The Liberal Studies Program Office will review requests for exceptions to Liberal Studies Program requirements on a case-by-case basis.
Please review the Approved LSP Courses by Area, Liberal Studies Program Guidelines, and the LSP Learning Outcomes and Writing Expectations before submitting a request. Students should also meet with an advisor prior to submitting a request.
Requests for exception require the following information:
- Student's full name, DePaul ID number, and DePaul email address
- Student's home college and major(s)
- Advisor's name and DePaul email address
- The LSP area for which an exception is requested
- A syllabus and course description of the unapproved course requested to fulfill the above LSP area
- A rationale explaining (1) how the above course meets the relevant LSP Area Learning Outcomes and Writing Expectation and (2) the circumstances that necessitate this request
Experiential Learning Requests
Students may request to apply an independent study course or a military waiver towards the Experiential Learning requirement. Requests should be made by submitting an LSP Request for Exception Form.
To fulfill the Experiential Learning requirement with an Independent Study, students should first ensure that their home college has approved the proposed Independent Study. Since each college has their own process for approving requests for an Independent Study, the Liberal Studies Program Office encourages students to work with their advisor(s) through this process.
Upon approval from their home college, students should submit the LSP Request for Exception Form, including their Independent Study proposal and documentation of approval.
Students seeking a military waiver must write a 2000-word essay that includes a brief self-introduction and a thorough description of how their military experience (leadership, challenges, etc.) meets the EL learning outcomes.
This essay should be submitted through the LSP Request for Exception Form.
Study Abroad Programs
Students enrolled in a course as part of a DePaul Study Abroad Program will fulfill their Experiential Learning (EL) requirement and do not need to submit the LSP Request for Exception Form.
In some instances, courses that are a part of a Study Abroad Program may also be approved to fulfill a different Liberal Studies Program (LSP) requirement, such as a Learning Domain (e.g. Arts & Literature or Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry). When a course taken as part of a Study Abroad Program is approved for another LSP requirement, it will default to fulfilling the other LSP requirement instead of EL. If students have already fulfilled that other LSP requirement, they should contact the Study Abroad Office to request that the course fulfills their EL requirement instead.
Transferring Honors Program Courses
Students who have chosen to withdraw from the Honors Program and would like to transfer their Honors courses to their Liberal Studies Program requirements should refer to the Honors Program Withdrawals page in the Catalog and consult their advisor before submitting a request for exception. In many cases, HON courses can be applied to its equivalent requirement in the Liberal Studies Program without submitting the LSP Request for Exception Form.
Request for Exception of Liberal Studies Program Requirements
Before submitting your request:
1. Review the above details and links to confirm that a request for exception is needed.
2. Ensure that you have all the required details for your request.
3. Cick the "Submit a Request for Exception" button below and complete the form.
Upon submitting the form, you will receive an automated email with an Exception Request ID. Please make note of this Exception Request ID until you receive a decision email. If your request is approved, your advisor will make the change to your Degree Progress Report (DPR).
Submit an LSP Request for Exception Form