Alternative Instructional Modes

Directed Study. A directed study is an approved catalog course taught independently to one student. Courses may be taken by directed study only if the course is not scheduled during the term and only with the instructorÕs and the departmentÕs prior approval. Directed study courses may only be taken by matriculated students in good standing. Seminars, activity courses, introductory courses in some disciplines, and courses with heavy emphasis on process rather than content may not be taken by directed study. Directed Study Forms are available from the Registrar. The forms must be signed by the instructor and the department chairperson before they are submitted with the registration form to the Registrar. Traditional undergraduates may register for directed studies only during the normal registration period; CAPA and graduate students may register for them through the end of the Òspecial courseÓ registration period; RCA students, until the last day to withdraw from a course.

Independent Study. An independent study course is a course initiated and written by a student that deals with material not covered in any approved catalog course. The student works independently under the guidance of an instructor who must approve the studentÕs comprehensive written plan and time line before the student can begin. An independent study form must be signed by the department chairperson prior to commencement of the study. Independent studies are available only to matriculated students in good standing at ULV. Traditional undergraduates may register for independent studies only during the normal registration period; CAPA and graduate students may register for them through the end of the Òspecial courseÓ registration period; RCA students, until the last day to withdraw from a course. Independent studies can be approved as 199, 299, 399, 599, or 699 courses for a maximum of four semester hours each.

Course Challenge. Most La Verne courses may be challenged, but only matriculated students may challenge them. To challenge a course, a student must complete a challenge application and pay a fee equivalent to one semester hour of tuition. The department chairperson assigns an instructor to give the challenge, and the student must complete the challenge within two weeks after he or she has been notified which instructor has been assigned. The student may see a list of course goals and objectives prior to challenging the course. If the student demonstrates the competencies required for successful completion of the course, the number and title of the course will be placed on the transcript with a CRD grade. If the student does not demonstrate the competencies, nothing is recorded on the transcript. A student may only challenge a course once. If a student fails a course challenge, he or she may receive credit for the course only by enrolling in it for credit. A maximum of eight semester hours of course challenge may be counted toward fulfilling the undergraduate residency requirement.

Courses that cannot be challenged are marked not challengeable in the Course Catalog on MyULV. In addition, a student may not challenge any courses in which he/she has received tutoring from a ULV instructor, was formerly enrolled, or has audited formally or informally. Any student who has received secondary or higher education in a country where the native language of instruction is not English may not challenge beginning or intermediate courses in this language. Any student who has received credit for high school courses in foreign languages may not challenge those courses at ULV. In this context, two years of high school foreign language will be considered equivalent to one year of college instruction. First-year language courses may not be challenged. With respect to these limitations placed on the challenging of language courses, CLEP examinations will be regarded as challenges.

Auditing. Most courses may be audited with the permission of the instructor as long as seats are available. Students pay one-half the regular tuition, but do not receive credit. The normal registration deadlines apply, and changes from audit to grade status (or grade to audit status) must be made before the end of the tenth day of classes in any semester; the end of the third day of classes during Interterm.