School of Continuing Studies

The School of Continuing Studies offers more than 125 online independent study courses. Take courses for personal enrichment, or apply the credits you earn toward a Bachelor of General Studies or a degree at your home institution.

Important: If you are a general studies student on one of Indiana University's campuses, please check with your advisor to make sure that the courses you select satisfy your remaining degree requirements. If you are an Indiana University student in a department other than general studies, you may not register for an independent study course unless you have approval from the associate dean or dean of your school. This is true even if was your academic advisor who referred you to the Independent Study program. 

With online independent study courses, you

• work at your own pace, but get plenty of individualized instructor feedback.
• can register for - and start - your courses year round.
• can complete many of your courses in as few as four months, but - if you need more time - have up to one calendar year to complete all lessons and exams.
• access your course guide on the Web.
• submit your lessons via the Web.
• take your exams in the presence of an approved exam supervisor.

Independent study courses are developed, reviewed, and approved by their on-campus academic departments. As an independent study student, you complete a similar amount of work and receive the same credit as you would in on-campus courses. Your work is graded according to the same standards established for on-campus courses.

Important: Please note that registrations for print (correspondence) courses ended December 31, 2011, and that the deadline to complete all print courses is December 31, 2012.