Independent Study

Independent Study Project Instructions

In an independent study, you essentially create your own course on a topic of your choice, working in concert with your faculty advisor. If you are looking for something different - a special field experience, a chance to try research, or simply explore a topic in more depth - you should consider doing an independent study under faculty supervision. In some cases, faculty members are willing to have you assist with their research projects or will guide your study on a topic of mutual interest.

Shirley Chisholm

In the end anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing: anti-humanism.

Eligibility

To be eligible to register for Independent Study, a student must:  

  • Earn a cumulative weighted average of 3.0 or better by the end of their second year;
  • Secure a written agreement from a full-time faculty member to supervise the project; and
  • Submit a written proposal for approval for the project

The request must be made in the semester preceding the commencement of an independent study.

Written Proposal

The proposal may be in the form of a memorandum that describes the problem or issue that will be addressed in the independent study project. The student must set forth a description of the anticipated objective(s) of the project in terms of potential issues that will be addressed and proposed solution(s) and a research plan that demonstrates that some preliminary research has been done.

The memorandum must be a minimum of two pages, single-spaced, and include the following:  

  • a statement of the problem or issue the project addresses;
  • a preliminary annotated bibliography. The bibliography must include both the sources of law cited in your statement of the legal problem or issue your project addresses and secondary legal sources, e.g. law review and journal articles, books (monographs and anthologies).

Faculty Advisor

Each project must be supervised by a full-time AFRO professor. The student must meet with the faculty advisor to ensure the focus and scope of the project is clearly laid out in the proposal. The faculty member must provide both a written approval of the project and a written commitment to supervise and evaluate the project.