Once the professor accepts the description, the student proceeds with the project, checking with the professor as needed. When the work is completed to the satisfaction of the professor, a grade and credit are earned. Graduate students seeking a master's degree in education from the U of W - Stevens Point School of Education are normally allowed up to six credits of independent studies in a slate of 30 credits. If the student wishes to pursue subjects for which we have few regular courses, an independent study might be appropriate. Some areas of art, educational technology and technical education or methods of instruction in such areas are examples but any independent study may be proposed.
Independent study is also available for undergraduates.
Independent studies are most commonly taken for 3 credits but other amounts of credit are also possible. In some cases, the guiding professor accepts someone else as a more competent authority in the field and consults with the guide in the approval of the study. A local artist or other expert might be such a guide. In those cases, the student checks with the guide as needed and the guide informs the professor when the project is satisfactorily completed. Normally, courses which are offered regularly are not available as independent studies.