independent-studies

Opportunities for Independent Study are available to all undergraduate and graduate students working toward a degree in Arts and Sciences.  Registration in an Independent Study requires sponsorship by a faculty member and approval of the Program Director.  An Independent Study Proposal form can be obtained from the Film and Media Studies Office. 

All proposals for Film 500 have to be submitted to the FMS main office no later than November 1 for spring semester enrollment and April 1 for Film 500 to be taken in the fall semester.  Approval is not automatic.

The Independent Study course may be taken for 1 to 3 units per semester, depending upon the proposed work load.  A total of 3 units of independent study may be counted toward the major.  No more than 18 units of independent study will be counted toward the 120 units required to complete the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Independent Study courses cannot be used to replace required courses for the major or to replace courses that are regularly offered in the curriculum.  A proposal for an Independent Study course should demonstrate that the planned course of study deals with material not offered in any other part of the curriculum.  The purpose of an Independent Study course is to provide advanced study in a particular area of more specialized research or creative enterprise.  For a typical 3 unit Independent Study, particular projects may take the form of long research papers (20-25 pages).  As such, approval of Independent Study courses will only be granted for students who have completed necessary prerequisites for their particular project.  For example, students should not expect to do an independent study on the Western unless they have already taken Film 450, “American Film Genres.”