We offer 12 credits of independent study in some languages in certain cases:
* The student has been admitted with the language of study on his/her application. (i.e., she may not enter with third year French and then announce in the middle that she needs 12 credits of Hungarian).
* Any language will be considered if, and only if arranged in advance with the Graduate School of Language and Educational Linguistics. It will also be based on our ability to test the student at third and / or fourth year level in the language and find an appropriate instructor.
* The student is tested at third or fourth level in the language upon arrival here. We may not have a diagnostic test available for advance testing. If the student has ACTFL or OPI testing available, a rating of about 1+ would equal a third year level (orally). If time permits and an instructor is available, the instructor may contact the potential student ahead of their arrival to the Monterey Institute and determine a level orally. However, if we depend solely on the student's self assessment and the student does not test at a third year level, she/he would be responsible for paying for private instruction until she does reach that level, as with other languages.
* The instructor must be approved by the Graduate School of Language and Educational Linguistics and must be willing to agree to the terms set out below for the supervision. Both the student and supervisor will sign the contract before the course begins, and both will sign a clearance sheet acknowledging the contract has been fulfilled before awarding of a grade or payment of final paycheck.
* The work for credit must correspond to the amount of work normally done for the same number of credits in a class. The actual contact time will be reduced based on the fact that only one or two students are meeting with the instructor. For example, a typical four-credit class would probably include 60 class hours, 20 or more readings, and a significant paper or project. A 4 credit directed study would include only 32 class hours, plus extra independent work (such as the following assignments: reading, listening, using the internet, scola, etc., preparing summaries or other work). There would also be a paper or papers of the academic level and length expected from graduate students in a four credit class.
* The initial contract would state the teaching schedule, the proposed reading list or at least the topics to be covered, and the assignments to be done.
* In order to clear the contract, and receive credit, the student would be responsible for turning in a major course project, any midterms and course work for their file. The instructor will turn in a grade for the course and sign the contract clearance form indicating that the student has completed the work. (If the instructor and student decide to substitute different work to complete the contract, they can write this in and provide documents illustrating it.)
* Pay a $1,500.00 fee (in addition to regular tuition) per semester for the directed studies course.
NOTE: This does not apply to non-language Directed Studies at the Monterey Institute or to any Directed Study units given in languages taught here by regular Monterey Institute full-time employees who are not compensated extra. It may apply to Directed Studies set up with regular Monterey Institute instructors in summer.
