Independent Study Courses
Financial Aid Guidelines For Independent Study Courses
The University of Missouri Center for Distance and Independent Study provides academic opportunities for students who desire or need to take courses independently of the traditional classroom. In general, scholarship and other forms of financial aid are not available through the Center for Distance and Independent Study.
A regularly admitted UM St. Louis student may received financial aid taking Independent Study Courses(s) under the following conditions:
- Student must be enrolled at least half time status as an UM-St. Louis degree seeking student.
- Only independent study courses that count toward a student's degree will be considered. The student is responsible for providing the Financial Aid Office with a verification form signed by the academic advisor.
- Only independent study completed with a grade of "D" or better will be counted.
- An independent study course will count after the course is completed and a grade is posted on the student's UMSL transcript. The month a grade is posted to the transcript will determine which semester the course counts toward enrollment. See chart:
| August | Fall |
| September | Fall |
| October | Fall |
| November | Fall |
| December* | Fall |
| January | Winter |
| February | Winter |
| March | Winter |
| April | Winter |
| May | Winter |
| June* | Summer |
| July | Summer |
*In order to pay Pell , the financial aid office must have appropriate documentation of federal student aid eligibility prior to the end of the semester. Appropriate documentation includes an output document from federal processing center indicating federal student aid eligibility. In order to receive a loan, the loan must be originated prior to the last day of the semester.
To determine the enrollment status for taking both regular and independent study courses please refer to the following chart:Credit Hours of Regular
Work |
Credit Hours of Independent
Study |
Total Course Work Load
to Determine Enrollment |
Enrollment Status |
| 6 | 3 | 9 | 3/4 time |
| 6 | 6 | 12 | full time |