Independent Study Project

1. Contact your academic or faculty advisor to discuss your options for Independent Study projects. Each department and program has different guidelines. It is your responsibility to find out what they are. You may receive between 3-5 credits, depending on the nature of your project. It is up to your faculty advisor to determine what is the appropriate amount of credit for you.
2. If you are a student at UWT and want to take independent study credits through the IAS program, you can find information at the IAS Independent Study Reference Sheet Web page. You can also download forms from the IAS Independent Study Web page.
3. It is your responsibility to find a faculty person to work with you. Ideally, you should choose a professor you know from other classes and one who knows you. Also consider the classes you will be taking in the spring quarter: can you do some research on Cuba and relate it to a topic you will be studying? Many professors like to have independent study projects linked to classes they are already teaching. For example, if you are taking a class on African American literature, would you be interested in finding out more about Afro-Cuban literature? If you are taking a class in environmental science, can you do a research project about environmental issues in Cuba?
4. Come up with some ideas about what kind of project you would like to do, and make an appointment to talk to the faculty person who would work with you. Discuss the project and determine if the faculty member is willing to work with you. If so, discuss the work you would do, the deadlines for turning it in, the expectations, when and how you will meet to talk about your work, etc. Fill out the independent study form to reflect the agreement you reached with the faculty person, and get the required signatures.
5. You need to make arrangements for the independent study project to be attached to your SPRING QUARTER at UW. You must complete all the paperwork and register for the independent study before you go to Cuba. If you are a full time student, remember that you will need to devote some time to completing your Independent Study project in the spring. Plan accordingly. You will pay tuition for these credits as part of your spring registration package. There is no additional tuition for the week you are in Cuba.
6. I will offer a standard 3 credit Independent Study project to any student going to Cuba, if you cannot find another professor to work with you. See me for more details. Remember, the purpose of your tour to Cuba is to add to your own personal learning experience, so it is in your best interest to design an independent study project that will help you in your future career goals or build on your academic interests.
7. Graduate students must work with faculty approved to teach graduate level classes. Please consult with your faculty advisor to learn more about this option.