Independent Studies

Due to the recent budget cutbacks, I am not currently directing independent study projects.
I apologise for having to take this measure.

An Independent Study is an exploration of a topic in language or literature that is not covered directly by any course offered in the department. Independent studies can be on authors or materials not covered in English department courses or approaches to language literature not taken in individual English department courses. Generally, independent studies will require solitary research on the part of the student with some guidance from the instructor. When you approach an instructor asking to do an independent study, you should have done some initial research on the topic and have specific ideas in mind about what you want to do. You may not do an independent study

• On a topic covered by a course in the English Department but not offered in the semester in which you wish to do the independent study;
• On a topic covered by a course in the English Department but not offered at a time convenient for you;
• On a general or vaguely defined topic.

Keep in mind that CSUN professors have one of the highest teaching loads in the nation and are taking on more work when they accept students for independent studies. In order to make sure that you make this investment worthwhile, you should be committed to your topic and to doing work on your own out of a genuine spirit of intellectual enquiry. Note that professors must sometimes (regretfully) decline even worthy proposals for independent studies either because of other time commitments or because they think that the student will not be able to effectively perform the necessary work.