that falls outside the usual curricular offering. The concept of Independent Study Project/Directed Readings is flexible. The Independent Study Project/Directed Readings should be considered as a truly open learning experience, where the student chooses the area of interest and the Faculty member ensures that the work output is at the level of an undergraduate student.

• The role of the student is to select the topic and negotiate with the professor the tasks to be completed.
• The role of the professor is to facilitate the self-exploration by the student, and to represent the University in the evaluation process of the work completed.

Typically, the student is required to submit three pieces of work (yet this could vary between Faculty mentors), again, form of the work is negotiated with the professor. The faculty member and the student contract the value, volume, and timelines for the work to be completed. The evaluative process then becomes one of collaboration, while the "learning" is primarily the responsibility of the student.

Using a contract system (Project Proposal Outline) approved by the Faculty mentor and the Chair, ensures that the Independent Study Project/Directed Readings cannot become an interminable project that takes longer than the normal career to complete. In some cases, it is recommend that the student begin the "project work" prior to enrolling "officially." This has been most successful since many of the individuals seeking the Independent Study Project/Directed Readings cannot attend class at the regular scheduled times because of external commitments (family, work, etc.). In this way the student begins the commitment to the Independent Study Project/Directed Readings but is not under the administrative pressure to complete the projected workload within a constrained time period. In any case, the role of the Faculty mentor is minimal relative to input, but the student's self-directed learning is what ensures success.

1. The student is required to complete nine undergraduate credits with a minimum 75% major average before proceeding with an Independent Study Project/Directed Readings course.
2. In order to proceed with an Independent Study Project/Directed Readings, the student must complete an agreement (Project Proposal Form) between the Faculty mentor and the student. The agreement must be approved by the Chair of Community Health Sciences.
3. When the mentor is not a faculty member in Community Health Sciences, a Biography/Resume/ Curriculum Vita is required and must be approved by the Chair of Community Health Sciences.
    

How do I apply?

• The first step is for the student to decide what they would like to study, and to then find a Faculty member that will suit their needs. Faculty are under no obligation to take on directed reading students, this is a privilege, not a right.
• They then must discuss the project with that Faculty member and come to an agreement as to what will be required.
• The student and advisor must then fill out a Project Proposal form, which is available from the CHSC Undergraduate Program Coordinator/Advisor (AS 322), and submit the completed form to the Departmental Administrative Assistant (AS 329).
• Upon approval from the Department Chair, the student may then register for the course. Students may take CHSC 3P30 or 4P30 in any term they wish (subject to Faculty availability).

Directed Readings Information Memo

If you have further questions please contact the CHSC Undergraduate Program Coordinator/Advisor: Jackie Bean.

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