Directed individual study (DIS) 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 (though different universities may set different thresholds for this), and (depending on the department or major) 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.
References
Sources University of Missouri-Kansas City, Doctor of Pharmacy Washington and Lee University, Department of Accounting University of Alabama, Department of Consumer Sciences Florida State University, Department of Political Science Denison University Registrar's Office. Requirements for Directed/Independent Study University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Communications Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School Curriculum Guide. (See page 4 for directed study information.) __NOTOC__