In addition to being a Graduate Assistant for the HGSE Admission’s office, I am taking an Independent Study course with an HGSE faculty member this semester. In this blog post, I share my experience working with a faculty member through an independent study.
What does an Independent Study course look like at HGSE?
This semester, I am taking an Independent Study course with Professor Richard J. Light. This course counts for 4 credits and operates like a normal class, meaning I have weekly assignments that Professor Light and I discuss in our weekly meetings. There are two main differences between a regular HGSE course and an independent study course. The first is that I am the only student in the class, so there is a lot of opportunity to really engage with the topics and I need to always be prepared! The second is that instead of doing the assigned pre-work outlined in a syllabus, I create my own work. I identify a topic I want to explore or dive deeper into, and then conduct research to find literature, field experiments, and case studies related to that topic. I then put together a brief of my major findings, which Professor Light and I use to structure our discussions.
How did you find out about this opportunity?
I took Professor Light’s “Tackling Tough Challenges in Higher Education” course this past fall. The final assignment was to write a research paper on a topic of your choice. I wrote mine on the decline in enrollment in humanities majors and how colleges and universities can modernize these disciplines. Side note: this is a topic I had no idea I was passionate about until I started graduate school! Professor Light really liked my paper, and coincidentally, this is a topic that he is also really interested in exploring for his next book. Therefore, he asked if I would be interested in collecting research for him on this subject and noted that he may use some of my findings in his next book. Topics that I have focused the most on are how liberal arts majors can better combine academic knowledge and practical skills and assessing how foreign language programs are effectively (or ineffectively) marketing their offerings to students.
How has this opportunity shaped your HGSE experience?
This opportunity has enhanced my HGSE experience tremendously for two main reasons. The first is that I’ve formed a very strong relationship with Professor Light. He’s become more than just a professor to me. In fact, we often spend the first few minutes of our meetings discussing life and career advice! The second is that conducting independent research has allowed me to gain a deep understanding on a subject that I am passionate about. I’ve discovered that I love researching topics, synthesizing my findings, and discussing the topics with other people that are passionate about them. All in all, my independent study is a truly enriching experience because it sharpens my research skills and gives me the opportunity to work closely with Professor Light, which has been a highlight of my HGSE experience.
What advice do you have for students interested in working with faculty or doing an Independent Study?
To be honest, I did not plan on working with a faculty member or doing an Independent Study when I entered HGSE. My plan in the fall semester was to take a variety of higher education classes to learn more about the sector. Through this exploration, I discovered topics that I was passionate about, as well as gained a more foundational understanding of subjects I knew I wanted to study further prior to grad school (college access initiatives and financial aid policies). My advice is to go into HGSE with an open-mind, and when you meet a professor that you really like and share similar interests with, connect with them! The spring semester is a great opportunity to do an independent study because it allows you to dive deeper on a topic you learned about or became interested in during the fall semester.
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