Directed Studies

Undergraduate Directed Activity Process

The Directed Study contract is now known as the Directed Activity Contract and is filled out and routed using an online workflow form.

Only students can initiate the workflow, but there is a Directed Activities Contract Student and Faculty Discussion Guide to use when working out the terms of the contract beforehand.

Process

  • Student and instructor discuss the details of the project, using the Directed Activities Contract Student and Faculty Discussion Guide.
  • Student fills out the Directed Acticity Contract Form and submits it. The system routes the form to the instructor to review.
  • IMPORTANT: The instructor reviews the form and if there are no changes, routes it on to the Academic Approver, the DUS. To do this, put the DUS's Internet ID (i.e., x.500) in the Academic Approver field.
  • The DUS reviews it and then sends it on to the Final Approver in the GNSD office (currently style019).
  • The Final Approver checks it over to make sure all the information is correct and provides a class number and permission number for the student.

EXC or IND registrations - Undergraduate

EXC (old “X”) registrations allow a student to register for extra credits (up to 3) in a class by arranging with the instructor to do extra work or explore a subject in more depth. This type of registration requires both instructor and department approval. This option is rarely used, and as of July 2022, the person managing the CLA Directed Study process wasn't sure what the process would actually entail.

IND (old “Y”) registrations allow a student to complete a course by studying independently under the instructor's guidance without attending class. This comes up most often when a student wants to take an existing course that isn't being taught that semester. This type of registration requires instructor and department approval. Once the student has met with the faculty member and the department, the student should fill out the CLA Undergraduate Independent Study Registration (IND) Student/Faculty Contract, which is a Google form. 

Allow 5-7 business days for processing. Once the form has been received by the CLA Student Services office, they will email the faculty evaluator and the department representative for approval to set up the course. Once CLAS Student Services receives approval, they will process the form and email the student a permission number to use to register for the course.

Graduate Directed Studies Process

Use CLA’s Graduate Student/Faculty Contract: Directed or Independent Study form, which should be completed and routed electronically.

Process

  • Student fills out the form with the instructor.
  • Student and instructor sign the form.
  • Student (or instructor) sends emails the signed form to the department email account.
  • After the office processes the request, we will email the completed contract to the student along with registration information.

EXC or IND registrations - Graduate

This form can also be used for EXC (old “X”) or IND (old “Y”) registrations. The IND registration is most useful, especially when there is a required course that isn’t being offered in a term that the student needs to take it.