Undergraduate Directed Study at CAS
A Directed Study is a CAS course in which a student pursues independent research under the guidance of a CAS faculty member. A student may choose to undertake a Directed Study for the following reasons: 1) to pursue in depth an area covered more generally in a course, or 2) to explore a topic not normally covered in the curriculum. Students should consult with their supervising faculty member to design a clear, explicit plan for the completion of the directed study course including supervision, research materials, and assignments.
Navigate below to learn more about undergraduate Directed Study policies and applying for Directed Study. If you have questions about Directed Study courses, please contact CAS Advising at casadv@bu.edu.
Undergraduate Directed Study Policies
- CAS Directed Studies must involve a subject area within the liberal arts. For example, a CAS Directed Study may not be undertaken in the area of business management or public relations.
- The supervising instructor must be CAS faculty.
- A Directed Study may not be used to replace a course currently offered in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- A Directed Study may not be used to fulfill a college requirement including the CAS Second Language Requirement.
- A directed study can be worth 1 to 6 credits, with a maximum of 12 credits counted towards degree credit.
Apply for an Undergraduate Directed Study
- Fill out all three sections on the Undergraduate Directed Study Application with your supervising faculty member.
- Next, the Department chair’s approval is required. Applications submitted to CAS Academic Advising without a Department chair’s signature will be returned to the student.
- The completed application should be submitted in CAS Academic Advising (100 Bay State Road, Room 401), where it will be reviewed by the Directed Study Coordinator. Upon approval, the student will be registered for the course by the CAS Academic Advising staff and notified of their registration via email.
- All applications must be submitted to CAS Academic Advising no later than the last day to add a standard class for the semester in which the Directed Study will occur.