Independent and Field Study Information

Independent Studies include those opportunities outside of the regular curriculum in which a student is working closely with a faculty advisor to focus on a specific academic or theoretical area of study that is not part of the Kellogg curriculum.

Field Studies include those opportunities outside of the regular curriculum in which a student is working with an outside company or non-profit organization to address a real-world business challenge for course credit under the oversight of a faculty member. Students seeking a Field Study must find a faculty advisor and a project sponsor. The project scope must be agreed upon with the faculty advisor and sponsor. Students may pursue a Field Study as an individual or as a team.

• A cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• A maximum 1.0 credit total of Independent and/or Field Study per quarter.
• 45-60 hours of work for a 10-week 1.0 credit Independent/Field Study; 23-30 hours of work for a 5-week 0.5 credit Independent/Field Study.
• No monetary compensation (salary, stipend, equity, etc.) for work completed as part of an Independent or Field Study.
• Please note: Neither Independent Studies nor Field Studies are eligible for Pass/No Credit grading.
• Additional Field Study Requirements:   
• Students must limit their time on-site with a sponsoring organization - this is an on-campus project with occasional visits to the project site
• Students must represent their Field Study experience on their resume as an educational experience (not work experience)

Registration Process for an Independent/Field Study

1. Secure a faculty advisor. The Faculty Experts Guide can be used to find a faculty member interested in your particular research area.
2. Work with the faculty advisor to complete the Independent and Field Study Application in BidReg. Do not submit the form without previously initiating discussion with a faculty member around Independent/Field Study work.
3. Submit the form by the add deadline for the quarter in which the Study enrollment takes place (usually the beginning of the second week of classes or the beginning of the seventh week for a 0.5 credit Study). This deadline is also indicated on the online form. 

Registration & Records will notify the student, as well as the faculty member, when enrollment is complete. The faculty member will provide the student's grade in CAESAR at the end of the quarter.

If you need help securing a Field Study Project, please go to the Kellogg Job Board and search “Experiential Learning” in the Company field. If interested in a listing, please reach out to the associated contact to discuss project details. Once project details have been agreed upon by both parties, please commence the above Registration process.