Individual Instruction Approval via DocuSign
The GSC approved a steamlined process that we are launching in Fall 2026.
To start, send an email to ci_reg@austin.utexas.edu and you will receive a reply that states:
Dear Student,
Thank you for emailing your request to register for an individual instruction course.
Reply to this auto-reply email with:
Your UT EID
The Semester you are requesting (example: Fall 2026)
The Professor's name and Cc them on your email reply
The number of hours you request (3, 6, or 9 generally)
EDC for C&I or STM for STEM Ed
Note describing what coursework you and the professor have discussed that you will be doing during this individual instruction. (Examples include literature review, writing a prospectus or a proposal, preparing for your comprehensive/qualifying exam, data collection, etc.)
Course Title (from the list below)
Unique number from the course schedule for the course offered: https://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules
Keep in mind that the C&I staff need all of this information, and all holds must be cleared on your RIS to process your registration request in a timely manner and to prepare the grade sheet correctly. (Find your RIS on the student portal or MyUT Austin app.)
We will ask your Professor listed on number 3 to reply with their confirmation of agreement to supervise the course that you listed.
Notes:
396T is generally used in our department to indicate coursework that will require that the Professor meet with you weekly or twice monthly.
In contrast, 397V is generally used in our department to indicate coursework that will only require two to four meetings during the semester to complete. Therefore, there is a cap on the number of 397V courses that can count towards a program of work. (See your program of work document for more information.)
Individualized 398T is only for STEM Education students.
International students requesting X98P must also complete the request for internship in MyIO with Texas Global.
Dissertation hours can also be requested via this email inbox for dissertation candidates if:
The student has checked their registration enrollment and the hours weren't auto enrolled correctly by OGPS.
The student tried registering in their student portal or MyUT Austin app.
After providing all requested information, students should follow up with the C&I Staff (Jim, Stephen, Amy) if they haven't seen their registration updated in one week (or in the timeframe communicated to them by C&I staff).
Thank you!
List of individual instruction courses
396T Directed Research (weekly meetings)
397V Independent (start, finish, checkpoint meetings)
398P Internship
398T Supervised Teaching (STEM Ed students only, "EDC" field of study)
398R Masters Report
698A+B Masters Thesis
X99 Doctoral Dissertation hours adjustment or missed batch registration
377 undergraduates only (EDC or EDU)
Legacy process below: (to be phased out)
Read the instructions carefully before initiating the submission process. You are welcome to copy this page and put it into your M365 Copilot to ask questions and receive immediate answers. https://office365.austin.utexas.edu/
Before Submitting the Form via DocuSign (optional)
Consult with the faculty member that you would like to serve as the instructor for your individual instruction course to be sure they are in agreement with you regarding which course number you need, as well as why you need that particular course. You should also alert them to expect an email from dse@docusign.net.
Consult with your graduate coordinator if you have any further questions about which individual instruction course number is appropriate and/or what, if any, requirement it might fulfill for your program of work.
DocuSign Submission
After reading these directions, you will click the link below to begin the DocuSign submission process.
NOTE: Do not begin the process until you have all the information noted above. Stopping before reaching the end will create abandoned documents in the DocuSign system. Abandoned forms cannot be accessed again and you will need to start over.
Fill out the DocuSign PowerForm
The DocuSign PowerForm will require you to have the following information:
Your name and email
Name and email address of the faculty member you would like to serve as the instructor of record for the course
Please note the faculty member must be a member of the C&I GSC or a faculty member that the C&I GSC has already approved to teach graduate-level EDC courses.
C&I GSC list: https://catalog.utexas.edu/graduate/areas-of-study/education/curriculum-instruction/Course number needed (a pull down menu including all possible EDC and STM individual instruction course numbers is included in the power form)
Directed Research indicates a plan to meet on a weekly or biweekly basis with your instructor/supervisor.
Independent Study indicates a plan to meet 2 or 3 times during that term – at the beginning, mid-point, and conclusion of the coursework that is being independently completed.
Unique number from the course schedule
Brief (2-3 sentence) explanation of what coursework you intend to complete during the course, including information regarding the proposed plan of study.
DocuSign Individual Instruction Approval PowerForm Link: http://links.utexas.edu/dwvppo
Post-submission
The link launches a powerform that is in the Graduate Program Administrator’s queue. They can see it routing, and see when it completes. If the instructor/supervisor approves your request (please note, it is their prerogative not to do so), your C&I Graduate Program Administrator will help you add the course. This final step can only be completed during registration periods.
If your individual instruction faculty member (for example, a dissertation supervisor) separates from UT Austin, then you must request that another C&I GSC member faculty replace them as your instructor of record in the current/upcoming semester. For dissertation committees, you will need to maintain 3 GSC members on your committee. Please notify the Graduate Program Administrator and Graduate Coordinator of the replacement.