A student may enroll in independent study (numbers 291 or 391) independent reading (numbers 290 or 390), independent research (numbers 292 or 392), or directed research (numbers 294 or 394) with the consent of a professor. See the Academic Catalog for definitions of these terms.

An interested student should begin any exploration of the possibility of independent work or directed research through conversation with the relevant faculty member. The student should also check with the professor to see if the department or program has additional guidelines governing this work. To enroll, the student must initiate a request through the Registrar’s Office. The student’s request must be submitted to the Registrar by the drop/add deadline and approved by the professor and adviser. Initiating this request does not automatically accomplish registration; independent work or directed research is subject to the further approval of the Registrar and the Associate Provost.

Normally, change of credits is not allowed after the drop/add deadline. Consistent with the policy for scheduled courses, independent work or directed research must be completed by the student within the schedule indicated on the request. The policy for extensions also applies to these types of courses.

The grading method for these courses must be agreed upon with the instructor and clearly stated on the request before submitting it to the registrar at the time of registration; see the Satisfactory/Credit/No Credit policy. Even in cases where independent or directed work spans more than one term, grades are submitted at the end of each term.

No independent work or directed research may count toward liberal arts requirements.

Independent work that duplicates the content of courses routinely taught at Carleton is not allowed. (Courses offered every 2–3 years, or more frequently, are typically considered to be “routinely taught”; the Registrar’s Office is responsible for this determination.) Normally, neither independent work nor directed research may be used for course retakes (see the policy on Retaking Courses).

Seniors may undertake independent work (numbers 390, 391, 392, or 394) concurrently with and related to another course. Intensive independent work and directed research (up to 12 credits, comprising either independent work, directed research, or a combination of both) is possible in all three terms. Non-seniors are limited to a maximum of six total credits of independent work and directed research in any single term.

See also retaking courses, summer independent study and winter break credit.