Honors Independent Study is a course offered to highly qualified, motivated and responsible students who complete an approved application for the course. The following is part of the description from the Homestead Course Guide:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity for advanced in-depth study in an area of their interest and proven aptitude. The course is aimed at students who have finished or who are concurrently enrolled in the highest course of the instructional sequence in that area at Homestead. The course may also be used to meet the needs of students for whom no course is currently available at Homestead, according to department guidelines. However, independent study is not intended to take the place of a course offered at Homestead.
Honors Independent Study can be an option for students who wish to take AP and other advanced courses that are not currently offered at HHS. Two examples of AP courses students have successfully taken via Independent Study include AP Comparative Government and AP European History. Highly advanced math students have engaged in study of such topics as Differential Equations and Linear Algebra by completing courses offered by MIT OpenCourseware as part of their independent study.
Because the Homestead Independent Study Program is very rigorous with high expectations for the students, we have the independent study students write a summary of their course. That summary is included with the student's transcript when they apply to college and is one way students can distinguish themselves as highly motivated, enthusiastic students who are ready for the rigors and challenges of college.
Students interested in independent study should plan ahead to make sure they are qualified for the independent study they seek. It is recommended that interested students seek out the Homestead TAG Coordinator to begin planning ahead for this exciting experience.
Updated: 9/24/21