Independent Study

An Independent Study is available to students who are at junior or senior level standing with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above. The student may receive approval to work in an area or on a project that is not otherwise offered or addressed in the curriculum. Students may receive credit toward graduation for no more than 6 credit hours of independent study.

The student, working with the supervising faculty, must complete an Independent Study form for consideration by the Department Chair and Academic Affairs. The student may register for the course upon approval from all signatories.

The student must submit a minimum 150-word Independent Study Proposal, along with the Independent Study Approval Form, to the Chair of the department in which they wish to study stating the reason for the independent study and their plan for study, including topics to be covered and goals.

Once the Department Chair approves of the Independent Study, the instructor appointed to oversee the Independent Study must write an Independent Study syllabus with a detailed course description, learning outcomes, assignments, meeting dates (minimum of four), due dates, and grading criteria. The Independent Study Approval Form, with faculty and Chair signatures, must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for final approval by the appropriate Dean.

The final approved form will be sent by Academic Affairs to the Academic Advising and Registration Office for registration of the Independent Study. Independent Study forms must be turned in no later than the final day to add a class of the semester in which the Independent Study is to be taken.

Adding/Dropping Classes

Courses for which a student is enrolled at the conclusion of the Add/Drop period will be used to determine attempted courses for the Course Completion Rate. Therefore, if it is necessary to adjust one’s class schedule, it is best to do so during the Add/Drop period of the semester. Courses that are dropped after conclusion of the Add/Drop period will show a recorded grade of W, WN, or WF. This will be counted as an unsuccessfully completed course, thus lowering the student’s completion rate.

Students may use Self-Service to add or drop classes up until the last day to add a class in accordance with the academic calendar. After the last day to add a course, if a student wishes to drop a course, students must complete the online drop form that is available on the AARO Campus Office page. 

Students who drop classes during the first seven business days of classes (see Academic Calendar for specific dates) are not charged for the drop. After the seventh day, dropped classes are charged on a sliding scale and those courses will receive a grade of “W”, “WN”, or “WF”.

The academic calendar offers specific tuition reimbursement information. The last day to withdraw from a course is on the Friday of the thirteenth week of classes. No exceptions to this deadline will be made.

The College reserves the right to cancel or change classes, instructors, and schedules; to revise tuition and fee structure; and to amend College policies for the efficient operation of the College. Students are notified by the Academic Advising and Registration Office of any course changes.