Directed Study Policy

A directed study (DS) is an independent study of a regular course granted to meet the needs of a graduating senior with specific circumstances. Students may apply for a DS only when, in his/her last two semesters, a required course is needed to complete degree requirements and that course conflicts with another required course or was not offered by the college the previous two regular semesters.
Directed studies (DS) will vary depending on the nature of the course but will have the same outcomes and similar assignments as the corresponding classroom-based course.
A student may not take more than two directed studies within his/her academic program. Professors are limited to two directed studies per semester.
Directed studies are designed for upper-level courses. Because students are required to take foundational courses prior to their 80th hour (see “General Education/Basic Skills” section of Catalog), directed studies will not be granted for General Education Foundation courses, courses listed as Additional Requirements for General Education, and Biblical/Theological Foundation courses.
Students who wish to undertake a directed study (DS) course should submit a completed directed study application to the Executive Vice-President of Academic Affairs during the advising/pre-registration and no later than one week after the last day of freshman advising/pre-registration as published in the catalog. Applications are available from the professor leading the study, the Assistant to the Executive Vice-President of Academic Affairs, from the university Registrar, and the university website.
The application procedure is as follows: The student is responsible for acquiring an application, discussing the possibility with the professor who will potentially lead the DS course, acquiring the signature of the professor, acquiring the signature of the division chair of the division of the course, and submitting the application to the Executive Vice-President of Academic Affairs by the stated deadline (See BUF Academic Calendar).
The Executive Vice-President of Academic Affairs and the Registrar will discern whether the request meets the criteria and inform the student and the professor of the approval/disapproval by campus email.
If approved, the student should ensure that he/she has been registered for the course and then report to the professor for a syllabus during the first week of classes of the appropriate semester.