Independent Study

WHAT IS AN INDEPENDENT STUDY?

Independent study experiences allow students to work one-on-one with a Communication professor on an in-depth and/or specialized project.  The catalog numbers for independent study courses in Communication are COMM366, COMM466, and COMM666.

WHO CAN TAKE AN INDEPENDENT STUDY IN COMMUNICATION?

​Communication JR and SR majors with an overall GPA of 2.75 and a COMM major GPA of 3.0, and Communication graduate students.

Undergraduate and graduate students who are non-majors, but whose project is Communication related, may have their projects reviewed for COMM independent study credit.  Non-major projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

I WANT TO TAKE AN INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Students who wish to pursue an independent study project in Communication will need to have a Communication professor to sponsor them.  Students may contact Communication professors whose teaching or research is related to the project they would like to pursue, or Communication professors may recruit students for specific projects.

Together with the faculty sponsor, students prepare a written proposal for the independent study that includes: the purpose, expected results, sources, and value of the project.  The specific criteria the faculty will use to evaluate the project must be included.  The faculty and student should attach this proposal to a completed independent study contract​.​

Deliver the completed contract and proposal to the Department of Communication's main office at 250 Pearson Hall for review by the Chairperson.  Students will be registered in an independent stu​dy course by department staff if their proposal is approved.