Independent Research
PBS undergraduates can earn course credit for independent research under faculty supervision. Before you can enroll in an independent research course, you must submit a permission request through PBS Knowledge and have it approved.
The Courses
| Course | Name | Track | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC 70 | Neuroscience Laboratory | Neuroscience | Lab notebook and brief report |
| PSYC 88 | Independent Research | Psychology | Research paper (12-15 pages) |
| PSYC 90 | Neuroscience Research | Neuroscience | Research paper (8-10 pages) or alternative |
Looking for a senior thesis course (PSYC 89, 91, 92, 93)? Use the Thesis Request form instead - the request form will point you there.
Eligibility
The system checks your eligibility automatically when you start a request:
- Prerequisites - each course has prerequisites (for example, PSYC 1, 10, and 11 for PSYC 88; PSYC 6 for PSYC 70). The form shows which ones you have completed.
- Major status - courses are tied to the Psychology or Neuroscience major. Non-majors can request an exemption for PSYC 88 only, with a written justification.
- Term limits - no more than 3 terms of independent research courses are allowed, and only 2 terms can count toward major requirements.
If you do not meet a requirement, the form explains why and whether an exemption is possible.
Submitting a Request
Open Independent Research from your student dashboard (the form lives at /independent-research-request). The request is a step-by-step wizard:
- Course - choose PSYC 70, 88, or 90. The form shows each course's description and deliverable.
- Details - provide enrollment details:
- Enrollment term(s) - the term or terms you plan to work on the research (up to 3)
- Research type (PSYC 88 only) - lab/field research or library research
- Deliverable type (PSYC 90 only) - standard paper or an alternative deliverable you describe
- Non-major exemption (PSYC 88 only) - check the box and explain your background
- Confirm the prerequisite and term-limit acknowledgments
- Advisor - search for and select the PBS faculty member who will supervise your research. Talk to them first - the review step asks you to confirm your advisor has already agreed to supervise the project.
- Research - enter a working research title (required) and an optional short description.
- Review - check everything, confirm the acknowledgments, and submit.
Drafts are saved automatically, so you can leave and come back before submitting.
What Happens After You Submit
Your request goes through a two-step review:
- Faculty advisor - your advisor is notified and reviews the request first.
- Department administrator - after your advisor approves, the department administrator reviews and grants Banner enrollment permission.
Each reviewer can approve, request revisions, or decline the request. While the request is under review, the status page shows whether it is Awaiting Advisor Review or Awaiting Admin Review.
Request Statuses
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Draft | Saved but not yet submitted |
| Submitted | Under review (advisor first, then department administrator) |
| Revisions Requested | A reviewer sent it back with comments - edit and resubmit |
| Approved | Permission granted - watch for Banner enrollment to be enabled |
| Not Approved | The request was declined |
If revisions are requested, the reviewer's comments appear on your request page along with an Edit & Resubmit button.
After approval, you may briefly see a notice that Banner permission is pending - you will be notified when enrollment is enabled.
Milestones During the Term
Once your request is approved, your independent research continues as a tracked workflow with two milestones:
| Milestone | What you submit | Who reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Midterm Check-in | A brief progress report (1-2 pages): activities, progress toward goals, challenges | Your advisor |
| Final Report | Your final deliverable as a PDF (format depends on the course - see table above) | Your advisor |
Upload each document from your Independent Research page when it is due. Your advisor reviews each submission and can provide feedback.
Tracking Status
- Independent Research page - return to the same page where you submitted. It shows your current status, the workflow steps and their progress, your full request details, and any past requests.
- Student dashboard - your dashboard links back to the request.
Troubleshooting
- "Students Only" message - the form is only available to undergraduate students (faculty and staff submit on a student's behalf from the student's profile).
- Eligibility gaps - if a prerequisite is missing or you are at the term limit, the form explains why. For PSYC 88, non-majors can request an exemption.
- Questions about feedback - reviewer comments appear on your request page; follow up with your advisor or the department administrator.