Independent Study Procedure:
Independent study opportunities in the School of Communication are available by petition and are open to juniors and seniors who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Sophomores with a strong academic justification are also encouraged to petition for an independent study.
To pursue an independent study within the School of Communication, students must complete the following:
- Secure a Faculty Sponsor
Identify and confirm a faculty member who is willing to supervise your independent study project - Prepare Your Petition & Syllabus
Complete the Independent Study Petition in full, carefully following all instructions. You must also prepare a detailed syllabus that includes:- A Description of the Independent Study,
- Method(s) of evaluation (length of research paper, etc.),
- Reading list AND weekly objectives.
- Instructor/Department Approval
Once your petition and syllabus are complete, obtain your faculty sponsor’s signature. Theatre majors must also secure the signature of their department chair. - Undergraduate Dean Approval
Email the completed petition, with all required signatures, to the SoC Office of Undergraduate Programs and Advising at dear-soc@northwestern.edu. The form will be routed to the SoC Undergraduate Dean for approval. You will be contacted if there are any issues with your petition - Registration
Once approved, the Office of Undergraduate Programs and Advising will register you for the appropriate course. Please note that students may be approved for no more than one independent study per quarter.
Independent Study in WCAS:
SoC students may have the option to do independent study in WCAS departments; to register for those independent studies, they are required to follow the WCAS process for independent study. SoC does not limit the number of independent studies that SoC students may take in WCAS. However, no more than two such courses can count for the distribution requirements. Moreover, they can only count as additional distribution requirements, not towards courses for the three required distribution areas.
Independent Study Policy:
For policies regarding eligibility, grading, and how independent studies may be applied to degree requirements, please visit our catalog page.