Independent study looks different across different faculty who supervise students in our department. Most commonly, it means joining a laboratory or research team to engage in the hands-on production of research with the team and faculty mentor, where the research ideas are developed by the supervising faculty in collaboration with students. While less common, an independent study may also be a guided independent project where students expand on their own interests they have developed based on ideas encountered in your Psychology and Education courses. 

Independent study is for any student interested in getting more hands-on research experience in the fields of Psychology and Education. When you are first starting to think about getting involved in research, it is ok if you aren't sure whether you will love it, what your post-Mount Holyoke plans are, or even what to really expect from joining a lab or research team. Faculty supervising independent study do not expect you to be an expert in research methods or data analysis at the time you are looking to get more involved in research--there are opportunities for students at all points in their academic journey at MHC. 

• Dive deeper on a particular topic within Psychology and Education

• Receive academic credit for research during the school year, through Psych OR Educ 295 and 395

• Explore what it is like to conduct research in order to determine whether it is work you enjoy–this can be particularly helpful if you are exploring whether you want to pursue research through graduate school or in a professional capacity after graduation 

• Lay the groundwork for a senior thesis

• Develop relationships with other students and faculty in small group and one-on-one settings

• Gain experience and develop skills that you can use to demonstrate your preparedness for graduate school or a research-related job after graduation

There are different ways to get involved with an independent study. Depending on the faculty member you’re interested in working with, you may work on and propose your own project, or you may collaborate with faculty on pre-existing research. It is more common in our department for students to get involved with research that is ongoing than to propose their own independent project. It’s best to reach out to professors you’re interested in working with and discuss what your independent study experience might look like. You can always reach out via email or by attending a professor’s office hours to learn more about their research, how they organize their research lab, and their expectations for incoming students.  

Why do independent study?

In the Psychology & Education department, independent study is where students can get hands-on experience in doing research. It includes a variety of topics that you can choose to work on with the professors in our department, or in some cases, start your own topic of study. Students can also do independent studies for academic credits. Depending on the time you want to spend on independent study and the work available in a particular lab, 1 to 4 credits can be offered each semester, and they can be added any time during the semester. A maximum of 16 credits of independent study can count towards your degree at Mount Holyoke.

Who’s eligible to do an independent study?

Most research teams have many ways in which students can get involved, so there is no set criteria or prior experience necessary to be eligible for an independent study experience, though some professors may have specific roles in their labs that require a particular skill set.  Everyone is welcome. First Gen & Low Income (FGLI), Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), Frances Perkins, and international students are encouraged and welcome! 

Do you need to apply to do an independent study?

Yes!

However, there are different ways to apply to different independent studies based on the professors. Some professors have google forms to fill out and you can visit their lab website (see details here). Again, don’t hesitate to email professors directly if you are interested!

What are the requirements of an independent study?

Requirements will vary based on the level of involvement and the difficulty of the tasks. In some cases, supervising faculty may have a need for students who have taken particular courses as a prerequisite. However, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professor to ask any questions about their independent study! Professors expect that students will come in with varying levels of experience, and have designed their labs around ensuring there are different ways to get involved. Expect to receive “on the job” training when joining a research lab!

What’s the difference between an independent study and a thesis?

The honors thesis is for seniors who conduct a year long independent project with the mentorship of a faculty advisor. You can find the details of the honors thesis program in psychology  at (link). For independent study, students from any school year are welcome to apply! You can start independent study without taking a research method or statistics class. 

What skills can you expect to learn and how can they benefit you?

Hands-on experience in doing research.

Apply what you learn from statistics and research method class to real research.

Meeting new people who have the same interest in research as you do.

Connection to faculty members.

Knowledge about your research field.

…