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Guided/Directed Research

Guided / Directed Research

LAW 7xx; 1 or 2 credit hours

A student may, with the approval of the Academic Dean, undertake Guided or Directed Research (for 1 or 2 credits only), under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. If interested in taking Guided Research with an adjunct faculty member, student must discuss this decision with the Academic Dean prior to approaching the adjunct faculty member.

Following are the guidelines for Guided and Directed Research Projects:

  1. Faculty supervision shall be conducted through regular and frequent meetings.
  2. No faculty member shall supervise more than three projects in a semester.
  3. The end product shall be a written work product which, after grading, shall be filed with the Registrar.
  4. The written work product shall be graded by a letter grade.
  5. Directed Research Projects must be supervised by a full-time faculty member. Guided Research Projects may be supervised by a full-time faculty member, or an adjunct faculty member with prior permission from the Academic Dean, as outlined below:
    • A student must propose the adjunct faculty member to the Academic Dean prior to approaching the adjunct faculty member.
    • If the Academic Dean approves, the student must then approach the adjunct to secure a commitment to supervise the project.
    • If the adjunct agrees to supervise the project, the student must complete this form and attach a written research proposal for the supervising faculty member to sign.
  6. Both (a) the Research Project Request Form and (b) the written proposal must be submitted to the Academic Dean for approval no later than the last day of the Drop/Add period, after the proposal is signed by the supervising faculty member and student.
  7. Ordinarily only available to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 (B) or a 3.33 (B+) average in the particular subject area in which the research is undertaken. If not, the Academic Dean may exercise discretion in deciding whether or not to permit the student to enroll in Guided or Directed Research.
  8. Students enrolled in Directed Research may also enroll in Guided Research in the same or future semesters, but such students must demonstrate to the satisfaction of any supervising faculty member and the Academic Dean that the Directed Research Project and Guided Research Project are sufficiently distinct, and that it is appropriate and fair for the student to be enrolled in and graded separately for each project.
  9. Available for 1 or 2 credits only per term.
  10. Any written work product ordinarily should be approximately 25 pages or more for two credits and 15 pages or more for one credit. Word counts are exclusive of footnotes.
  11. A student may take no more than two (2) credits of Guided or Directed Research in any one semester, and no more than eight (8) credits of Guided or Directed Research total through the law school, whether or not supervised by the same or different faculty members.
  12. Final written work product, after grading, must be filed with the Registrar.

Form of Proposal

A proposal for Guided or Directed Research (in the following form) must accompany this request. The proposal may be prepared entirely by the supervising faculty member or collaboratively by the supervising faculty member and student.

  1. Problem: A precise statement of the particular inquiry to be undertaken.
  2. Approach: Various questions that need to be raised and investigated in order to explore the problem.
  3. Method of inquiry: Published materials, interviews, simulations, experiments, and other methods of inquiry intended to be used.
  4. Data: Indication of the nature of data contemplated, not a bibliography, namely:
    • Primary data: reports, cases, hearings, case studies, and the like
    • Secondary data: writing of scholars.

Indication should also be made of the various disciplines, in addition to law, whose data need be investigated.

  1. Deadlines: Tentative deadlines, which may thereafter be adjusted by mutual agreement of the student and supervising faculty member, of deadlines to be met throughout the term.
  2. Supervision and instruction: Details regarding (a) an agreed-upon meeting schedule for reporting, discussion, sharing research findings, receiving guidance, and facilitating collaboration; and (b) the supervising faculty member’s specific plans for providing guidance in conducting legal research and completing citations that are appropriate to the subject matter.
  3. [Directed Research only] Comparative contribution: A clear delineation of the portion of the written work product that the student is expected to prepare.