Bryn Mawr College

Independent Study Independent Study

Students with a strong background in a particular field, usually in their major, may wish to pursue a semester-long course of independent study for a unit of credit. Most but not all departments offer this option to their majors through a course titled "Supervised Work" and numbered 403 (480 at Haverford). Consult the Catalog for more information about a particular department's policies in this area. 

 

If you are interested in doing a semester of independent study in a particular area, you will need to find a faculty member to supervise your work. Ordinarily, this will be a full-time member of a department. Before agreeing, the faculty member may want you to write up a formal proposal; they may also require you to consult your major adviser or your dean. No faculty member is every obliged to agree to supervise a unit of independent study.

 

Together with the faculty member, you will develop a specific plan of what work you will complete and of how often you will meet during the course of the semester.

 

You may register for Independent Study through Virtual Bryn Mawr during the regular preregistration and registration periods.

Enrolling in Graduate Courses

Juniors and seniors with a strong background in a particular field may be interested in taking a graduate course through one of Bryn Mawr's two graduate schools. Enrollment in a graduate course requires permission of the instructor. Once permission is granted, a student may register for GSAS courses through Virtual Bryn Mawr. To register for GSSWSR, see the Registrar.