Independent Study and Internships

One of the smartest things you can do while you are a student at UWT is independent study. Employers and graduate schools like to see this experience in your college education because it prepares you for the world in ways that the classroom experience does not. Independent work develops your initiative, responsibility, and creativity. It shows you have the qualities to work on projects, unmonitored, and you take pride in your work.

Independent study offers students the opportunity to work one-to-one with faculty in an area of shared scholarship. It is your responsibility to approach the faculty with an idea for independent study. Independent study experiences are not designed to simply "provide extra credit." IAS students may earn a maximum of 15 independent study credits at UWT. Internships may account for 10 of these credits.

Both the Career Center personnel and your academic adviser can offer advice on finding internships and other independent study opportunities. Consider it to be the first leg of your learning experience-tracking down and landing an internship!

Types of Independent Study

Internships

provide students opportunities to participate in on-the-job educational experiences in a work environment. In an internship, a site supervisor offers additional mentoring.

Directed Readings

are scholarly projects driven by specific texts. Often linked with courses the students are currently in to provide a deeper learning experience.

Undergraduate Research

experiences offer the opportunity for in-depth research on a topic. Students will work on their own research topics or help faculty with on-going projects.

Senior Thesis

allows students in their final year the opportunity of a large-scale research and writing project under the close supervision of IAS faculty. At this point, the senior thesis is only required for students in Communication: Research Track.

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