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- Free Online Independent Study Courses
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- Free Byu Independent Study Courses
- Free Online Independent Study Courses
Sometimes gifted students want to learn about topics that are not offered at their own schools. Fortunately, these students do have an option when it comes to their studies. Independent study is a great way to shape a program to your own personal needs.
What Is an Independent Study?
An independent study is a course of study that a student pursues... well, independently. Students plan a course of study in cooperation with a willing advisor who also sticks around to make sure that the student stays on track and completes assignments and tests.
Students pursue independent study for a variety of reasons. Usually, students look to independent study when they have an interest in a special topic that’s not offered at most high schools. Some examples of special topics would be courses like Asian-American history, British Literature, or Chinese language.
Beware! There are a few things to consider before you begin. First, you must be sure that you have space for an elective course in your diploma program. Don’t attempt an independent study if there is a chance that it will send you off your diploma schedule!
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Secondly, you want to make sure that any pre-packaged course you choose is sponsored by a reputable institution. There are some seedy programs out there.
How Does It Work?
Generally, there are two types of independent study programs: pre-packaged courses and self-designed courses. You will find that there are many pre-packaged online programs available from colleges and universities around the nation.
While independent study courses have been a part of college studies for a long time, high schools are just getting around to offering independent studies for students. As a matter of fact, if you attend a small high school you may find that there is no policy at all. You may be the first student to ask, which means you’ll have some work to do.
Check with your counselor to make sure that an independent study will fit in your diploma program. Of course, you want to graduate on time!
Once you know it’s feasible, you can initiate the process of independent study by asking a teacher or counselor to serve as advisor. You will work with the advisor to decide the type of program to pursue.
Designing Your Own Independent Study
If you decide to develop a program, you may need to come up with a proposal package that you will submit to a panel of teachers, the guidance counselor, or the principal. Again, every school will have its own policy.
In your proposal, you should include a course topic description, a syllabus, a list of reading materials, and a list of assignments. Your advisor may or may not choose to test you on the material. Often the final research paper will suffice.
Pre-Packaged Independent Study Programs
Many universities offer high school-level online independent study courses or courses that you complete through the mail.
University programs have many advantages. The programs have been designed by university staff, and quite often they are monitored by staff as well. They are less work for you and your advisor.
However, they do have one big drawback. You guessed it—the price! Individual courses normally cost a few hundred dollars.
You can sample a few programs that are available through Brigham Young University and the University of Oklahoma.
All students have unique learning needs. There are times when Seton students would like to take a course outside of Seton, yet still have Seton oversight and recognition on their Seton transcript. For instances such as these, Seton’s Independent Study program may be right for you.
An independent study is a course of study at the high school level that is not available at Seton. An independent study is a course typically taken with a tutor or parent. An approved independent study course can earn one-half or one full high school credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does it work?
Students or parents propose a course to be taken, outlining the curriculum and subject matter to be studied. Seton reviews this information. If Seton approves the course, the student is emailed quarter report forms for the parent or teacher to use to assign a grade. The forms are then completed and sent back to Seton with samples or evidence of student work to verify course completion. The final grade and credit goes on a separate part of the official Seton transcript, which briefly describes the independent study program. Because Seton does not grade the work, independent study grades are not a part of the Seton GPA.
Can any course or activity be taken as an Independent Study?
No. Not all courses or activities will qualify. For example, once enrolled, diploma-seeking Seton students are required to take Seton’s English, Theology, Biology, and Social Studies courses. However, many math, science, and foreign language courses do qualify. (Note: Seton will accept Apologia Biology only as a substitute for Biology in independent study.)
What courses do you recommend be taken as independent study?
Seton usually recommends academic subjects, such as math, science, or foreign language to be taken as an independent study. Fine arts or sports can be done as an independent study, but Seton does not recommend this unless the student plans on pursuing these activities at the college or professional level.
How do I sign up?
Individuals sign up for independent study after they enroll in their regular Seton courses. To do so, log in to your MySeton page and go to the Resources Tab. There you will see an option to submit an independent study request. Once filled out, the request form is sent to the Guidance Office for review. As of May 1, 2019 each independent study is $45.00 per course per student.
Should I do independent study if I am taking the course at a college?
In general, no. If you are taking the course at a college and the college will provide a transcript, designating a college credit and grade for the course, please have an official transcript sent to Seton. This would be considered Dual Enrollment.
If the college is not providing a transcript for the course, then the course can be done as independent study or as a homeschool transfer credit.
Are Independent Study courses part of the Seton GPA?
No. Because Seton does not grade the work, independent study grades are not a part of the Seton GPA.
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Is there another way to have courses taken outside of Seton included on the Seton transcript?
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Yes. You can simply submit a homeschool transcript at the end of a course with a grade and credit. Then Seton will add it to the academic record, free of charge. That said, diploma-seeking students will still need to take Seton-required courses, but using a homeschool transcript is a free and less formal option of having courses added to the official Seton transcript. A homeschool transcript template to use for this can be found under the Resources Tab on your MySeton page. Because Seton does not grade the work, homeschool transfer credit grades are not a part of the Seton GPA.
Should I Use an Independent Study or a Homeschool Transcript?
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Seton has no preference which way you go—the credits are counted the same on the transcript and, because Seton does not grade the work in either instance, the grades are not included within the Seton GPA.
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With that said, an independent study should be used when your student requires the most formal record available for a class or activity taken. For example, some colleges prefer to see this type of third party oversight on a homeschool course that was not part of Seton’s formal curriculum, while others have no preference.