Independent Study & Research

Independent study provides the ideal opportunity for a student to do an extended research project in a subject of particular interest. Students are encouraged to do independent studies with a faculty member with whom they have previously taken a course. Students doing Independent Studies in Art History are required to write a research paper. Faculty in the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies are usually limited to two Independent Study students each semester. A successful Independent Study project can lead to Graduation with Distinction in the Major.

Students interested in completing an Independent Study with an AAHVS faculty member must download and complete the application (below) with their supervising faculty member and obtain all required signatures before submitting to the department’s DUSA. The deadline for submission of an IDST application corresponds with the end of the registration window the semester prior to the independent study. Only in rare cases will a request for an IDST be accepted during the first week of drop/add of a given semester.

Students can request a Writing (W) designation for Research Independent Study when applying for an IDST. To do so the student must complete the W code request form (below) in consultation with their supervising faculty member and include it with their IDST application.

See the Trinity College policy on Independent Study for more information.