Overview

The Directed Study allows Honors students to work individually with an OBU professor on a topic of the student’s choosing. Students select a topic for study that is not covered by a regular class. The student then asks a member of the OBU faculty to serve as director of the study. Generally, students should select a faculty member with an interest or expertise in the chosen topic. Together they design a study plan appropriate for one hour of college credit.

Once the student writes her proposal, she turns it in to the Honors Director with a Directed Study cover sheet signed by the faculty mentor. Then, the student and faculty member both sign up for a 10-minute Q & A with the Honors Council, to clarify how the Directed Study will work.

Some students become so intrigued and interested in the topic of their directed study that they choose to follow up with more research and inquiry on the same subject for their senior thesis.

Steps for Doing a Directed Study

1. Select a topic and consult with an OBU faculty member about directing the study.
2. Download a Directed Study Proposal Form or request the form from the Honors Program Director, Dr. Barbara Pemberton, Berry Bible Building 101.
3. If you plan to do your directed study in the Fall of 2012, in consultation with your faculty member, complete the proposal and return to Dr. Barbara Pemberton, BBB 101, before 5:00 p.m. and by March 26, 2012 . The Honors Council will notify you ASAP of acceptance in time to preregister. When you pre-register for the Fall Semester of 2012, plan on including the one hour of college credit in your degree plan.
4. The Honors Council will consider the proposal, then, the Council will meet for 10 minutes with the student and her or his faculty member to discuss the work.
5. Students complete the Directed Study with their sponsoring faculty over the course of the semester.
6. The faculty director of the study assigns a midterm and final grade (S or U), informing Dr. Pemberton at mid-term and end of term, who reports the grades to the registrar. The standard determining an S is work at the level of a B or better.
7. Finally, upon completing your Directed Study, the student and her faculty member should fill out the respective surveys, returning them to the Honors Director, Dr. Pemberton, BBB 101.

Directed Study Satisfaction Survey (STUDENTS)
Note: Please keep everything anonymous.

• What did you find most satisfying about working on your Directed Study?
• What did you find most frustrating?
• Do you feel your faculty director provided ample guidance, resources, etc.? Explain.
• How has/will your Directed Study benefit you in the future?
• Please provide any advice/insight on how we might improve the Directed Study.

Directed Study Satisfaction Survey (FACULTY)
Note: Please keep everything anonymous.

• What did you find most rewarding about your involvement in the Honors Directed Study?
• What did you find most frustrating?
• Do you feel your student performed to the level of your expectation? Explain.
• Are you now more or less likely to work with the Honors Program in the future?
• Please provide any advice/insight on how we might improve the Directed Study experience.

Steps for Composing Your Directed-Study Proposal

In one typed paragraph stapled to the back of the Directed Study Proposal Form,

• Title your directed study
• Focus exactly what you are studying in the first sentence
• Explain your method (reading a book, lab experiements, interviews, article surveys, etc.)
• State where and how often you will meet with your professor
• Propose what your final product will be (an annotated bibliography, paper, experiment)