Independent Study Projects

Winter Term Independent Study Projects offers a unique opportunity to explore an area of special interest. Many students find the Independent Study Project as a good opportunity to explore a senior thesis topic, or future graduate school study. These month-long projects should offer significant learning experiences, and should neither duplicate on-campus courses nor repeat previous projects or summer job experiences. Students work closely with a supervising faculty member who serves as the principal point of contact and evaluates the finished product.  Students are expected to be occupied approximately 35-40 hours per week and check in frequently with their faculty supervisor during Winter Term. The CIEE is available to help you develop ideas for an Independent Study Project.  Students are required to schedule an advising session with a Winter Term representative before the October deadline.

Identifying a topic you would like to study during Winter Term and then set up an appointment to meet with a Winter Term representative. After meeting with a Winter Term advisor, formulate the basic outline of the project and find a member of the faculty who is willing to work with you to fully develop your project. Next, continue working with your faculty supervisor to develop a fully worked-out, detailed project proposal/learning contract, spelling out the learning goals, methodology, final product, etc. The deadline for submitting this information to the Winter Term office is Friday, October 30, 2009. This deadline is strictly enforced: if the application is not submitted by the deadline, the project will not be approved for credit.

The second step is to work closely with the faculty supervisor to develop a fully worked-out, detailed learning contract, spelling out the learning goals, methodology, final product, etc. The deadline for submission of this document (as well as a completed Liability Release and Medical Authorization for off-campus projects and immunization checklist for international destinations) is Friday, December 4, 2009 .

Completed projects can be submitted to your faculty supervisor for review. Faculty supervisors assess and grant credit for all Winter Term Independent Study Projects.

During Winter Term 2009, 155 students participated in independent study projects, with approximately two-thrids of all project types taking place off-campus sites, and one-third on-campus.