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Independent Study is an opportunity to earn academic credit for learning outside the formal class structure.

A student who is interested in knowing more about a topic not covered in the regular Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts curriculum may propose a research project to any rostered department faculty member.

If the student and faculty member can agree that the topic is worth investigating, it is not covered (or not covered in sufficient depth) in departmental courses, and that they share sufficient interest in the topic to sustain an independent study project, the student and faculty member may prepare an independent study contract.

The expectation is that a minimum of 25 hours (1500 minutes) of study time is required for each 1 semester hour of credit.

Eligibility

Independent study in the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts is usually restricted to majors because it is assumed that to conduct an independent study in Cinema Studies the student must have the relevant background knowledge in this discipline.

Independent study in the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts is also usually restricted to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.00 or higher.

• For the Critical Studies Independent Study, students must have completed CINE 1502, 3051, and 3061.
   
• For the Production Independent Study, students must have completed CINE 2000, 2500 or 2600, and 3400 or 3600.

Independent study cannot be done retroactively. That is, the contract for independent study is to be completed, signed and approved prior to the initiation of the project, not after it has been completed. Also, independent study is to be enrolled for in the same time frame as all other courses.

Policies regarding what is and is not acceptable for independent study credit

Some experiences are not appropriate for independent study credit and, in fact, are prohibited by College policy. Please note that independent study projects are generally approved when a student’s graduation is held up by a 1-2 credit hours. A 3-credit-hour project is approved only in exceptional circumstances.

The following experiences are not appropriate for independent study credit.

1. Internship type experiences – Prohibited by College policy.
2. Work in a University department – Prohibited by College policy.
3. Substitute for regular course work – Prohibited by College policy.
4. To meet College List or Core requirement – Prohibited by College policy.
5. Work completed elsewhere (e.g. out of state) unless approved by department before initiating project.
6. Volunteer work — unless work is part of and germane to an appropriate independent study project.
7. Work in business — unless work is part of and germane to an appropriate independent study project.
8. Extra work performed in association with a regular course — unless all procedures in setting up the independent study are followed prior to the course being started.

Semester hours of credit allowed

The maximum hours allowed in independent study are as follows for undergraduates:

1. 16 hours towards degree

2.  8 hours in the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts

3. Maximum of 3 hours for CINE per semester. Maximum 6 credit hours TOTAL per semester.

Independent credit earned in the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts can be used as general upper division credit for the undergraduate major requirement. It cannot be used to fulfill any of the specific upper division requirements (i.e., Film History, Film Theory).

Procedure

1. After consulting with the faculty sponsor the student should email cinemastudies@colorado.edu with their name and the faculty sponsor's name
2. Once request is reviewed and approved, a Docusign will be sent out.
3. When all appropriate signatures are obtained the student will be registered by a member of the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts staff.