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Columbia
College Chicago
Undergraduate Independent Project Policy
[Adopted
by College Council and approved by the President, for Independent
Projects beginning
in the Spring 2006 term, with adjustments for
administrative procedures incorporated below.]
Description
Independent Projects are advanced, student-driven learning experiences involving substantial student independence in project design and project execution. Independent Projects are appropriate for students who wish to explore a subject on their own beyond what is possible in regular courses offered by the College. An independent project must not be equivalent in content to courses currently offered by the College. Independent Projects must be approved by a faculty advisor who will also evaluate the final results and award a grade.
Eligibility and Requirements
Students who have completed at least 60 credit hours, including courses in progress, are eligible for Independent Projects.
Students may apply up to 16 credits of Independent Projects and/or Directed Studies, toward graduation.
Students will devote a minimum of three hours of work per week for each credit hour awarded for the Independent Project (45 clock hours per semester per credit awarded; thus, a 3-credit course will entail an average of nine hours per week over 15 weeks).
Tuition will be charged at standard rates based on the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled.
An Independent Project Cover Sheet form (available online) must be completed and attached to your proposal. The cover sheet must be signed by a faculty advisor and the department chair prior to registration.
Proposal
Describe the Independent Project. Your written proposal for the Independent Project should address the following:
Learning objectives: What will you have learned as a result of the project? How should your project be evaluated?
Activities and processes in which you will engage.
Final product(s) such as a final paper, a business plan, an art work, a composition or performance, that will result from the project.
Any material, equipment, or other resources you will require.
Any other specifications or criteria set by your faculty advisor for completion of the project.
Process
You, the student, must secure agreement with a faculty member to serve as your advisor. You may ask a particular faculty member yourself, or consult with the Department Chair for recommendations. Faculty members may, or may not, agree to act as your advisor at their own discretion. There is no guarantee that you will be able to secure an advisor.
In consultation with your faculty advisor, complete the Independent Project Cover Sheet online form, and attach your proposal. See the online form for details.
Submit your completed cover sheet, with proposal attached, to your faculty advisor for review, approval and signature. Leave a copy of the proposal with your faculty advisor, and submit the cover sheet with proposal attached to the department chair, or chair designee, for review and endorsement with signature.
Once your Independent Project is endorsed by the chair, a section record indicating the course number, the chosen title, and your faculty advisor will be created in the department’s course schedule. The proposal will go to the Dean's Office for approval, where your credit hours will be assigned and your registration will be completed. You will be notified via email if for any reason your proposal is not approved, or if the number of credit hours requested has been reduced.
Failure to meet the project objectives and requirements in the agreed upon time frame will result in a failing grade for the Independent Project.
