EDST Student Hub - Directed Studies

EDST 4999U - Directed Studies is an opportunity for you to design and complete an independent course on a specialized topic that isn't already covered in the Educational Studies curriculum.

Working closely with a faculty supervisor, you'll develop your own learning outcomes, readings, and assignments to help you explore an area of study that aligns with your academic or professional interests.

Directed Studies can be a great program addition for students who are self-motivated, enjoy independent learning, and have identified a topic they would like to study in greater depth.

Example Directed Studies Project:

Intellectual Property and Licensing for Entrepreneurs in Adult Education

Tima Shah, Educational Studies alum (Class of 2025), wanted to explore issues related to intellectual property, politics, organizational change, and entrepreneurship as they related to adult education. Hear more about Tima's experience in Directed Studies in this brief video.

DS Example - Tima Shah (2024).mp4

How do I enroll in EDST 4999U - Directed Studies?

Identify the topic you're interested in studying.
- To be eligible for a course of Directed Studies, your topic should be relevant to the field of Educational Studies and something not already addressed as its own dedicated course.
  - Please review course descriptions in the current Academic Calendar; if your topic includes multiple disiplines, you may need to look beyond EDST courses to ensure your topic isn't already addressed.
Obtain approval from an member of faculty willing to suprvise your course of Directed Studies.
- Full-time faculty members in the Frazer Faculty of Education are eligible to supervise EDST 4999U - Directed Studies.
- Please refer to the list of faculty members who have expressed an interest in supervision.
  - If you are interested in working with a faculty member not currently on this list, please contact the EDST Program Office to obtain approval before proceeding.
Work with your faculty supervisor to develop a course outline for your proposed Directed Studies.
- Make a copy of the EDST 4999U - Directed Studies course outline template.
- As a course of independent study, your outline does not require the same level of detail as one provided by an instructor for an established course. You will find new resources and rabbit holes along the way!
  
  However, your outline should be detailed enough that the EDST Program Office can understand what you're planning to study, how you intend to achieve your learning outcomes, and an overall plan for the semester.
Submit the Directed Studies application form, including your drafted course outline, before the deadline for the relevant semester.
- To ensure adequate time for review and any required revisions, applications are due 1.5 months before the start of the desired semester.
  - Fall semester: Due July 15
  - Winter semester: Due November 15
  - Spring/Summer semester: Due March 15

Receiving a decision

The EDST Program Office will review all submissions and return a decision within 15 working days. If additional time is required for the initial review, the submitting student and their supervisor will be notified via email.

Decisions will normally come in one of the following forms:

Accepted
- If your proposal is accepted, the EDST Program Office will (a) notify you and your faculty supervisor, and (b) submit a request to Academic Advising to grant access to register for the course.
Revisions required before acceptance
- During the review process, the EDST Program Office may identify some areas of your course outline that require revision before your proposal can be accepted.
- Revisions may include (but are not limited to):
  - Adding more specificity to learning outcomes or assignments
  - Adjusting the scope of the course to more appropriately represent a 12-week, 4000-level course
  - Suggesting readings or materials
- Once you have made the requested revisions and resubmitted your outline to the EDST Program Office, a second review will be conducted.
Declined
- In rare cases, a Directed Studies proposal may not be approved if there are concerns that cannot be addressed through reasonable revisions. These concerns might include (but are not limited to):
  - Proposed topic falls outside the scope of Educational Studies
  - Proposed topic substantially overlaps with existing courses
  - Proposal lacks sufficient academic rigor or clear learning outcomes
  - An appropriate faculty supervisor is unavailable
  - The proposal does not otherwise meet the program's eligibility requirements