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Directed Studies, Applied Studies and Special Topics Courses

Procedure Number
001
Policy Number
3310
Responsibility
VP Academic
Approved
Program Council
Previous Name
Directed Studies and Special Topics Courses
Effective Date
May 02, 2019
Amended
March 05, 2025
Procedure Statement

Scope

This procedure forms part of JIBC’s Directed Studies, Applied Studies, and Special Topics Courses Policy (the “Policy”) and should be followed and applied in relation to Directed Studies, Applied Studies, and Special Topics courses under the Policy. Terms are as defined in the Policy.

Procedural Guiding Principles

Directed Studies Courses
  1. Directed Studies courses differ from Applied Studies in that they are theoretical in nature rather than applied. They cannot be used to replace a required practicum, field placement, or capstone project. 
  2. A course outline for a Directed Studies course will follow the review expectations and timelines as identified in Policy 3309 Course Development, Change, Suspension, and Termination and requires the approval of the relevant School Curriculum Committee and, if required, by Program Council.
    1. The Directed Studies course code and name will be identified as XXXX-1990 or XXXX-3900 depending on the level of the course, e.g. LAWS-1990: Directed Studies, or ESMS-3900: Directed Studies. The level of the course should align with the program credential type, i.e. XXXX-1990 for certificates and diplomas, and XXXX-3900 for degrees.
    2. Directed Studies courses must have credits. A range of credits (minimum 1, maximum 3) can be assigned at the course level, e.g. ESMS-3900: Directed Studies (1-3 credits), or LAWS-1990: Directed Studies (1-3 credits). The number of hours can be unspecified at the course level and must be assigned at the section level under the “Direct Instruction” instructional method. Credits will be calculated following Procedure 3309-002 Establishing Credit Value for JIBC Courses, and applied at the section level. 
    3. The grade scheme to be used for Directed Studies courses is either JIBC1 Letter Grade or JIBC4 Pass/Fail. Grade schemes are set at the course level and all sections will inherit the same scheme. Once set, the grade scheme cannot be changed. The section syllabus will clearly outline what constitutes a pass and should include a rubric.
    4. A Directed Studies course can be used by Students towards satisfying graduation requirements. Notification to the Registrar’s Office of the approval of an exception to standard graduation requirements will follow the established process.
  3. A Directed Studies section can be initiated by a program area, client, a Student, or group of Students (maximum 4) who identify a topic of interest and obtain the agreement of a division or school and an Instructor to act as a supervisor for the course. 
  4. The program area is responsible for the development of a section-specific syllabus, which details the course goals, learning outcomes, course topics/content, instructional method(s), evaluation profile, and credit value. The Dean will approve the section syllabus prior to the completion of each section request. The program area will keep the section syllabus on file and submit a copy to the Registrar’s Office to be included in the Student Record.
  5. Directed Studies courses cannot be used as a pre-requisite for another JIBC course.
  6. To be eligible to enroll in a Directed Studies course, a Student must normally meet the following criteria: 
    1. must be currently enrolled in a JIBC program;
    2. must have achieved successful completion of prior courses; and
    3. enrolment must not result in exceeding the normal course load for the Student's program.
  7. A Student cannot enroll in more than one Directed Studies or Applied Studies course in a single semester without the Dean’s permission. The total number of Directed Studies and/or Applied Studies courses a Student can take to fulfill program graduation requirements is at the Dean’s discretion.
  8. The Dean must approve any exceptions to this Policy, and approval must be obtained prior to the Student enrolling in the course(s). 
Applied Studies Courses
  1. Applied Studies courses differ from Directed Studies in that they are applied in nature rather than theoretical. They cannot be used to replace a required practicum, field placement, or capstone project.
  2. A course outline for an Applied Studies course will follow the review expectations and timelines as identified in Policy 3309 Course Development, Change, Suspension, and Termination and requires the approval of the relevant School Curriculum Committee and, if required, by Program Council.
    1. The Applied Studies course code and name will be identified as XXXX-1999 or XXXX-3999 depending on the level of the course, e.g. LAWS-1999: Applied Studies, or ESMS-3999: Applied Studies. The level of the course should align with the program credential type, i.e. XXXX-1999 for certificates and diplomas, and XXXX-3999 for degrees.
    2. Applied Studies courses must have credits. A range of credits (minimum 1, maximum 3) can be assigned at the course level, e.g. ESMS-3999: Applied Studies (1-3 credits), or LAWS-1999: Applied Studies (1-3 credits). The number of hours can be unspecified at the course level and must be assigned at the section level under the “practice education” instructional method. Credits will be calculated following Procedure 3309-002 Establishing Credit Value for JIBC Courses, and applied at the section level.
    3. The grade scheme to be used with Applied Studies courses is JIBC4 Pass/Fail. The section syllabus will clearly outline what constitutes a pass and should include a rubric.
    4. An Applied Studies course can be used by Students towards satisfying graduation requirements. Notification to the Registrar’s Office of the approval of an exception to standard graduation requirements will follow the established process.
  3. An Applied Studies section can be initiated by a program area, client, or a Student who identifies a course topic and obtain the agreement of a division or school and an Instructor to act as a supervisor for the course.
  4. The program area is responsible for the development of a section-specific syllabus, which details the course goals, learning outcomes, course topics/content, instructional method(s), evaluation profile, and credit value. The Dean will approve the section syllabus prior to the completion of each section request. The program area will keep the section syllabus on file and submit a copy to the Registrar’s Office to be included in the Student Record.
  5. Applied Studies courses cannot be used as a pre-requisite for another JIBC course.
  6. To be eligible to enroll in an Applied Studies course, a Student must normally meet the following criteria:
    1. must be currently enrolled in a JIBC program;
    2. must have achieved successful completion of prior courses; and
    3. enrolment must not result in exceeding the normal course load for the Student's program.
  7. A Student cannot enroll in more than one Directed Studies or Applied Studies course in a single semester without the Dean’s permission.  The total number of Directed Studies and/or Applied Studies courses a Student can take to fulfill program graduation requirements is at the Dean’s discretion.
  8. The Dean must approve any exceptions to this Policy, and approval must be obtained prior to the Student enrolling in the course(s). 
Special Topics Courses
  1. A course outline for a Special Topics course will follow the review expectations and timelines as identified in Policy 3309 Course Development, Change, Suspension, and Termination and requires the approval of the relevant School Curriculum Committee and, if required, by Program Council.
    1. Each offering of a Special Topics course will be distinguished with the course number XXXX-1175 and, if necessary, a unique alphabetical identifier after the course number (e.g. PLCE-1175 – Special Topics: Fentanyl, PLCE-1175A – Special Topics: Cyber Crime). If the same version of a special topics course is offered more than once, the alphabetical identifier previously assigned to that version will be used.
    2. Special Topics courses may or may not have credits assigned. Should credits be assigned, the maximum credits allowed for a special topics course is 3. Credits will be calculated following Procedure 3309-002 Establishing Credit Value for JIBC Courses.
  2. A Special Topics course can be initiated by a program area or client who identifies a specific topic of interest and obtains the agreement of a division or school and an Instructor for the course.  
  3. If a particular Special Topics course is offered on a regular basis, it may be required to be approved as a regular course reflecting the topic under study.
  4. Special Topics courses cannot be used as a pre-requisite for another JIBC course.
  5. Credits obtained through Special Topics courses may count towards JIBC credentials as general electives.
  6. Departments or programs may limit the number of Special Topics courses a Student can take, and/or limit the number of Special Topics courses a Student can use for program credit.
  7. Special Topics courses must not be a required course for completion of a program.

Related Policies and Procedures

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