An application for a Guided Reading (297) requires a description of the topic accompanied by a bibliography. Arrangement for a Guided Reading project must be made before the work is done; credit is not given for reading done in the past.

An application for Independent Study (397) or Directed Research (299 or 399) requires a thesis statement or equivalent, an outline of the project, and a bibliography. After consultation with the potential faculty director, a student submits an application first to his/her academic adviser for approval, and then to the proposed faculty director, who will decide whether or not to accept the application. The registration process is completed when the application is accepted by the faculty director and is approved by the dean of the College.

A Mentored Advanced Project (499) has the most formal and developed application. In consultation with the potential faculty mentor, a student develops a thorough description of the topic and project, a clear statement of the relation of the project to his or her previous studies, a bibliography or list of sources, and an explanation of the planned product of the project. After securing the approval of the faculty mentor, a student submits the application for approval to the faculty adviser, the academic program in which the MAP takes place, and the dean of the College. The final product of a MAP should be worthy of dissemination to the wider scholarly community.

An application for Independent Study, Directed Research, or a MAP (297, 299, 397, 399, and 499) is due the term prior to that in which such work is to be performed. All such applications for the following term will be due in the Office of the Registrar two school days after the end of preregistration for each term. A completed application for a summer Directed Research or a MAP is due in early June.