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W-COURSES AND INDEPENDENT STUDY

In the best of all possible worlds, the interests of students as developing writers and scholars would best be served if independent studies were not used to meet W-course requirements for the following reasons:

  • Independent study courses often require written work. However, they are not designed to provide the same level of support of writing skill development as regular W-courses.  Logically they are meant to serve well-prepared students, who are capable and mature enough to carry out extended work on their own with consultation with a professor. 

  • It would be most advantageous to students if independent studies were not undertaken until they had completed the W-course requirement. That would enable students to enter independent studies with stronger writing skills, ready to focus on the critical aspects of research and analysis at an advanced level.

  • Fairness to faculty suggests they should not be burdened with the task of developing independent study proposals with students who have to meet the extra guidelines for W-courses, especially at the last minute. Faculty should not be in the awkward position of trying to meet students' needs for W-courses and offering independent study as a convenience to the students, rather than as a legitimate learning opportunity.  

That being said, some students may want to take an independent study and need a W-course opportunity, and some faculty members may want to offer an opportunity to do independent study for W-credit to students in their departments. 

Therefore the following policy shall govern approving Independent Study Proposals for W-course credit:

  • A student may take one independent study as a W-course if the student has already taken at least one W-course at Southern. (Preferably the student would have taken two W-courses prior to an independent study as a W-Course.)


Oversight of this policy shall be the responsibility of the dean.

 

Independent Study as a W-course Agreement Form