An independent reading course is defined as a course in which a student, by arrangement with an instructor, reads a body of material with a minimum of formal instruction. An independent study project is defined as a course in which a student does research on a topic agreed upon by the student and the instructor.

Enrollment for these courses is during the registration period for the fall or spring semester or summer session. Students may add these courses until the end of the fourth week of classes in the fall and spring semesters or the end of the second week of a summer session.

Before processing registration for these courses, the student and the supervising faculty member must agree upon and document the title, objective, scope, and credit value (1–6) of the project to be pursued. The department chair or program director must approve the project and faculty member's involvement. In particular, he or she must attest that the project does not duplicate a course already offered in the semester's schedule which would be available to the student.

Students must submit a completed and approved Independent Study Registration Form to the Registrar’s Office.