Students may enroll in an independent study course for three reasons 1) enrichment, 2) remediation, or 3) a special topic need. Students may request to take an IS course or they may be required to enroll as part of a Personal Assessment for Student Success (PASS) plan or Academic Student Performance Notification (SPN). Regardless of why a learner is taking an IS course, all IS courses are offered for credit, but the subject matter or content may vary as indicated by the course’s title and description.
An enrichment course is a form of independent study undertaken by a student with little to no supervision from faculty. Independent study allows a student to pursue an area of particular interest that can enhance or augment the current curriculum plan, but that is not currently required for program completion and not available at the college. With a Bellin College course facilitator, the student generally agrees upon a topic for the student to research with minimal instruction and guidance from the facilitator for an agreed-upon number of academic credits, course outcomes, and assignments.
A remediation course at a basic level means “teaching again.” Often it is content that students previously failed to learn and has deficient knowledge that may interfere with the student’s ability to succeed in future courses. It may also apply to important content/concepts that may have been forgotten due to a prolonged time away from courses/clinical or program. IS taken for remediation is most often assigned by a program director as part of a Personal Assessment for Student Success (PASS) plan or Academic Student Performance Notification (SPN). Credits may vary based on student needs.
A special topic course provides students the opportunity to acquire knowledge/skills needed to meet pre-requisites for required courses or to earn credit for missing pieces of transfer courses. For example, a student may transfer two credits from a prior college, but a Bellin College course requires three credits. The student could take a 1-credit IS course to satisfy the missing content rather than take the BC 3 credit course.
General guidelines:
- The Academic Advisor (for undergraduate programs) and/or designated Program Director will assist students with the independent study proposal form, guidelines, and procedures.
- The registrar will assign course numbers based on the level of the course required and titles as provided by department.
- Independent study opportunities will not be approved for an enrolled student who would miss other required course sessions (theory, lab, and clinical).
- Students must successfully complete the course in the semester in which they have registered.
- Grading and academic progression is per the program grading scale and progression policy.
- The student may accumulate up to three independent study credits during their academic career at Bellin College.
- Study should equate to the program-specific requirements for lab/clinical and theory courses. For example, one credit of theory is equivalent to 15 hours of class time.
- Tuition and fees for independent study will be based on the current Bellin College academic per credit fee schedule.
- IS courses will follow the college’s policy on course add, drop, and withdrawals.