University of Iowa Guided Independent Study (GIS) courses may be taken by students admitted to The University of Iowa, students admitted to other institutions, and by part-time students not currently admitted to any degree program. GIS welcomes students living within or outside the United States (instruction is in English). GIS is not administered on a semester basis, so students may enroll anytime during the year and work at their own pace within a nine-month period. GIS thus provides considerable flexibility for students whose work or personal schedules do not readily allow attendance on campus as well as for admitted students who may need to supplement their regular schedule of courses

All GIS course study guides are available on the Web and are provided in eBook format, which allows for easy printing, zoom and display options, note and highlighting tools, and read-aloud and search features. Some features require an Internet connection, such as an integrated dictionary/thesaurus, links to external course Web sites, links to online eTexts (where available), and student services and help pages. For those who prefer a hardcopy or who do not have Internet access, a bound study guide may be obtained for a fee.

The course study guide provides a sequence of lessons (similar to on-campus lecture materials) with commentary by the instructor, study suggestions, reading and written assignments, and instructions on taking exams in a student’s locale. Instructors provide personalized feedback to lessons, which may usually be sent and returned by e-mail.

Some 120 courses are available, primarily in liberal arts, education, and nursing. Some satisfy requirements in the General Education Program at The University of Iowa. Visit the GIS Web site for information on specific courses, the instructional/examination process, and enrolling in GIS.