Praxis Independent Study

Students attending the Praxis Poster Session 2022

Praxis Course Highlights

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Praxis Independent Study

A Praxis Student's Perspective

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Praxis Independent Study

If you have questions about Praxis Independent Study, please contact Liv Raddatz at lraddatz@brynmawr.edu or Tiffany Stahl at tstahl@brynmawr.edu.

Praxis Independent Study Resources

Praxis Independent Study (PIS) offers students an opportunity to take a course uniquely tailored to their own academic, career and civic interests. PIS places fieldwork at the center of a supervised learning experience and students work 8-10 hours a week throughout the semester at their fieldsite.

Fieldwork

The fieldwork for Praxis Independent Study consists of eight to 10 hours per week for 12 weeks and constitutes 75 percent of the work for the course. Typically, students complete two, four-to-five-hour visits per week. Fieldwork is supported by appropriate readings and regular meetings with a faculty member who must agree in advance to supervise the project. Students typically meet with their faculty advisor once every two weeks.

Student Support

Students receive additional support from the Praxis staff, who conduct reflection sessions for each semester’s Praxis cohort, visit each student’s field site once a semester to meet with the student and the field supervisor, and coordinate the end of semester Praxis Poster Session.

Eligibility

Praxis Independent Study is an option for Bryn Mawr sophomore and higher-level students who are in good academic standing. Bryn Mawr students are eligible to take up to two Praxis Independent Study courses during their time at the College.

Course Development Process

Advance Planning is required for students wanting to develop a Praxis Independent Study course. There is an application process for students who want to design a Praxis Independent Study course for the fall semester. Click below for a complete timeline.

Step-by-step description of the Praxis course development process

Advising and Supervision

Praxis staff members will then provide guidance to the students in setting up their courses, a process that includes finding a faculty member who agrees to advise their course and a field supervisor at an organization that agrees to host their field experience.

Learning Plan

Before the start of the semester, they will work with their faculty advisor and field supervisor to develop a learning plan that outlines the learning objectives and curriculum for their course.