Independent Study

Emma Stenberg, ISP Coordinator

Lincoln’s Independent Study Program is designed for motivated learners who are interested in immersing themselves in a self-designed curriculum that reaches beyond Lincoln’s core academic program. With guidance from a project advisor, ISP students develop a year-long or semester course (for full or half academic credit) that delves deeply into a subject for which they have a proven track record of success.

Each student requests the support of an advisor, a teacher for whom the subject or field is familiar. The objective of independent studies is to provide students with an opportunity to pursue an investigation into a subject that is not currently explored in our core curriculum; an advisor offers guidance, though not direct instruction, on the student’s chosen topic.

Although the specifics of any given independent study will vary, all ISP students should be ready to invest themselves in rigorous academic discourse that involves research, reading, experimentation, investigation, reflection, critical dialogue and the production of a final capstone project as the culmination of the course.

Students who are interested in participating in the ISP should submit a comprehensive ISP proposal and online application by the end of April. Please find the Independent Study Program application guidelines at lincolnschool.org/courseforms. Any questions about the program should be directed to the ISP Coordinator or the director of the Upper School.

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