Independent Study

Sociology’s Independent Study program provides you with the opportunity to pursue a research topic of interest in great depth. With advanced planning and the guidance of a faculty mentor, you’ll design your own course of study and create your own syllabus.

Here are some examples of previous independent study projects:

"Diversity Within Educational Systems"

This student is examining why diversity is so useful in a classroom. She is looking at the challenges and benefits of a multicultural learning environment and is contrasting this with learning environments that are more homogeneous.

"The ‘Baller Image’ and its Effects on Society"

Using a compilation of data of athletes receiving an award for academic excellence along with their athletic accomplishments, the student is studying media effects on the "baller image." She will also be exploring the "baller image" in popular hip-hop and sport publications.

"Native American Public Health"

The student is undertaking a comprehensive study of the public health situation for Native Americans.

"The Rise and Fall of The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)"

The student is researching the history of the WUSA, elements of marketing, advertising and competitions, as well as the problems associated with these elements which led to the league’s demise.

"The Sociology of Mental Illness"

The student is examining the practice of Electroconvulsive Therapy in psychiatric hospital wards.

It is recommended that you begin consulting with your mentor during the semester before the proposed independent study in order to develop a feasible project. Independent study requires a high level of initiative and commitment to completing the project.

GUIDELINES

Students must be sociology concentrators and in residence in order to undertake independent study projects through the sociology department. Independent study projects must be mentored by a sociology faculty member or graduate student instructor (GSI). For each credit hour a student requests, they are required to produce ten pages of written work and to read one book and three articles. The specific amount of reading and writing is up to the discretion of the sponsoring faculty member. Using this standard, for 3 credit hours of independent study, you should expect to write the equivalent of 30 pages (three 10-page papers, two 15-page ones, etc). As part of the research, you should expect to read no less than the equivalent of three books plus nine articles (assuming a book is the equivalent of five articles).

• A student may use a combined total of 8 credit hours for Soc 321, 325, 389, and 395 toward their concentration (with a maximum of 4 credit hours of Soc 389).
• A sociology graduate student may guide an independent study project as long as a faculty member in the department supervises the graduate student and signs the independent study form.
• Needing a certain number of credits to graduate is not a valid reason to pursue an independent study. Independent study is intended for academic pursuit of greater depth into an area of sociology.

HOW TO APPLY

Complete Part I of the Independent Study Application and attach a statement addressing each of the questions posed there along with an unofficial copy of your transcript (you may obtain one via Wolverine Access ). The supervising faculty member must complete Part II of the application.

Submit both parts of this proposal to Jamie Hiner in room 3105 of the LSA Building, no later than:

Once a decision is made regarding your proposal, you will be notified by email. All decisions on proposals submitted by the above due dates will be made by the drop/add deadline.