Departmental Independent Study Projects (DISPs) are facilitated directly through an academic department. You can work with a faculty member who registers the DISP through their department. The course is often called "Independent Reading and Research" or "Independent Research" (a specific course title will not appear on your transcript).

DISPs are an alternative to Independent Study Projects (ISPs). ISPs require submission of a syllabus and review of the proposal by members of the College Curriculum Council the semester before the ISP takes place. By contrast, DISPs do not require an approval process ahead of time; they are typically planned and facilitated within the same semester. Work directly with your faculty advisor to determine the expectations you both have for the credit no later than two weeks into the semester in which the DISP takes place. They will give you an override code, and you must register for the course no later than the Add a Course deadline listed on the Academic Calendar -- the end of the fourth week of the semester.

Note: If you are an F-1 visa holder seeking off-campus work authorization through the non-professional track Curricular Practical Training (CPT), please email internationaladvising@brown.edu. Connect with a member of the international student advising team to understand your eligibility, the application timeline, and to craft your CPT Independent Study Proposal (ISP).

The Registrar's deadline for registering for a DISP is no later than four weeks from the start of the semester. (This is the same deadline for adding a course for the term/semester.)

First, you need an idea, a topic, an orientation, or a subject that you are truly interested in. Discuss your chosen topic with relevant professors and faculty members to refine your course outline. Each department has unique regulations regarding the structure and deadlines for Departmental Independent Study Projects, so it is important to communicate with Brown faculty who do related work and with department chairs. Remember that you will be working closely with a professor, so discuss your ideas and goals and figure out what works for both of you. Professors invest their time in Departmental Independent Study Projects, so you have to respect their time!

Steps to Take

Here are the steps you need to take:

1. Find a faculty member to work with. You can either choose a professor whose class you have previously taken or one with academic interests similar to yours. (Tip: Visit Researchers@Brown to find professors whose interests align with yours.) We recommend contacting potential DISP faculty at least a semester before you hope to enroll in their departmental independent reading/research course.
2. Go to Courses@Brown.
3. Select the "Include Independent Study Courses" option.
4. Look up the department where you want to register your DISP in.
5. Add "Independent Research" (or something similar) to your cart. DISPs are usually 1900-level courses in that department.
6. Request an override code through Courses@Brown. (If you don't see your faculty advisor on CAB, contact the department head and the registrar to get them added to CAB so you can register for their DISP section.)
7. Once the professor grants you an override, register for the DISP before the end of the 4th week of the semester.

Visit the CRC during open hours to discuss your topic and the merits of choosing an ISP or a DISP. Although DISPs do not submit proposals to the CRC, we can still help you and provide resources for drafting a syllabus!

Note: For Departmental Independent Study Projects, students do not need to submit a proposal to the CRC. However, it is probably a good idea to draft one anyway so that students and the faculty sponsor are "on the same page" as the semester begins.