Directed Study

What is Directed Study?

Directed Study is a College of General Studies course in which a student pursues independent research for academic credit under the guidance of a faculty member. A student who undertakes a Directed Study usually does so to explore in more depth areas covered broadly in courses, or to explore topics not ordinarily covered in the curriculum. In most cases, students initiate the Directed Study, i.e., they have an idea for a course of study and they approach a CGS faculty member to work with them for Directed Study credit. In other cases, however, students may also request Directed Study credit for working with a CGS professor through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), which is a University-wide academic program that promotes Boston University undergraduates’ participation in faculty-mentored research projects across all disciplines. For more information on the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program visit www.bu.edu/urop.

Policies for Directed Study

  • It is the student’s responsibility to identify clearly the topic and to submit a proposal for a Directed Study. Sufficient time should be allotted to develop a thorough and academically rigorous proposal
  • A Directed Study course may not be used to fulfill a CGS core curriculum course.
  • CGS Directed Study must involve a subject area within the liberal arts. A student may not undertake a Directed Study in business management.
  • The supervising faculty must be a CGS professor.
  • A student may not receive more than four credits for one Directed Study.
  • If taking a Directed Study places a student into an overload, the student is responsible for paying overload charges at the current tuition credit rate.
  • A student may not complete more than six credits of Directed Study as CGS student.
  • The College of General Studies does not award academic credit for internships, except for those offered through Boston University International Programs.
  • However, a student may use an internship as a component of a Directed Study, provided it relates to the academic goals and objectives of the project.

Guidelines for Arranging a Directed Study

  • Identify the topic. What is the area or subject of interest? What are your research questions?
  • Arrange an initial conference with the supervising faculty member(s). The purpose of the meeting is to design a cogent plan for completion of the course. Topics to discuss:
    • Readings—What will you be reading—journal articles, essays, books? Specify the number of pages.
    • Writing—What are the specific writing requirements? Journal entries, annotated bibliographies, research papers, etc.?
    • Exams—Will there be an examination component to the Study?
    • Fieldwork—Is there an experiential piece to your Directed Study, e.g., lab work, internship, other field experiences?
    • Contact Hours with Your Professor—How often will you meet with your professor? What will be the nature of the meetings?
    • Time Line—When are your assignments due? When will your exams take place (if applicable)?
  • Applications for Directed Study are available in Room 211.

Directed Study Topics

Here are some examples of topics investigated by CGS students in recent years. In some cases, students worked as assistants in ongoing faculty research. Sometimes the topics chosen by the students included work experiences or travel and field research; some have been supported by grants or UROP.

Isoproterenol stimulates myosin synthesis in apoptotic cardiomyocytes with Prof Sommers Smith
Neurology and Gene regulation with Prof Sommers Smith
Leadership in government with Prof Varat
Contemporary Central and Southern Africa with Prof McGrath
European economic history from 1300–1900 with Prof McGrath
Analysis of the myths in the Odyssey with Prof Kremer
The Great Pyramids (including research travel to Egypt) with Prof Schoch
An analysis of environmental changes in Egypt over the last 6,000 years (including research travel to Egypt) with Prof Schoch
The origin of life with Prof Schoch
Examination of choices made in public broadcasting/propaganda (combined with a work experience) with Prof Emery
Gothic fiction with Prof Vail
Investigation of broadcast news: why certain choices are made from the perspective of ethics (combined with a work experience) with Prof Stoehr
Euthanasia with Prof Mahon
History of television production and news with Prof Whalen
American politics with Prof Varat
History of radio (combined with a work experience) with Prof Parfitt
Influences of television on American culture (combined with a work experience) with Prof Cole
Late 19th-century aestheticism with Prof Masters
The work and life history of Mary Cassat with Prof Masters
The Cold War with Prof Wend
Development of the political state with Prof McGrath
Sociological, philosophical, and scientific perspectives on human behavior with Prof McGrath
Traditional Chinese society under Confucianism with Prof Grasso
Holland during Nazi occupation in WWII: analysis of domestic and foreign policy with Prof Grasso
Environmental justice with Prof Dunlavy
The quality of local TV news: an analysis of the Miami market (combined with a work experience) with Prof Regan
The work of artist Marc Chagall with Prof Farrell
Microscopic human pathology/forensic science with Prof Sommers Smith
Work as an expression of identity in literature and film with Prof Wells
Freud’s theories on human behavior with Prof Sweeting
History of Women in Radio with Profs Boots and Hansen
Explanation of aspects of evolutionary biology in a format that appeals to nonscientists (involved creating a video) with Prof. Hammer
Theories of socialization, particularly Mead and Erikson with Prof. Waller
Changing expectations of middle class fathers in Victorian England with Prof McKnight