Lee Honors College

Lee Honors College

Independent Study and Field Experience

Information for Students and Faculty

The following points should be noted when students and faculty plan to work together on an individual academic project.

  1. Three parties participate in arranging and authorizing course work bearing independent study or field experience credit: the student, the supervising faculty member, and a Lee Honors College Advisor. All three must agree upon the specifics of the project before the student will be enrolled in the course for credit.
  2. Ordinarily, independent study and field experience projects should be in areas where both the student and the supervising faculty have the appropriate expertise. Neither an independent study or field experience is to be considered a substitute for introductory or general education course requirements, or to fulfill more than one upper level honors requirement.
  3. Independent study or field experience is not a substitute way to acquire the content of a regularly offered course. Enrollment in regular courses is the expected way of obtaining university credit. Students seeking credit for previously acquired subject matter, which is routinely available in regular courses, should explore the University’s arrangements for Credit by Examination.
  4. A detailed outline of the content, readings, paper requirements, instructional assistance, methods of examination, and frequency of contact with the instructor must accompany a request to enroll in independent study or field experience. The supervising faculty is to outline his/her grading criteria to the student prior to the student enrolling in the chosen course.
  5. If the student elects to do an independent study, it is to be based on topic other than that which will be addressed in the honors thesis, whether the thesis is done for credit or not for credit.

Agreement Form for Independent Study or Field Experience

Students interested in participating in an independent study or field experience must complete the Lee Honors College Agreement Form for Independent Study or Field Experience PDF..

Students completing the agreement form will fully outline their program of study. Include course requirements such as readings, written work to be done, role of the instructor, method to be used to examine and grade the student’s work, how often the student and supervising instructor will meet, and any other information relevant to the project.

Off-Campus Supervisor's Evaluation of Student's Field Experience

Off-Campus supervisors who are evaluating a student's field experience should use the Lee Honors College Supervisor's Evaluation for Student's Field Experience form PDF..

 

Lee Honors College
1903 W. Michigan Avenue
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 5244 USA
Phone (269) 387-3230 | (269) 387-3903 Fax
leehonorscollege@wmich.edu