Purpose
The School of Business at SUNY Fredonia provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to investigate an idea, assist in research, or create a project under the supervision of a faculty member, distinct from regular courses.
How many credit hours can I get?
Based on the workload assigned, the readings required, and the policies of the school, you can generally receive 1-3 credits applicable to your major or minor, though these credits will not count towards the Fredonia Foundation Requirements. Grading is typically "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" not a letter grade.
What will students do?
Students who enroll in an Independent Study are required to undertake a project (such as a case study, quantitative research, qualitative research, etc.) that aligns with the credits they require. The student mentor will evaluate and discuss the project with the students. A project plan or timeline will be established in conjunction with the mentor & student.
Responsibilities
Independent study takes place outside of regular class times. Before enrolling in this kind of course, ensure you have sufficient time available. Typically, professors anticipate that students will dedicate a specified number of hours each week based on the credits they will earn. For example, as a general guideline, a three-credit course is associated with three hours of class and two hours of coursework for each credit weekly (i.e., you should expect to invest approximately 8 hours on a two-credit independent study course every week throughout the semester). Faculty members expect students to be organized, self-directed, and motivated during their independent study.
Meeting with the Mentor
The student should meet regularly with the mentor throughout the semester to discuss progress and receive feedback on writing assignments and other projects.
How often are independent studies offered?
Enrollment in an independent study follows the standard course registration process. Independent Studies are generally reserved for students with a GPA of 2.5 or above. Faculty may approach you or you may approach a faculty member with a research idea. If there is mutual interest, faculty will initiate the independent study registration process. Identifying the Independent Study discipline according to the project content, faculty will request the course creation from the Chair. Once approved, a department override will be provided, and the student will be prompted to register by the mentor/designee.
What is the student capacity of each Independent Study?
Faculty can mentor up to 3 students per semester.
Who is my Mentor?
Mentors are determined based on students' majors or minors. The following faculty members are currently involved in mentoring students:
- Dr. Lipika Arif, Business Administration
- Dr. Adam Cook, Economics
- Mr. Edward Croft, Music Industry
- Dr. Kerry Fischer, Sport Management
- Dr. Seungbak Lee, Sport Management
- Dr. Mark Nickerson, Business Administration
- Mr. Armand Petri, Music Industry
- Dr. Mojtaba Seyedian, Business Administration/Economics
- Dr. Lisa Walters, Business Administration