This manual provides information needed by students taking independent study courses (special problems) in agricultural education, business education, home economics education, industrial education, or health occupations education as part of the Vocational Education Studies Program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The first part of the manual explains the requirements of the course and how it is conducted. Included are sections on course objectives, the general process of the course, the contracting process (in which students contract to do a certain number of projects for a certain number of credits), the research process, the reporting process, documentation, and evaluation. The second part of the manual consists of four appendixes that provide materials for use in the course. Appendix A contains 32 professional projects, such as attending meetings, interviewing persons, reading and analysis, and material development. The other three appendixes provide sample contracts, sample reports, and sample student activity logs. Blank versions of these documents also are included. (KC)