Please read the information below carefully. Questions may be directed to Stuart Palmer.
Purpose: An Honors Independent Study is a means by which Honors students pursue credit-generating, advanced Honors study in their major. Students investigate a topic of personal interest within the discipline under the guidance of a faculty member. Culminating products reflect the norms of the discipline and are assigned letter grades by supervising faculty members.
Example: Students could further develop or research a related topic from work previously investigated through an Honors Contract. For example, an education major might design new lesson plans; a music major might prepare and perform an additional recital; and a history major might produce an extensive research paper. Innovation is encouraged and frequent collaboration with the supervising faculty member is expected.
Process: Through collaboration with their Faculty Supervisor, students complete the form that details the process and product to be developed over the semester, as well as expectations for the final assessment. Once the form is submitted, the information is confirmed by the Faculty Supervisor. The information will also be reviewed by a designated person within the Department/School in which the Honors Independent Study will be completed.
The designated person within the Department/School will provide the "class permission" allowing a student to register. Students are responsible for registering for the credit in a timely manner. For example, students completing an Honors Independent Study in Accounting will register for ACC 299 after receiving a "class permission" from the Department of Accounting. Students may choose to register for 1 - 6 hours of credit:
Reflection: At the end of the semester students are responsible for submitting a reflection on their Honors Independent Study experience to the Honors Program. Students will be sent an email with a link to the form during the last week of classes. This reflection is required in order to count the Honors Independent Study as an Honors Learning Experience to fulfill Honors Program participation requirements.
Faculty Supervisors are responsible for evaluating the student's performance and submitting a grade. Faculty Supervisors will also have the opportunity to provide comments about the student's performance.
Summer and Fall 2022: View, complete, and submit the Honors Independent Study Form to initiate the registration process.