Requirements for a Directed Study Major or Minor

• The directed studies program will contain mostly regular Northland College courses, with additional selected studies, internships, independent study courses, and research courses and projects designed to meet the student’s individual needs.
• A student pursuing a directed studies major may not complete a second major concurrently. A student pursuing a directed studies minor must avoid duplication of courses from their chosen major.
• All directed studies degree programs must be approved by the Academic Standings Committee of the Academic Council.
• A student wishing to pursue one of these programs needs a minimum GPA of 3.00 and is expected to maintain that GPA.
• Proposals for the directed studies program must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office no later than November 10th of the student’s junior year.
• The student must assemble a Faculty Advisory Committee to oversee their directed studies program. The student’s Faculty Advisory Committee consists of a chair, which may be his/her academic advisor, and two other regularly contracted faculty members. At least one faculty member must be within the student’s area of focus. The Faculty Advisory Committee must approve the proposal before it is submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
• The Chair coordinates input from the faculty members serving on the committee during preparation and ongoing assessment of the proposal.
• The proposal must contain a detailed and explicit statement of rationale, showing precisely why a directed studies program is appropriate, how it prepares the student for further study or professional involvement, and how this differs from a traditional major. In addition, the proposal should show how each course proposed contributes to the major.
• The proposal must identify a specific focus and show how the independently designed program addresses that focus.
• The proposal must state how and when the student’s program will be evaluated. A senior thesis or similar capstone experience, integrating all aspects of the student’s program, is to be included in the program design.
• Directed studies program proposals normally include a minimum of 30 semester hours of upper division (300-400) level courses. A minimum of 12 semester hours in one program area is expected.
• Once the proposal is approved, the student is required to meet with his/her Faculty Advisory Committee to complete and submit a Directed Studies Program Continuance Form at the end of each semester. All changes to a student’s original approved proposal must be approved by the Academic Standings Committee.
• The student and the committee chair will coordinate a meeting with the other committee members at the completion of all directed studies requirements to evaluate the success of the proposal.