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Enrollment • Academic Advising


Do I need approval from my college or school to enroll in Independent Study?

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At KU, students enrolled in academic programs in the Schools of Education, Architecture, Allied Health, Pharmacy, and the Applied English Center require approval of an advisor and the dean’s office of their schools before enrolling. The other KU schools do not require prior approval to enroll. Students enrolled at other institutions should check with their school to determine if approval is needed before enrolling.

Should I talk to my academic advisor before enrolling?

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We highly recommend that you speak to your academic advisor before enrolling. For students wishing to apply an Independent Study course to a degree program, it is critical to speak to an academic advisor to be sure it will count as expected. High school students should consult their high school counselor or principal.

How do I find my academic advisor?

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Academic advisors can generally be found by contacting the college or school’s dean’s office. At KU, students may also contact the University Advising Center at 785-864-2834 or via e-mail at advising@ku.edu.

Do I need to be admitted to KU to take an Independent Study course?

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If you have never been admitted to KU and do not plan on applying the Independent Study course toward a degree at KU, you do not need to be admitted to the university before enrolling in an Independent Study course.

If you’ve previously been enrolled at KU (or have ever applied for admission), but you are not enrolled in on-campus classes for the current semester, additional readmission paperwork may be required. Contact Independent Study before completing the online enrollment form.

How will this course count toward my academic program?

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This question should be answered by your academic advisor (see above). Although it may seem clear as to how an Independent Study course will count in an academic program, it is important to confirm this with the academic advisor.

Will my Independent Study courses transfer to other institutions?

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KU Independent Study courses are listed on the official transcript and generally are accepted by other institutions. For specific transfer information, contact your academic advisor or the Registrar’s Office at your home institution.

Can I earn a degree exclusively through KU Independent Study?

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KU Independent Study does not offer degree programs.

Can I use KU Independent Study to complete my degree?

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Many students take KU Independent Study courses to fulfill degree-completion requirements. Academic programs have different requirements and limitations on the number of Independent Study courses a student may take, so contact your academic advisor before enrolling.

Will my Independent Study course count toward full-time/part-time status on campus at KU?

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For students who enroll through June 30, 2009: KU Independent Study courses do not count toward full- or part-time status on campus at KU.

For students who enroll on or after July 1, 2009: KU Independent Study courses do not count toward full- or part-time status on campus at KU; however, the KU Independent Study course will be posted to the student’s transcript upon enrollment and will count toward the maximum number of hours allowed per semester.

KU degree-seeking students using financial aid to pay for their Independent Study enrollment(s) may use their courses to count toward full- or part-time status. Contact the KU Financial Aid office at (785) 864-4700 for further information.

Does my Independent Study enrollment provide access to campus services?

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Students enrolled solely in Independent Study courses are not eligible for KU student employment and are not eligible for access to campus fee-based services, such as a personal KU e-mail account.

How many Independent Study courses can I take to count toward my KU degree?

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Limitations on the number of hours allowed toward a degree program vary by college or school. The chart below provides general guidelines for KU students, but we recommend you contact your academic advisor before enrolling. There may be additional departmental regulations governing enrollment in Independent Study courses.

Regulations and Requirements for KU Undergraduate Enrollment in Independent Study
School in which student is enrolled1 Limit on number of hours taken Limit on hours taken in last 60 hours at KU
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) 20 hrs.2 See limits in Continuing Education hours determined by individual majors.
Architecture, Design & Planning 9 hrs. elective credit
Business 30 hrs.
Education No limit No limit
Engineering No limit No limit
Journalism & Mass Communications No limit No limit
Music No limit No limit
Nursing 31 hrs.3
Pharmacy No limit No limit
Social Welfare No limit No limit
College students in the last 30 hours must meet with a graduation adviser in College Student Academic Services, 109 Strong Hall, if the KU grade-point average is below 2.0, and/or with the major adviser if the Independent Study course is in the major. Permission is not considered unless the student has demonstrated high levels of academic ability in previous semesters. The Schools of Business, Engineering, Journalism & Mass Communications, Music, and Social Welfare recommend but do not require the approval of an adviser or dean or both for enrollment in Independent Study courses. All other schools and the Applied English Center require an adviser’s approval to enroll.
1Independent Study grades are calculated in the school’s grade-point average and in the grade-point average that appears on the academic transcript.
2Maximum 20 hrs. per semester of KU resident credit (includes both traditional KU enrollment and Continuing Education enrollment)
3Combination of Independent Study, credit-by-examination, and/or extension courses.

What are the grading options for my undergraduate-level course?

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Conventional Grading (letter grades A-F)

For students who enroll through June 30, 2009: Letter grades are given for each assignment, as well as for the final grade that appears on your transcript. KU Independent Study courses are not assigned plus/minus for final grades, regardless of the grading scale for the corresponding KU school. Independent Study grades are not calculated in the KU grade-point average that appears on the transcript. They are, however, included in the school grade-point averages for KU degree-seeking students except those enrolled in the Schools of Engineering and Fine Arts.

For students who enroll on or after July 1, 2009: Students must choose the conventional grading option. The conventional grading option is explained below.

Letter grades are given for each assignment as well as for the final grade that appears on the transcript. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Education, Music and Social Welfare have approved the plus/minus grading system for Independent Study courses they offer. All students taking Independent Study courses from these schools may be graded by the plus/minus system regardless of the school to which they are admitted. The plus/minus system may be reflected on individual assignments, exams and the final course grade that appears on the transcript. Independent Study grades are calculated in the grade-point average that appears on the academic transcript.

Credit/No Credit

For students who enroll through June 30, 2009: Letter grades are given for individual assignments; however, a final grade of Credit is ascribed to work that would normally receive a letter grade of C or above. No credit is recorded for grades of D or F. You may elect the credit/no credit option within three months after the date of your enrollment or before you have completed one-fourth of the course assignments, whichever comes first. Requests must be made by e-mail to enroll@ku.edu or in writing to: KU Independent Study, Continuing Education, 1515 St. Andrews Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047. Once you have enrolled on a credit/no credit basis, you may not change to conventional grading. Be sure to check with your academic advisor before changing your enrollment status. Some universities, scholarship committees, and honorary societies do not accept this grading system and convert grades of no credit to F when computing. KU students may enroll in one course per semester as credit/no credit. Usually, this course must be outside your major field and not a required course. Check the undergraduate catalog or consult with your advisor before choosing this option.

For students who enroll on or after July 1, 2009: Independent Study courses are not eligible to receive a grade of credit or no credit. You must choose conventional grading.

Noncredit

Any KU Independent Study course may be taken on a noncredit basis without special permission. The transcript does not reflect noncredit courses. Completion of all coursework, except examinations, is required for this option. Fees are the same as for courses taken for credit. Guidelines for switching to noncredit and credit options are the same as the guidelines for credit/no credit grading.

What are the grading options for my graduate-level course?

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Students enrolling in graduate-level courses may only enroll with the conventional grading option (letter grades A-F) or noncredit. See descriptions above in the undergraduate course grading options. Some graduate-level courses are graded using the satisfactory/unsatisfactory system.