Independent Study & Individual Research Courses

Independent Studies/Research Courses are voluntary agreements between individual faculty members and students, where students complete a course of study and assignment. For a three-point independent study, the course of study typically includes a reading list comparable to that required for a regular three-point course (approximately 150 pages per week) and a research paper of at least 20 pages. Independent study courses can also be taken for 1.5 points, in which case the reading and research paper are usually half the length of those for a three-point course. Because independent studies (particularly those worth 3 points) are intensive activities, faculty members regard them as a significant commitment. Faculty members are not obligated to supervise independent studies; they typically do so with students who have previously completed a class or other educational/research activity under their supervision.

If a SIPA faculty member agrees to supervise an independent study, the student should ask the faculty member to sign an “Application for Individual Research Course” and then submit the signed application to the Office of Student Affairs no later than the change of program deadline. Full-time faculty members who are appointed in other schools but not at SIPA are also eligible to supervise independent studies with SIPA students; these faculty members follow the policies and procedures established by their respective schools, not SIPA.

SIPA students typically ask full-time SIPA faculty members or other full-time faculty from whom they have taken a class to serve as their independent study supervisors. Adjunct faculty are generally not permitted to supervise independent studies due to University Provost rules and guidance on teaching limitations. If a student needs more information, they should contact the SIPA Office of Student Affairs.

Application for Individual Research Course