Special Topics Courses (Fall 2025)
Graduate students can email [email protected] to request a seat in an undergraduate course.
Independent Study (IST 596)
The College of IST offers independent study courses with graduate faculty for you to explore topics not covered in existing Penn State graduate courses.
- You must submit an Independent Study Form to the Office of Graduate Programs for review before or during the first week of the semester.
- You can earn a maximum of six independent study credits, with course hours ranging from one to three. These credits count toward specialization requirements.
- Independent study is not a substitute for M.S. or Ph.D. research credits but is intended for coursework on unoffered topics.
- You must meet with your instructor for the required contact hours (e.g., three hours per week for a three-credit course).
- The course must produce a relevant deliverable agreed upon by the student and instructor.
Scholarly Paper (IST 594)
- M.S. students completing a scholarly paper will take IST 594 for the required three credits.
- To enroll in IST 594, email Jenna Hart at [email protected] with an approval email from your adviser stating that you need to be enrolled. Once approval is received, you will be registered for the course.
