Private Reading Courses in the College of Arts and Sciences

Students who wish to pursue a topic not covered in the regular curriculum may register for a private reading course. This one-to-one tutorial is normally at the advanced level in a specific field and is arranged with a member of the faculty who has agreed to supervise the student.

Approval for a private reading course depends upon the following conditions:

• The student should have completed the basic courses offered by the department in which the work is to be done.
• The substance of the private reading course may not duplicate the work of a regular course unless the student is unable to enroll in a course he or she needs to meet the requirements of a major or course sequence.
• Applied music lessons may not count as private reading courses.
• The student is limited to one private reading per semester for no more than three (3) credit hours. Exceptions may be approved by the Office of the Dean of Studies.

Students wishing to register for a private reading course must obtain a Private Reading Registration Card from the Registrar's office, complete it and get it signed by the relevant professor and return it to the Registra's office before the end of a regular registration period or the add/drop period for a given semester.

Students wishing to register for more than one private reading course in a given semester must see a dean in the Office of the Dean of Studies to request permission for this policy exception. Students should have the Private Reading Registration Card completed and signed by the relevant professor before the appointment with the dean.