The Highs and Lows of Independent Studies

If one is interested in a certain topic outside of the catalog, then an independent study may be the right option for them. Many students see it as a golden opportunity to enrich their curriculum. Yet, what exactly does an independent study consist of, and is it worth it?

What is an Independent Study? 

According to the Undergraduate Catalog, “Independent study provides AUBG students with the opportunity to undertake a specialized study and to work closely with individual faculty in the model of an English tutorial”. The student and advisor agree on a topic, but how it is approached is entirely up to the student. The study could be an academic research paper, a theatrical performance, or a work of fiction. Professor Krastanka Bozhinova, who is teaching French at AUBG, is currently working with students doing an Independent Study (Advanced French through Media and Film) and she defines it as “an opportunity to offer a course which does not exist in the catalog.” 

For her, this is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. “It allows a professor to have a course which is more flexible, on a topic which is of interest both to them and the student. It is an opportunity to enrich the curriculum with different, usually more advanced topics,” Prof. Bozhinova says.

To qualify for an Independent study, one must have a cumulative GPA of 3.100 and have completed 30 credit hours. The professor they work with must be a full-time faculty member and the chosen topic must not overlap with already existing courses. 

Why an Independent study?

Independent studies are not mandatory, so the motives behind doing one are different for each student. Some see it as an opportunity to test their creative skills or research methods. Others need the credits to complete their chosen major or minor. Such is the case of Anastasia Dimitrova, a junior at AUBG, who already has two independent projects behind her back and is currently working on a third one. 

“I am doing a self-designed major in Theater and Film, therefore I would not be able to graduate, had I not done an Independent study,” shares Anastasia. However, she also enjoys the creative freedom that comes with the project. “I like the idea of having control over what activities you plan during your Independent study and how it goes.” 

Boyan Bozhinov, an AUBG senior currently writing a work of fiction with the help of Professor Michael Cohen, is in a similar situation. “There weren’t any courses that were available or fitting for me at the moment, so doing an Independent Study is something I need because at the same time I want to get done with the creative writing minor. I took it because of both necessity and interest,” he says.

Benefits and Drawbacks 

Like many academic activities, an Independent Study is both rewarding and strenuous. The biggest challenge for most students is time management. “I would have all of my classes and my job and on top of that I would have to dedicate a significant amount of time per week to work on it,” said Anastasia. Fitting the Independent study in your schedule is also difficult for professors.

Professor Bozhinova says: “The minimum required is to meet our students once a week, but they usually prefer to have meetings twice a week. We try to remain flexible, according to our schedules.”

Some students struggle with doing everything on their own if the professor is not familiar with the process. “Some professors are very adept while others are kind of clueless. There is not much information about the procedure so at one point it is just constant emailing to department chairs until you figure it out,” Boyan says.

Yet, this autonomy is what makes Independent studies attractive to students, as it gives them a way to unleash their full potential. “Drowning Ophelia is the first independent production by AUBG students in 30 years that has been in circulation,” says Anastasia. “The Independent studies at AUBG give you the opportunity to really experiment with where you want to go and what you want to do. Professor Nedyalko Delchev, who supervises most of my Independent studies, allows for creative freedom.”

Boyan is also optimistic about how his current Independent study will turn out. “Professor Cohen is very open to having the study be a huge aid in the long run. He mentioned he was going to also share the publishing options I would have by the end of it.” 

A Word of Advice 

Despite the hardships, professors and students generally enjoy working on Independent studies. When asked whether he would recommend this type of activity, Boyan says: “I would say go for it. The professor is going to give their full-time attention to you and it’s a study that basically fits your remaining credits for the major or the minor.” 

For Prof. Bozhinova, it is the enthusiasm of the students that is gratifying and this is why she finds the working process enjoyable. “You can always see their interest - these studies are not mandatory - it is all their own initiative, so it is really nice to work together,” she says.

Anastasia shares: “If you really want to do an Independent study, there is nothing that should hold you back. Since AUBG grants this opportunity to us, we should take it.” 

Edited by: Niya Manditsch and David Mitov