By Rebecca Wickstrom
BYU Independent Study courses allow students to submit assignments while wearing pajamas and take a year to finish a semester''s worth of work.
Independent Study offers 304 paper and 141 Web-based courses at both high school and university levels, said Russ Bryant, assistant director of Independent Study over marketing and student services.
Paper courses use traditional assignments, while Web courses allow students to complete work online.
BYU professors teach all of the university courses, which cost $115 per credit.
The most popular courses, based on enrollment, include Statistics 221, Math 97, Biology 100, English 115, History 201 and 202, Psychology 111, Doctrine and Covenants, New Testament and American Heritage. Independent Study offers most other general education courses as well as many major courses.
Students have 12 months to complete the classes, which cover a semester''s worth of work. They can also apply for a three-month extension, which costs $20.
'The motto of Independent Study is ''Education anytime, anywhere, for anyone,''' Bryant said.
Many students take Independent Study courses to accommodate busy schedules, Bryant said.
Chawntelle Oliver, a recent BYU graduate in Spanish translation, took a Web-based Doctrine and Covenants class through Independent Study to complete her degree.
'I wanted to be able to work from home and not be tied down to going to class while I was pregnant and having a baby,' she said.
Oliver said she appreciated the opportunity to work at her own pace.
Ryan Oliver, a senior majoring in public relations, is currently taking three Independent Study courses. He has already taken five Independent Study courses and plans to take at least one more.
Taking these courses will allow Oliver to graduate early.
Ida McDonald, a senior majoring in history, is also using Independent Study courses to finish her degree.
'Independent Study helps me to work through a course concept by concept and ensures that I completely comprehend each concept before I move on,' McDonald said.
Finding motivation to study and complete assignments is one of the challenges of taking an Independent Study class. One of the challenges of taking an Independent Study class.
'Setting up a study schedule is a challenge,' McDonald said. 'And because there''s no lecture, I am unsure of who to go to with questions.'
Independent Study can be contacted at 422-2868 or on-line at elearn.byu.edu.