Policies related to independent study, tutorials, internships, and peer-instruction are located in the University Catalog.  

VI.6.1 Independent Study

Believing it is desirable to foster the independent pursuit of knowledge, Linfield University maintains an active program of independent study. Such study is intended to allow students to explore academic areas of special interest not ordinarily provided by the existing curriculum. Independent study is carried out under the guidance of a qualified member of the faculty and must have the approval of the chair of the department in which the course is taken and the relevant Curriculum Committee.

Normally, independent study is available only to junior and senior students who have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have satisfied the necessary prerequisites for the proposed course of study. In unusual cases, students who do not meet these criteria may be permitted to undertake independent study, providing that the appropriate department chair submits a letter which, in the judgment of the relevant Curriculum Committee, adequately justifies the proposed study.

In general, no more than four courses of independent study may count toward graduation. Although independent study is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member, it is possible to arrange to do the work off-campus, provided adequate reasons are given and satisfactory arrangements are made for faculty supervision of the work.

Students desiring to enroll in a course of independent study must submit an independent study petition through the Office of the Registrar which must be signed by the supervising instructor and the department chair and submitted to the relevant Curriculum Committee before the end of the first five class days of a semester, or the end of the second day of January Term. Upon approval by the relevant Curriculum Committee, a copy of the petition will be returned to the faculty supervisor, the department chair, and the student.

Because the approval of the relevant Curriculum Committee is granted primarily on the merit of the petition, a special effort should be made in preparing this petition to describe in detail the nature and content of the subject as well as the rationale for undertaking the study.

It is the responsibility of the student to demonstrate that the proposed course is fully equivalent to a regular course in terms of time investment and degree of difficulty.

VI.6.2 Tutorials

Scheduling conflicts sometimes preclude a student’s taking a course required for graduation. In such instances, a student may petition to take the course as a tutorial. Tutorials are courses listed in the catalog that are taken by special arrangement with a qualified member of the faculty and carry the number, title, and credit specified in the catalog. Students enrolled in tutorial courses must meet frequently and regularly with the instructor

Tutorials during academic terms command faculty time and energy in a way that may be deleterious to regular teaching assignments. It is in the general interest of the community to keep the number of tutorials to an absolute minimum. Accordingly, petitions for these tutorials must substantiate, under signature of the student’s academic advisor: 1) that missing the course in question will preclude the student’s graduation within the four years normally allotted to earn a Linfield degree and 2) that other available options (for instance, substitution of an alternative course) have been exhausted. fall, spring, and January Term tutorials will normally be granted only to students with senior standing. The preceding restrictions do not apply to OCE or summer session tutorials.

Permission to take a tutorial may be obtained by submitting a petition, available in the Office of the Registrar, during the first five days of the semester or by the end of the second day of the January Term to the student’s academic advisor and then to the chair of the department in which the course is offered. Following approval by the department chair, the petition will be forwarded to the registrar. Copies of the petition, when approved, are returned to the department chair and the instructor

VI.6.3 Internships

Opportunities of several kinds exist for students to earn academic internship credit while working in off-campus organizations.  No more than 10 credits from internships may count toward graduation.

VI.6.4 Peer Instruction

The Peer Instruction Program affords outstanding students opportunities to develop pedagogical insights and skills and approach course content from new perspectives. In courses using peer instructors, the faculty member remains responsible for all evaluation of student work and for the presentation of course content. Peer instructors aid in the presentation of class materials, help facilitate small group discussions, provide feedback on drafts of written assignments, coach oral and creative presentations, assist with science and other laboratory activities, and/or guide discussions outside the classroom.

Depending on departmental or academic program guidelines, students receive either course credit (by enrolling in 439) or a work-study stipend for serving as peer instructors.