Independent Study is an opportunity for students to work with individual direction from a faculty member on a topic of mutual interest in geospatial intelligence. Students must have taken at a minimum nine (9) credits of course work or have strong professional experience in the subject matter leading up to the chosen topic. Independent Study is reserved for advanced specialties or for intermediate study in areas in which the department does not normally offer course work. Faculty members are under no obligation to accept Independent Study students but do so as their teaching load permits.
Independent Study may not be used to fulfill Core curriculum requirements. Independent Study is not intended to be used by students to take a regular course not being offered that term.
An Independent Study (IS) Agreement is executed for every independent study project. The IS Agreement between the student and faculty sponsor provides the details for the project including the topic and nature of the project, how the project will be accomplished, and what the intended final outcome will be (i.e., paper, presentation, etc.).
Independent Study agreements range from one (1) to three (3) credits. The number of credit hours is determined by the faculty sponsor and student prior to registering for the IS credits. No Independent Study credit will be granted retroactively for study experiences carried out at an earlier date. A minimum of 25 hours of time is required for each semester hour of credit.
A student must be in the Geospatial Intelligence program. Students should have completed at least nine (9) credit hours of related courses and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Only regular faculty members may sponsor Independent Study projects. Program approval for each project is provided by the Option Director.
Students contact a faculty member to discuss their idea for an IS project, how the work will be accomplished, and what the final outcome will be (paper, presentation, etc.). Students should contact a faculty member whose research is related to the IS topic the student is pursuing. If the project is accepted by the faculty member, the student completes the Independent Study Agreement. The form must be signed by the student, the faculty member, and the Option Director.
Independent study is an opportunity for independent research under the sponsorship of a faculty member. If your work involves human subjects, other paperwork must be completed. Discuss this with your faculty sponsor before completing the agreement.
Included are two sample agreements. One agreement is specifically for the iMPS-HLS student looking at the broad use of spatial data and geospatial technologies in geospatial intelligence.
Before proceeding with your Independent Study Agreement, please read carefully the “Independent Study Policy and Procedures.”
Student Name:
Student Number:
E-mail:
Course: GEOG 596i, Independent Study in Geospatial Intelligence
1. Provide a brief description of the research topic, explaining what you are proposing to do and why.
2. Provide a detailed description of what you will be covering in your research and how the study will be done, with reference to any important discipline issues you plan to explore as part of the effort.
3. Briefly describe how you will present the outcome of your research, such as in paper form, oral presentation, etc.
4. Briefly describe what you and your faculty sponsor have agreed to be the criteria for grading your work.
5. Credit hours (1-3 hours):
6. Semester/term in which you are seeking credit:
7. List important dates (e.g., date of the first meeting with sponsor, subsequent meeting dates, final due date).
Approvals:
Faculty Sponsor:
Date:
Option Director:
Date: