Directed Study
- A student interested in a Directed Study should initially consult with his/her academic advisor.
- Normally, Directed Study is an option only available to students who are within one or two semesters of graduation and who have no alternative means of satisfying department or university graduation requirements except by enrolling for an additional semester(s).
- Directed Study may not be used to repeat a course.
- Students must have a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average to enroll in a Directed Study.
- Introductory courses and courses offered every semester are not available as a Directed Study except by special permission of the appropriate College/School Dean and the Provost.
- Students may register for Directed Study (limited by the availability and willingness of the faculty to supervise such study) during any regular registration period in the academic calendar (a regular semester or summer terms).
- Students may register for a maximum of four (4) courses by Directed Study, with only one (1) Directed Study being undertaken in any registration period. Any exceptions will be made only by special permission of the Provost.
- A Directed Study must be taught by a full-time faculty member. The original syllabus of the course will be followed.
- The minimum student contact with the instructor will be five (5) hours per semester credit. A proposed schedule of meetings between student and instructor should be attached to the application.
- Directed Study applications must be approved by the academic advisor, supervising instructor, chair of the department of the independent study course, the chair of the student’s major department, and the Dean of the college or school of the student’s major.
- The course will not be entered on the student’s record until the Office of Student Accounts has received tuition payment.
Independent Study
In Independent Study the student must delineate the topic, the direction(s), the depth to be explored, the various ramifications and limits, and the method and amount of reporting. These factors must be agreed upon by the student, the supervising faculty member, the chair of the department granting credit, the chair of the major department, and the dean(s) of the college or school, prior to study approval. Planned studies also must be approved by the appropriate institutional review board. Enrollment in Independent Study shall last for only one semester, and any extension of time may be granted upon the consensus of the supervising faculty member, the two chairs, and the dean(s). The grade (Pass/Fail or letter grade) to be received for an Independent Study shall be decided prior to the formal beginning of the work. The grade is awarded by the supervising faculty member.
Guidelines
- Normally, this program is recommended for senior level students. First-term freshmen may not enroll in an Independent Study.
- Students must have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average to enroll in an Independent Study.
- Students may register for a maximum of four (4) Independent Studies with only one (1) Independent Study being undertaken in any registration period.
- An Independent Study must be taught by a full-time faculty member.
- The following information should be attached to the application form: an abstract of the topic, including the direction(s) of the research, the depth to be explored, the various ramifications and limits of the project, and the method and amount of reporting, including a proposed schedule of meetings between the student and the supervising instructor.
- Independent Study applications must be approved by the academic advisor, supervising instructor, chair of the department of the independent study course, the chair of the student’s major department, and the Dean of the college or school of the student’s major.
- The course will not be entered on the student’s record until the Office of Student Accounts has received tuition payment.