Rev. 10/16

Guidelines for Independent Study in Community Health

Students wishing to pursue an independent study in Community Health should complete the first step in this process prior to registering for independent study credit. The second step should be completed by the third week of the semester in which the study is proposed.

An independent study, like a thesis, is a research project designed and executed by the student with faculty oversight. In contrast to a thesis, however, it is a smaller project that can be completed in a single semester.

  1. The student must identify a faculty member willing to supervise the independent study. The faculty member must be a member of the Community Health Department.
  1. By the end of the first week of school, the student must have completed a preliminary draft of her or his independent study plan. The plan should contain the following elements:
  2. A clear statement of the research question or topic, including the proposed product.
  3. A brief statement of the initial argument. The initial argument should indicate the general direction and philosophy of the thesis.
  4. An initial summary of the literature. This need not be a full literature review but should include a discussion of three or four key papers or books.
  5. A discussion of the proposed methods of the independent study, including evidence the student plans to collect.
  6. A timeline for completion of the study, including dates on which paper drafts will be submitted to the faculty member.

If a student wishes to work on the independent study while he or she is abroad during the junior year or during the summer before the senior year, these steps must be completed before the student begins work on the independent study. Students should not expect to have an independent study approved after their return.

A copy of the study plan must be given to the CH Administrator, who will update the Registrar’s records and place the plan in the student’s file.

If the independent study involves human subjects and requires approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), the student MUST secure that approval before collecting data on human subjects. Students should submit information to the IRB as early as possible to avoid delays in completing their theses. If any data collection is being done while the student is abroad, this clearance must be obtained before the student leaves Tufts.