Directed Research & Directed Studies Projects
Directed Research and Directed Studies allow students to pursue in-depth learning in a focused subject area tailored to their individual professional and academic interests.
Students may choose one of the following options:
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Directed Research: Develop a thesis and research agenda that culminates in a substantial academic research paper.
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Directed Studies: Conduct research in collaboration with a faculty member without producing a substantial academic research paper.
Note: Students may earn a maximum of six (6) total credit hours through Directed Research, Directed Studies, or a combination of both. However, students may not take more than three (3) credits of Directed Research and/or Directed Studies in a single semester.
Attention: Students must be enrolled in Directed Research/Directed Studies credits no later than 5:00 p.m. on the add/drop deadline for the semester. The application form should be submitted at least a week before the add/drop deadline in order to complete the approval process, which includes faculty approval and Associate Dean approval. Once the form and approvals are received, the Law Registrar will enroll the student in the credit(s).
Directed Research
Graded or Pass/Fail; 1–3 credits per semester
Directed Research allows students to explore a legal topic in depth under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. It is intended for topics that are not regularly covered in the College of Law curriculum or that a student wants to explore more deeply than a traditional course allows.
Students conduct independent research and complete a substantial scholarly written work.
Directed Research Requirements
A Directed Research project must involve meaningful academic work. Students are expected to:
- Conduct legal research, empirical research, and/or substantial academic discussion with their faculty supervisor.
- Complete one or more substantial scholarly written works.
- Complete approximately 50 hours of work per credit hour.
Credit and Enrollment Rules
- Students may register for 1–3 credits per Directed Research project.
- Students may complete only one Directed Research project per semester.
- Directed Research may be taken graded or pass/fail, subject to approval.
- With approval from the faculty supervisor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a project may extend across two semesters for up to 6 total credits under a single proposal.
- No more than 6 total credits of Directed Research, Directed Studies, or a combination of both may count toward graduation.
Directed Research Limitations
Directed Research may not be used to:
- Replace a regularly offered course that you have not taken, even if the course is full.
- Primarily perform teaching or research-assistant work without independent educational value.
- Satisfy the College of Law’s experiential learning requirement.
- Complete a project that consists primarily of skills-based work.
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Directed Research may be used to satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement with prior approval.
To qualify, the project must:
- Be approved in advance as a substitute for a seminar.
- Be completed for 3 graded credits, consistent with the expectations of LAW 7800 (Seminar).
- Address a significant legal issue.
- Include original, in-depth, and critical legal analysis, rather than primarily summarizing existing sources.
- Demonstrate substantial legal research supported by extensive citations.
- Be clearly organized and professionally written.
- Be at least 7,000 words, excluding footnotes, endnotes, and the bibliography.
- Comply with all applicable academic integrity requirements.
- Receive a final grade of B or higher.
Students interested in using Directed Research for the Seminar Writing Requirement should discuss this option with their faculty supervisor early in the planning process.
Faculty Supervision for Seminar Papers
For a Directed Research project used to satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement, the faculty supervisor must:
- Work with the student to develop and refine the paper topic.
- Review and provide detailed feedback on at least one complete draft.
- Encourage revisions; multiple drafts are strongly recommended.
- Require review using plagiarism-detection software before final grading.
- Review and grade the final paper.
Research Involving Human Subjects
If your research involves human subjects, you must receive approval from the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) before beginning the project.
How to Register
- Find a faculty supervisor. Identify a full-time faculty member who agrees to supervise your project.
- Plan your project. Work with your faculty supervisor to determine the topic, scope, number of credits, grading method, and project expectations.
- Submit the Directed Research & Directed Studies form. The form is located at the bottom of this page.
- Receive approval. Your faculty supervisor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must approve the project.
- Wait for enrollment. Once all approvals are received and registration is open, the Law Registrar will enroll you in the appropriate credits.
Registration Deadline
Students must be officially enrolled in Directed Research or Directed Studies by 5:00 p.m. on the semester’s add/drop deadline.
Submit the Directed Research & Directed Studies form at least one week before the add/drop deadline to allow enough time for faculty and Associate Dean approval.
After all required approvals are received, the Law Registrar will enroll you in the appropriate credits.
Apply for Directed Research or Directed Studies
Directed Studies
Pass/Fail Only; 1–2 Credits per Semester
Directed Studies allows students to explore a specific legal topic under the supervision of a full-time faculty member without completing a substantial academic research paper.
It is intended for topics that are not regularly covered in the College of Law curriculum or that a student wants to explore in greater depth than a traditional course allows.
Directed Studies Requirements
A Directed Studies project may include:
- Developing legal research skills while exploring a specific area of law.
- Studying a topic related to a faculty member’s research or scholarship.
- Conducting research with or under the supervision of a faculty member.
- Completing approximately 50 hours of work per credit hour.
Credit and Enrollment Rules
- Students may register for 1–2 credits per Directed Studies project.
- Directed Studies must be taken pass/fail.
- Directed Studies may not be used to satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement.
- No more than 6 total credits of Directed Research, Directed Studies, or a combination of both may count toward graduation.
How to Register
- Find a faculty supervisor. Identify a full-time faculty member who agrees to supervise your project.
- Plan your project. Work with your faculty supervisor to determine the topic, scope, number of credits, and project expectations.
- Submit the Directed Research & Directed Studies form. The form is located at the bottom of this page.
- Receive approval. Your faculty supervisor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must approve the project.
- Wait for enrollment. Once all approvals are received and registration is open, the Law Registrar will enroll you in the appropriate credits.
Registration Deadline
Students must be officially enrolled in Directed Research or Directed Studies by 5:00 p.m. on the semester’s add/drop deadline.
Submit the Directed Research & Directed Studies form at least one week before the add/drop deadline to allow enough time for faculty and Associate Dean approval.