SPHTM

Independent Study Guidelines

The independent study course is a rigorous academic experience equivalent to SPHTM courses of the same number of credits. Independent study courses provide the opportunity to individualize graduate study or explore a topic in greater depth than available in regular course.  Independent studies may not provide credit for paid work or activities outside your degree program.
 
The independent study course is flexible and may use a wide variety of format and activities including  in-depth readings and synthesis in a topic, critical literature review with synthesis or analysis of a problem, meta-analysis, data or policy analysis, field or laboratory research, interdisciplinary investigation or practice-based learning.  Whatever the format or activities, the independent study has defined objectives and student performance is assessed by the achievement of these objectives.   The product is a high quality written document.  Independent studies may not duplicate or be the same as a regular SPHTM course.   
 
Advanced planning is essential. An independent study course is carefully planned by the student in consultation with the advisor and faculty with expertise in the topic of study.  The independent study course must include a course description, three objectives, defined plan of study and product, and grading rubric for assessment.
 
An independent study may be done in conjunction with the Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) (formerly culminating experience) or Applied Practice Experience (APE).  Since both of the ILE and the APE are 0 credit requirements, the same project/activities may be used, but separate reports and assessments must be completed to fulfill the requirements of each.
 
Faculty Responsibilities and Oversight:  Full time faculty oversee all independent studies courses.  The student’s advisor is responsible for determining if a proposed independent study course fits within the program competencies and appropriate planning has taken place. 
 
Independent study courses are conducted under the supervision of a regular faculty who has expertise in the area with approval of the faculty advisor.  The student and faculty instructor design the independent study for in-depth study of a topic directly related to the master’s or doctoral degree program.  The faculty instructor and student outline an independent study with specific course objectives, plan for the study, expectations for the amount of work and final written document and development of a rubric for assessment of the independent study course.  The advisor or another regular faculty may be the instructor for the course; adjunct faculty or others may not be an instructor for an independent study course. 
 
As with all courses, the faculty instructor must have the appropriate educational or experience qualifications in the topic of the independent study.  If the qualifications are not apparent from the faculty’s degree area, then the faculty must submit the other means by which they have attained the qualifications through Digital Measures.  Adjunct faculty may provide advice on a topic or project, but may not serve as the instructor of a special study course. 
 
Credits:  Independent studies may be up to 3 credits (one, two or three credits) – may not be more than 3 credits.
 
Level of effort: The independent study must meet the same level of rigor and effort as a regular SPHTM graduate course.  Effort and time correspond to that of a regular course with the same number of credits.  Each credit awarded represents:   
1 credit  – equivalent to 15 hours class time plus 2 hrs/ credit for study/research time
2 credits – equivalent to 30 hours class time plus 2 hrs/ credit for study/research time
3 credits – equivalent to 45 hours class time plus 2 hrs/ credit for study/research time
 
 
Meeting Schedule:  The student meets regularly with the independent study instructor (every two weeks suggested) during semester. Meetings may be virtual (phone call, skype, other technology) if the student and instructor are not in the same place. The meetings are for guidance, critical discussion, and demonstration of progress throughout the semester.
 
Final Product:  The student will produce a high quality written paper at the end of the independent study.  The content, depth, length and other details are defined prior to the initiation of the independent study. There may also be other products as a presentation, or other outcomes.
 
Grading:  The instructor will provide the student with a grading rubric for the expected products that provides guidance on the expectations for the achievement during the special studies. Independent studies papers and other products are graded comparable to regular courses using the SPHTM grading scale. As with all courses, the Independent study must be completed within one semester.  Failure to complete the independent study will result in an F.