Directed Study

Directed Study Policies

• Directed studies will not be permitted when the course is offered during the semester, and it is possible for the student to enroll. Generally, only one directed study project may be in process at a time.
• Only juniors or seniors are eligible for directed study. In rare cases a sophomore may petition the Academic Committee for special permission.
• The department, faculty, or Academic Committee has the right to deny the student permission for the directed study for any appropriate reason. (See the process below.)
• Approximately 35 to 45 hours of academic work are expected per directed study hour, but credit for the directed study may not exceed four semester hours. Credit for a directed study project may not exceed the credit for the standard classroom course.
• No more than six semester hours of directed study will be granted in any one field of study and no more than 12 hours total may be applied to a student's graduation requirements.
• Students are expected to demonstrate mastery through the production of a significant written project or a comprehensive final exam. Final responsibility for evaluation and grading rests with the Faculty Director.
• Students enrolling in directed studies for Summer School must complete 75% of the course work required for the directed study while on campus because directed studies are intended to be campus based and to require frequent consultation with the Faculty Director. Faculty Directors should include in the syllabus and instructions that accompany the proposal what must be done to reach that 75% goal.
• Students are responsible to purchase textbooks that may not be in stock. 
• The non-refundable directed study fee is $35 per hour. Tuition is same as a traditional class. If a student withdraws from a directed study, tuition for the directed study will be prorated, based on the date of the Registrar’s approval, according to the following schedule:

                  During weeks 1 through 3:     25%
                  During weeks 4 through 6:     50%
                  During weeks 7 through 9:     75%
                  During weeks 10 and after:    100%

Process to Secure Approval for a Directed Study

Before you register for a directed study, you must secure the approval of the chair of the department offering your degree, a faculty member, and the Academic Committee for final approval. Presenting a request does not imply pressure from the College to approve or direct the study, and it does not assure approval by the College. The required process is as follows:

1. Secure approval from your academic advisor and ask him or her to fill in the "Statement of Need" section on the directed study proposal form and to sign and date the proposal.
2. Discuss the directed study with the potential Faculty Director. This discussion should culminate with an agreement by you and the teacher as to what the directed study is to accomplish and what procedures and tasks are to be performed by you.
3. Fill out the directed study proposal form completely. If you need more space, you may develop your own proposal, attaching the directed study proposal form (with all the blanks filled in) to the front of it. Work closely with your Faculty Director to use precise language relating to objectives, requirements, textbooks, grading, and completion dates. The Faculty Director must sign and date the proposal.
• A directed study syllabus needs to explain what is different from the regular class, supply dates for assignments, and explain the additional academic work required to compensate for the absence of classroom contact, discussions, and lectures.
• Directed study proposals for summer school must indicate what constitutes 75% of the course work because students must finish 75% before leaving campus.
4. Secure approval from the chair of the department who is offering the directed study. He or she must sign and date the proposal.
5. Submit your signed proposal to the Registrar's Office, so it may be presented to the Academic Committee.