Directed Study, as described in the undergraduate catalog, “offers the student an opportunity to work with a faculty member on an individual study program. A student who is stimulated by a particular concept or problem encountered in a course can pursue and develop that interest in depth through a directed study project. Such individualized study can make a valuable contribution to a student’s educational experience. Directed study courses are made available by departments on the basis of a student’s preparation and motivation and a faculty member’s willingness to accept the student in such an endeavor.”
Directed Study allows advanced students to explore in depth topics that are not covered in the regular economics course offerings. Your course may be structured to award one to three credits and, in most cases, will require writing a paper on your research and findings. These parameters will be established together with a supervising faculty member. Directed Study is available on either a credit / no credit (Economics 698) or graded (Economics 699) basis.
If you wish to pursue Directed Study in Economics, you must:
- Be a junior or senior student majoring in Economics.
- Complete the intermediate courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics.
- Prepare a research proposal and/or reading list.
- Obtain approval from a member of the Economics faculty to supervise your project. Ideally, this will be a faculty member with whom you are familiar and who has expertise related to your desired area of study.
- Have a GPA of 3.0 in Economics coursework completed to date.
- Complete the department’s Directed Study form. Once the form is completed and signed by the instructor, return it to the Economics Undergraduate Office. The staff will create the course for you, allowing you then to enroll via standard university procedures.
By participating in a directed study or senior thesis course, students consent to having their finished paper or project archived by the Economics Department and made available on request. Upon completion of the course, students must email a copy of their finished paper or project to econadvise@ssc.wisc.edu for this purpose.
Please note that Directed Study is intended to allow advanced academic exploration by independently motivated students. Directed Study is not intended as a means to bolster deficiencies in credits or GPA, and it does not count toward fulfilling the department’s advanced electives requirement. If you would like more information on completing research in economics as part of your Directed Study, please click here.
For more information on Directed Study in Economics, please contact the Economics Undergraduate Office at: econadvise@ssc.wisc.edu