Office of the Dean of the College

What is a reading course?
A reading course is a specially designed course not normally offered as part of the curriculum that is arranged between a student and a faculty member. The course is run as a tutorial and counts as a regular course. It may count as a departmental in your concentration but may not satisfy distribution requirements.

How do I arrange a reading course?
If you are interested in a particular topic or subject that complements your academic program, you should discuss your interest with a faculty member. If he or she is willing to direct your reading course, the two of you should design the course together. You should agree on the reading list, the assignments that will be due, the meeting time, how the course will be graded, and whether or not it will count as a departmental.

What are the requirements of a reading course?
In most respects, the requirements of a reading course are essentially the same as those of regularly scheduled courses. Both the amount of work and the amount of class meeting time should be similar to that of a regularly scheduled course; that means that you and the faculty member should plan to meet approximately three hours per week over the course of the semester.

How do I submit a proposal for a reading course?
Proposal forms are available in the Office of the Dean of the College in 403 West College. You should schedule a brief meeting with Dean Clayton Marsh to pick up the form, and then another meeting to submit your form for approval. You fill out the first page of the form and the faculty member fills out the second page; the chair of the supervising professor's department also must approve the course and sign the second page. Once the proposal is approved, you will be able to enroll for the course in the Office of the Registrar.

How are reading courses recorded on my transcript?
A reading course will appear on your transcript with the department code, a special 090-level course number, and a descriptive transcript title.