Institutional Review Board

Course Research Projects / Institutional Review Board

Course research projects conducted by students for the primary purpose of a learning experience in the methods and procedures of research usually do not meet the federal definition of research. However, best practices in research ethics strongly recommend that course research projects are independently reviewed and that appropriate human subjects’ protections are in place. Course research projects need to be approved prior to any data collection.

The instructor is responsible for all undergraduate student research from application to completion. The instructor will need to complete the National Institutes of Health (NIH) training for principle investigators on human subjects’ protection. Students participating in course research need to complete the NIH training or view an alternate educational video and complete a quiz.

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) website provides information on the application process, forms and the IRB Procedures Manual. The instructor should begin the student research process by contacting the IRB office well in advance of conducting the research.