English 539, popularly called an “independent study,” allows a student to work for a semester under close supervision with a graduate faculty mentor on a specialized topic not covered in any classes.
Qualifications
The English 539 option offers a unique opportunity. But to ensure that a student has both a significant project and serious intent in undertaking the project, there are restrictions:
- The directed study is available only to students who have been admitted into the English Graduate Program in regular admission status and who have completed English 697, Methods of Research and Bibliography.
- The directed study is reserved for very carefully considered scholarly or creative work and should not be taken to circumvent regular course requirements or to accommodate the student’s convenience.
- A student may not take a directed study in a course that is taught in the classroom during the student’s time in the English Graduate Program (for example, a literature course or an internship that is a regular class in the graduate rotation).
- A student may not use the directed study course as a thesis or comprehensive examination prep course.
- A student may take no more than two such classes during her or his graduate career at Sam Houston State University.
Arranging a Directed Study Course
A directed study course must be proposed and approved during the advisement period in the semester before the candidate undertakes the course. Early in the term, the Director of Graduate Studies typically sends out an announcement to all students notifying them of the deadline.
In order to arrange for a directed study course on a carefully considered topic, follow these steps:
- Choose as a director for your study a graduate English faculty member who is qualified by academic training or interest to direct the project. (See Graduate English Faculty: 2007-2008 for further guidance.) A graduate faculty member is allowed to supervise a single ENG 539 during a semester, so approach the director early.
- Prepare a detailed directed study proposal that outlines the goals of the project; describes fully the nature and scope of the course, with attention to the proposed methods of procedure; discusses the relation of the proposed study to other relevant work in the area; describes in detail the course requirements and methods of evaluation; presents a week-by-week schedule for the course; and presents a detailed bibliography for the course, as appropriate.
This proposal should be written by the student and not by the supervising faculty member. For further guidance, see the questions outlined on the directed study proposal cover sheet.
- Submit the course proposal to the supervising graduate faculty member for approval.
You must submit the proposal during the previous term.
In reviewing the proposal, the GSC will consider the following before making its recommendation to the Chair:
- the significance of the project;
- the thoroughness and carefulness of the proposal;
- the realistic possibilities for accomplishing the goals of the project;
- class enrollments: The University has minimum enrollment numbers required for a graduate class to “make,” and the GSC is committed first to ensuring that classes are filled.
The Graduate Studies Committee may ask for revisions before accepting the proposal and making its recommendation to the Chair.
- Once the proposal has been approved by the Graduate Studies Committee, print off and sign the Directed Study Proposal Form, secure the signature of your faculty supervisor, and submit the final version of the proposal with the cover sheet to the Director of Graduate Studies. The Chair of the Department of English will then open a slot for you in ENG 539 so that you may register.
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