Directed Reading and Research

Directed reading is an independent study course under the supervision of economics faculty member. The course number for all of these types of registration is ECON 896. Each student is given an unique course registration number (CRN). Up to 6 credit hours of directed readings (ECON 896) may be applied toward degree requirements.

ECON 896 Directed Reading is counted as graduate coursework and is graded as graduate coursework

The instructor of record for ECON 896 should be an Economics full-time tenure or tenure-track faculty member. Exceptions to the instructor status must be approved by the PhD or the MA Director.

1. You must use your Mason email account to request this approval seven days before the first day of classes. No replies will be made to non-Mason email accounts.
2. Email your request to econgrad@gmu.edu with the following information course title (30 characters or less, including spaces and punctuation), number of credits, semester of enrollment, and a copy of the email from the faculty member indicating his/her agreement to supervise this directed reading course.
3. The Graduate Studies Office will email you the CRN. You will then complete the registration process through Patriot Web. To drop ECON 896, you must drop this course via Patriot Web.
4. Any requests for exceptions to the above must be submitted in writing to the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Coyne.

An independent study/directed reading section is a variable credit course which means you can register for 1 to 6 credits. The typical ECON 896 section is 3 credits.