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Independent Study
Independent study allows students to develop a high degree of
independence in their ability to choose and investigate problems.
The objectives of the program include providing opportunities to
explore areas not covered in normal course structure, recognizing
foreign travel experiences, rewarding self-motivated students, and
encouraging joint study by faculty and students on specialized
projects.
Individual students and faculty members develop the specific
criteria that must be met for the successful completion of specific
independent study projects. However, the following guidelines
govern the independent study program:
1. Only one independent study project may be undertaken in
an academic term, unless permission is granted from the
department chair or the associate/assistant dean of the
school of the student’s primary major.
2. The maximum credit that may be earned for an
independent study project is three semester hours.
3. The faculty member supervising the independent study,
the student’s advisor, and the associate/assistant dean or
the department chair must sign the student’s independent
study form. Registration for the independent study must
occur at the beginning of the semester in which the work is
to be completed.
4. No more than six semester hours in independent study
may be counted toward the major field, no more than three
semester hours toward a minor field, and no more than
12 semester hours toward graduation. Independent study
taken outside major and/or minor fields must be approved
by the associate/assistant dean or the department chair of
the supervising faculty member.
5. Supervising an independent study is a privilege a faculty
member may extend to a student. It is not a right that a
student has.
6. Supervising faculty members determine the grade (letter
grade or credit/no credit) for the independent study.
Internships
Many of the major fields of study include opportunities to
receive credit for supervised, on-the-job activities. Interested
students should contact the respective department for details.
Out-of-Class Courses
In order for students with irreconcilable conflicts to be able to
complete graduation requirements on schedule, it is sometimes
necessary to allow instruction in an out-of-class setting. To take a
course out of class:
1. The course must be 2000-, 3000-, or 4000-level.
2. Students must obtain approval from the associate/assistant
dean of the school or the department chair, the faculty
member teaching the course, and the advisor.
Out-of-class course approval forms are available in the Office
of the Registrar. Exceptions to the course level requirement listed
above must be approved by the respective faculty member,
advisor, and and the associate/assistant dean of the school or
department chair.
Grading System
A
Recognizes excellent achievement. It is indicative of superior
quality work and reveals a thorough mastery of the subject
matter. The student receiving this grade should demonstrate
enough interest to do some independent investigation beyond
the actual course requirements.
B
Indicates work and achievement that are well above average.
The student receiving this grade should be capable of doing
advanced work in this field. The quality of the work should be
considered better than that achieved by the average student.
C
Indicates average achievement and a satisfactory meeting of
requirements.
D
Reveals inferior accomplishment and is generally
unsatisfactory from the standpoint of course requirements.
This is the lowest grade for which credit can be earned.
F
Failing grade. It indicates very unsatisfactory work. No course
credit is earned.
AU
Given when a course is audited. To receive this notation, the
student must attend and participate in the course. No credit is
earned.
CR
Given when credit has been granted. It also applies to
the credit/no credit program in which credit is received for
satisfactory (“C” average or higher) performance in the
course. A course in which a CR has been earned counts
toward the total graduation requirements but is not used in the
computation of GPAs.
CE
Credit for the course has been earned by an examination
administered by the University or another recognized testing
agency or program.
I
Signifies an incomplete and is a temporary grade given when
a student is unable to complete the course work on time
because of extraordinary circumstances, such as illness,
emergency, or other reasonable cause. This temporary grade
does not influence the student’s GPA. To be considered for an
incomplete, the student must be passing the course and have
completed the majority of the course work. The instructor
giving the incomplete will establish an appropriate completion
date with the student. This date may extend to the end of the
semester following the one in which the course was taken. If
the work is not completed by the designated date, the “I” will
be changed to an “F” and will be calculated as such in the
student’s GPA.
INC
Indicates a permanent incomplete, a grade assigned in
special situations by the faculty member with the approval
of the Vice President for Academics. This permanent grade
does not influence the student’s GPA. To receive a permanent
incomplete, the faculty member should submit the appropriate
form to the Registrar identifying the circumstances warranting
this special grade. If a permanent incomplete is awarded, the
grade may not be changed at a future date. To receive credit
for the course, the student must again register for the course
and complete the course requirements.
K
Signifies credit and accompanies courses transferred from
other colleges or universities. It has no effect upon cumulative
GPA.
NC
Indicates no credit has been earned. Credit hours for which
an “NC” has been earned are not used in the computation of
GPAs.
2016–17 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
Page
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Academic Information
Registration for Courses