Independent Study/Advanced Lab

Students may arrange to work on independent study projects under the direction of a regular full-time department faculty member.

Students register for the course G22.3813-001, Advanced Lab, generally for three points per project, replacing one standard course from the department's curriculum.

A student wishing to do an independent study project should contact the individual full-time faculty member whose research he or she finds interesting, and propose a project for that faculty member's supervision. If the faculty member approves, the student should then complete a Master's Independent Study Authorization Form. Once the form is completed and the faculty member has signed off on the form, the form should be submitted to Jennifer Conlan Darlington, located in Warren Weaver Hall room 324. The request will then go to the Director of Graduate Studies. If approved, Jennifer will email the student an access code for use in registration on Albert.

Occasionally, an individual faculty member will post information about a research project for which he or she is seeking student participation. Such information will be posted on this site and likely emailed to the graduate student body as well.

For information on the maximum number of independent study research projects permitted in the
MS in Computer Science program, see the distribution requirements listed in Section A of the
MS in CS requirerments page.

MS in Information Systems students may take no more than a total of six points of independent study and internship combined.

PhD students should register for G22.3813 section-001 for between one and twelve points, as determined by the supervisor of the project. Only when the student is engaging in a second project within the same semester, usually with a second faculty member, should he or she register for a second section of independent study.

There is no specific limit on the number of independent study research points taken by PhD students, however, PhD students are always expected to consult with their academic advisors prior to registering each term.