directed study

Definition

An independent course where a student works one-on-one with a faculty member on a specialized topic not covered in regular offerings, either because it's genuinely obscure or because someone needs to graduate this semester. Academic customization or schedule-fixing, you decide.

Example Usage

Unable to fit the required seminar into her schedule, she arranged a directed study on postcolonial literature with Professor Kim.

Origin

Academic program flexibility terminology from mid-20th century

Fun Fact

Directed studies can be legitimate research opportunities or barely-disguised credit dispensing, depending on institutional oversight.

Source: University catalog and academic policy documentation

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