Directed individual study
Directed individual study is a college, university or college preparatory school level class providing a more in-depth and comprehensive study of a specific topic than is available in the classroom.
Courses may be taken as electives. In some cases, a directed individual study may be:
- A professor-student rendition of a course that will not be offered again before a student graduates
- The college or university department does not have an established course on the subject area
- The student wishes to research an available course in more depth
- A course offered at another college or university that is not a part of the general curriculum
- Courses that may be applied to satisfy the requirements for a Master's degree.
Process
Eligible students are above a certain GPA, and may need to complete certain standard courses as prerequisites.A student identifies an area in which he or she wishes to undertake research and approaches a faculty member with expertise in that field to request a directed individual study.
The student and instructor complete a DIS form and submit it to the academic coordinator who establishes the course in the registration system. The student often titles his/her own subject area.
The content and requirements of the course are worked out between each instructor and student. Generally, students should not expect a faculty member to agree to a directed individual study unless they have had the student in a regular class and are familiar with that student. The faculty member develops a related syllabus, for review and approval by the department chair and in some cases the dean of the college.