'''Directed individual study''' ('''DIS''') is a college, university or college preparatory school<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://schools.cranbrook.edu/ftpimages/209/download/2013-14-Upper-School-Curriculum-Guide.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212085333/https://schools.cranbrook.edu/ftpimages/209/download/2013-14-Upper-School-Curriculum-Guide.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-12 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 == {{reflist}}
== Sources == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110419151400/http://pharmacy.umkc.edu/docs/stuser/DISGuidelines_RequestForm.pdf University of Missouri-Kansas City, Doctor of Pharmacy] *[http://collegeapps.wlu.edu/courses/coursesbydept.asp?departmentname=Accounting Washington and Lee University, Department of Accounting] *[http://www.ua.edu/sacs2/syllabi/06443886.pdf University of Alabama, Department of Consumer Sciences] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071221081555/http://www.fsu.edu/~polisci/undergraduate/opportunities.htm Florida State University, Department of Political Science] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20101006031846/http://www.denison.edu/offices/registrar/directed_independent_studies.html Denison University Registrar's Office. Requirements for Directed/Independent Study] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080726175352/http://www.uncwil.edu/com/academics-individual.html University of North Carolina-Wilmington, Communications] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20131212085333/https://schools.cranbrook.edu/ftpimages/209/download/2013-14-Upper-School-Curriculum-Guide.pdf Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School Curriculum Guide. (See page 4 for directed study information.)] __NOTOC__
Category:Curricula Category:Higher education Category:Education in the United States