Dissertation and Directed Research
A maximum of 4 units of dissertation and 4 units of directed research, supervised by a full-time law faculty member, may be counted toward the J.D. degree. Dissertation and directed research may not be completed in the same semester.
Dissertation (Law 789) is supervised research and writing which results in a well-researched scholarly paper reflecting significant academic effort. Such projects may be supervised by full-time members of USC Law faculty, not including Adjuncts or Lecturers in Law. Dissertations may be graded numerically or CR/D/F, with the form of grading to be determined by prior agreement between the student and the faculty member. But, a dissertation graded CR/D/F cannot be used to satisfy the Upper Division Writing Requirement. Students may apply a maximum of four units of Dissertation toward the degree.
Directed Research (Law 890) is substantial independent research and study which results in meaningful written work not necessarily in the form of a scholarly paper. Such projects may be supervised by full-time members of USC Law faculty, not including Adjuncts or Lecturers in Law. While such projects may include preparation of research memoranda for faculty research projects, empirical research for such projects, and faculty supervised independent study, the grant of academic credit for such work will be allowed only on the explicit condition that the project will have significant and substantial academic value for the student undertaking it. Directed research projects will be graded CR/D/F; numerical grades will be considered only when the student and the faculty member submit an academic petition requesting that the work be graded numerically and a written statement explaining why such an exception should be granted. Students may apply a maximum of four units of Directed Research toward the degree.
