UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ETHICS GUIDELINES

In compliance with the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Guidelines on Research Ethics Approval and Compliance and upon the approval of the DSCTA Coordinations for Academic Affairs (AA) and Research, Creative Work, and Extension (RCWE), undergraduate theses for the BA Speech Communication and BA Theatre Arts Programs are required to apply for Department-level Ethics Review.

​

​

​

Deadline: 14 September 2026 (Monday, 11:59PM)

 

Research ethics clearance ensures that a study or protection protects the rights, safety, dignity, and confidentiality of participants in accordance with established ethical standards. It also verifies that the research design minimizes harm and complies with institutional and regulatory requirements before data collection begins.

 

Students of the DSCTA are required to adhere to ethical standards by attaching the following documents to the final thesis manuscript: (1) Research Ethics Form endorsed by Thesis Adviser and DSCTA Research Ethics Committee; (2) Signed Academic Integrity and AI Transparency Declarations; (3) Informed consent forms, participant information sheets, and/or memoranda of agreement with collaborators (where applicable). Other documentation of ethical compliance strategies must be included in the thesis appendices or research methodology chapter in consultation with the thesis adviser. 

 

Undergraduate theses are encouraged to be designed in a manner consistent with exempted and/or expedited research ethics review standards.

 

The steps for Department-Level Ethics Review are as follows:

1. Protocol: The student fills out the DSCTA Undergraduate Thesis Ethics Review Form (Thesis Forms-Form 5);

2. Endorsement: The thesis adviser endorses the Undergraduate Thesis Ethics Review Form;

3. Submission: The student submits the endorsed form to the DSCTA Coordination for Research, Creative Work, and Extension (RCWE) via Google Form;

4. Review and Recommendation: The DSCTA Research Ethics Committee (REC) reviews the submitted protocol through the DSCTA-RCWE;

5. Implementation: The student implements the recommendations of the DSCTA-REC upon the approval of their thesis adviser.

6. Attachment: The following must be included in the final thesis manuscript: (1) Research Ethics Form endorsed by Thesis Adviser and DSCTA Research Ethics Committee; (2) Signed Academic Integrity and AI Transparency Declarations; (3) Informed consent forms, participant information sheets, and/or memoranda of agreement with collaborators (where applicable).