Independent studies offers learning opportunities for Tigers all around the world
By Drew Stewart, posted 5/3/06

As many students sit through another class of Business 1100, it might comfort them to know that there may be another student working through the same ordea l— only halfway across the globe.

The Center for Distance and Independent Learning, located in room 316 in Clark Hall, offers a diverse array of University of Missouri accredited courses that are taken completely online.  Although these are courses offered by MU, they aren’t meant completely for students in Columbia.

“We have middle, elementary, and high school students that take classes through the CDIS office here at Mizzou,” Operations Supervisor of MU Independent Studies, Kim Hiley, said. “We even have students enrolled from all across the world.”

This diversity of students, which includes professional athletes, soldiers in Iraq and even child television stars, may very well be a result of the flexibility offered by these independent studies courses. Unlike classes taken at MU, independent studies classes aren’t set on semesters; this means a prospective online student can start taking a class whenever he or she pleases.  The only restriction comes in the time it takes to finish a course. High school students aren’t allowed to finish a class in less than four weeks, whereas a college level student cannot finish a class in less than six. 

“We try to slow them up enough to the point where they actually get something out of the course,” Hiley said.

According to Hiley, the CDIS currently has about 27,000 enrollments. Although a great number of these pupils aren’t residing in Columbia, it’s important to recognize the advantages independent studies can offer MU students. If a competitive course is filled quickly at the University, there’s a good chance that same class is offered online through the CDIS office.  These independent studies courses can’t be overfilled and are fully recognized by MU, Hiley said. 

Some recent CDIS students are quick to sing its praises.

“I enjoyed my independent studies class for the freedom it gave me,” MU graduate history student Angela Bell said, after recently completing an online Latin course. “They allow you to move at your own pace.”

It’s also important to note a dependant factor in these courses that may hinder an online student: the personal motivation to succeed.  

“Motivation becomes a big factor in succeeding here at CDIS,” Hiley said. “Some students take classes because they dropped the ball in high school, but they come here and continue to drop the ball because there’s no one to hold their hand.”

Anyone interested in taking online courses through CDIS can contact their office by phone at (573) 882-2491 or can send an email to cdis@missouri.edu. Prospective students can also visit the office’s Web site at cdis.missouri.edu.

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