The University of Tennessee Independent Study Program offers the flexibility its students need to fit coursework into busy lifestyles.
The program offers credit, non-credit and career development courses
Non-traditional students, a student with an internship, or a student serving their country thousands miles away from campus are served by this flexible way to take a course.
Today’s undergraduate students juggle numerous responsibilities in addition to their schoolwork. Jobs, internships, families and military duty are just a few of the obligations that can make life chaotic, said Dr. Norvel Burkett, interim dean of Outreach and Continuing Education
“This program allows people with some very unusual circumstances to get the credit or courses they need,” said Burkett. “This is a tool to help them reach their goals.
“The program does not offer a degree, but is an option for taking courses at a highly regarded educational institution. It is reminiscent of correspondence courses common in the past, but is much more accessible and easy to use because of advanced technology.”
Assistant Director Dr. Fadia Alvic says the program, “is all about convenience, flexibility and quality instruction.”
Courses are available at any time and admission to UT is not required. Undergraduate students who are not UT students can take courses to supplement their degrees elsewhere. Independent study students may register for and take classes from anywhere, as long as they have access to the Internet or mail
service for the correspondence.
Students may start a program at just about any time and work at their own pace, taking up to nine months to complete a course. Students also have a lot of class choices in education, science, technology, accounting, writing, languages and more.
Perhaps the most important attribute of this program is the quality instruction, Alvic said. Students get one-on-one instruction from teachers who are either licensed high school teachers in the Knoxville area or college professors in the UT system.
“We are very proud of our program,” said Alvic, “and I believe our quality instructors distinguish us from other programs.”
The Independent Study Program is located within the Distance Education program in the Conference Center Building on Henley Street. For more information on classes or how to register, visit http://www.anywhere.tennessee.edu.