Praxis Independent Study Timeline: Spring 2021
This overview includes information about the timing and steps involved in designing a Praxis Independent Study course for next semester. Completion of an application will lead to the development of your Learning Plan which is the document that will guide your course. More information about the Learning Plan process will be forthcoming.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
1. Review information on the Praxis Independent Study webpage.
2. Schedule a Praxis Consultation Meeting with either Lise Reno or Nell Anderson on Handshake to discuss your interests and the application process. If you cannot find a convenient appointment time on Handshake, email Lise Reno at ereno@brynmawr.edu to schedule. It is important to have this conversation prior to completing the application.
3. Have a conversation with your Dean and/or Major Advisor to discuss how a Praxis Independent Study course would fit into your course schedule next semester.
4. Review the Praxis Independent Study application and begin thinking about your responses. You will be asked to identify your course learning objectives, potential field sites and a potential Faculty Advisor for your course.
NOVEMBER
5. Submit your application by 5 PM on Friday, November 6, 2020 using this link.
Note: In an effort to recognize and provide space for the ongoing protests and strikes taking place in response to the killing of Walter Wallace Jr., and the demand for institutional change, we are extending the deadline for the Praxis Independence Study applications to the end of the Pre-Registration period. That date is currently November 20th. This could change.
DECEMBER/JANUARY
6. By Wednesday, December 9, 2020, a faculty member must indicate their agreement to supervise your course via email to praxisis@brynmawr.edu
7. Learning Plan development process includes building on the information in the application and confirming a field placement if this has not already occurred. Please note that more information about the Learning Plan process will be forthcoming.
Frequently Asked Questions: Praxis Independent Study
Who can take a Praxis Independent Study course? Are there any prerequisites or restrictions?
Students interested in taking a Praxis Independent Study course should be sophomores and above and in good academic standing. There are no other prerequisites for taking a Praxis Independent Study course. (Students do not need to complete a Praxis I or Praxis II course in order to take a Praxis Independent Study course). Keep in mind that a student can take a total of two Praxis Independent Study courses during the course of her time at the college.
Where do I begin?
Many students come to the Praxis office with this question. It is best to begin the process of creating a Praxis Independent Study course by visiting the Praxis website. There, you will find stories and experiences of former Praxis students, which may help you to begin formulating your thinking about your interest in pursuing a Praxis course. It is also a great idea to attend a Praxis Independent Study information session. Information sessions are usually held one to two weeks before pre-registration, or just after fall and spring break. At the information sessions, you will have an opportunity to view a Praxis video, talk with students who are currently enrolled in a Praxis Independent Study course, and talk individually with Praxis staff who work with you throughout the process. If you cannot attend an information session, then you can set up an appointment to meet with someone in the Praxis office at another time.
What are the steps I need to take to design a Praxis Independent Study course?
It is best if you arrive at your Praxis meeting with an idea of what you would like to study. What are your learning objectives for a Praxis Independent Study course? You will have an opportunity to discuss these learning objectives with the Praxis staff, as well as consider ways in which you might reframe or broaden your questions to make your proposal more unique.
Praxis Independent Study credit is given from a department, so it is also a good idea to think about what department you would like to receive credit from. You will need to find a faculty advisor to work with throughout your Praxis Independent Study course. Have you already thought of someone? Who are you considering? Who will you be contacting?
You will also need to identify a field placement. If you have identified a particular site, have you contacted them? Have you made arrangements for your Praxis Independent Study course with this site? What arrangements have you made? If you have not identified a site, what are you thinking about? Keep in mind that faculty members and Praxis staff can serve as excellent resources when trying to identify a field placement opportunity.
You will use all of this information to create a proposal for your Praxis Independent Study course. This proposal must be approved by your Academic Dean and the Director of Praxis. After approval of the proposal, you will need to complete a Praxis Independent Study Learning Plan. This information must be approved and signed by your faculty advisor, your field placement supervisor, the field placement coordinator, and the Director of the Praxis program, before you can begin work at your field placement.
How do I register for a Praxis Independent Study course? Who should I contact if it is not listed?
Once your Learning Plan has been completed and signed, turn it in to the Director of Praxis, who will then notify the Registrar’s Office that the Praxis Independent Study Learning Plan has been approved. At this point, a course registration number will be created for the course. If you review your schedule and transcripts to find that your Praxis Independent Study course has not been listed, please contact the Registrar’s Office.
Can I get reimbursement for transportation to and from my field placement?
Yes. You are reimbursed 100 percent for Praxis courses. Additional information about travel reimbursement and forms for recording travel expenses can be found on the Praxis website and the Community Service website.
Is there a list of field placement opportunities available?
Due to the unique nature of each student’s learning objectives, their previous experience with community service or internships, ongoing partnerships between the college and the local community, and newly developing partnerships, there is not a list of field placements available to prospective Praxis Independent Study students. The Civic Engagement Office does offer a list of local service organizations which might serve as a useful guide for getting started. We cannot guarantee, however, that we have a partnership with each organization on the list or that the contact person will still be the same.
What is the difference between a Praxis Independent Study course and an internship?
Typically, an internship provides an opportunity for a student to gain real world experience in a setting outside of the classroom and acquire knowledge and skills that may benefit them when they enter the workforce. Many times, students who participate in internships do not receive academic credit for the work they do.
Praxis courses can be similar to internships, in that they place the student in a setting outside of the classroom, where they will gain real world experience and acquire knowledge and skills that may be useful to them when they enter the workforce. The difference between Praxis Independent Study courses and internships is that a Praxis course is created out of a set of learning objectives or questions that a student has around a particular theoretical concept and its application in the field placement setting. It is a highly academic, reflective course structured by the student’s experiences in the field placement. Students who take a Praxis Independent Study course do receive academic credit for their work.