<a href="https://www.onlinemasterscolleges.com/masters-in-clinical-research-online/">Clinical Research Online</a>

College Name & Address	Tuition	Graduation Rate
#1 The Ohio State University 190 N. Oval Mall, Columbus, Ohio 43210	$11,560	86%
#2 George Washington University 1918 F Street, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20052	$31,770	82%
#3 New York University 70 Washington Sq South, New York, New York 10012	$34,704	85%
#4 University of Southern California University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089	$47,880	92%
#5 Boston University One Silber Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02215	$56,854	88%
#6 University of North Carolina, Wilmington 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403	$4,719	72%
#7 Xavier University 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207	$12,060	73%
#8 Pennsylvania State University 500 University Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033	$22,464	71%
#9 Loyola University Chicago 1032 W. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, Illinois 60660	$18,594	74%
#10 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 179 Longwood Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115	$22,230	74%
#11 San Jose State University One Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192	$7,176	64%
#12 Arizona State University, Tempe University Drive and Mill Avenue, Tempe, Arizona 85287	$11,720	63%
#13 University of Louisville 2301 S 3rd St, Louisville, Kentucky 40292	$13,260	59%
#14 Drexel University 3141 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104	$36,234	69%
#15 Campbell University 143 Main Street, Buies Creek, North Carolina 27506	$14,003	55%
#16 Nova Southeastern University 3301 College Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314	$20,618	58%
#17 St. Cloud State University 720 Fourth Ave. South, Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56301	$7,607	48%
#18 University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, Texas 78539-2999	$6,458	46%
#19 Eastern Michigan University 900 Oakwood St., Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197	$14,868	46%
#20 Cabarrus College of Health Sciences 401 Medical Park Drive, Concord, North Carolina 28025	$27,903	20%

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

Most Master’s in Clinical Research online programs look into the ethical, clinical, medical, and regulatory aspects of drug trials and medical device trials. That said, one could opt to specialize in a particular aspect of Clinical Research, such as Management, which will take a multi-disciplinary approach in providing students with a strong commercial, financial and managerial understanding of conducting Clinical Research.

Masters in Clinical Research Degree Types

Students who wish to pursue a Master’s in Clinical Research could very well be spoilt for choice when it comes to the types of degrees available today. All these Degree types generally make use of different approaches, formats, structures, and study requirements, which will, in turn, translate to a wide range of career paths. Depending on a student’s academic background, personal interests, and career goals, one could choose a type of degree that is most suitable, some of which are illustrated here.

Specializations in Masters in Clinical Research Programs

The area of Clinical Research is, in itself, a broad-based one. Although a Master’s in Clinical Research online program can open up several career pathways, specializations and concentrations in one definitive aspect of Clinical Research will enable graduates to seek employment in niche industries and distinct sectors. Here is a list of some of the specializations or concentrations students can opt for:

• Master’s in Clinical Science
• Master’s in Clinical Trial Management
• Online Master’s in Translational Research
• Online Master’s in Clinical Research Administration
• Master’s in Clinical Practice Management
• Master’s in Pharmacovigilance
• Master of Science in Clinical and Health Informatics

Curriculum and Skills Gained in Masters in Clinical Research Online Programs

Regardless of the Degree type, Clinical Research online courses tend to offer similar courses across programs largely. Most of these courses cater to wider aspects of Clinical Research but based on the program or specialization, and they begin to vary. However, to get a general idea of the Clinical Research curriculum, the list of courses/subjects below features a few.

• The Clinical Research Industry
• Clinical Research Operations
• Epidemiology
• Scientific and Research Review Boards
• Biostatistics
• Strategic and Operational Decision Making for Health Care Leaders
• Community Health
• Biostatistics for Clinical and Translational Research
• Clinical Trial Monitoring
• Regulatory and Compliance Issues
• Partnerships with Human Subjects
• Clinical Research Monitoring
• Responsible Conduct of Clinical Research
• Designing Clinical Research Studies
• Fundamentals of Regulatory Affairs
• Clinical Research Management Project
• Management of Clinical Trials
• Biostatistics with Computing
• Leadership Development in Health Care Systems
• Quality and Risk Management
• Clinical Research Ethics
• Monitoring, Auditing, and Oversight in Clinical Research
• Leadership and Change in Clinical Research Administration
• Epidemiology for Clinical and Translational Research
• Seminar in Clinical Research
• Clinical Research Practicum

Apart from the required basic courses, students are required to take up at least 2 (or more) Electives, some of which include but are not limited to:

• Directed Studies in Clinical Research
• Professional Skills for Students in the Biomedical Sciences
• Fundamentals of Medical Biotechnology
• Professionalism & Scientific Writing
• Introduction to Medical Pharmacology
• Applied regression analysis with Computing
• International Clinical Research
• Introduction to Global Regulatory Affairs
• Advanced General Pharmacology
• Drug Discovery and Development
• Bench to Bedside: Translating Biomedical Innovation from Laboratory to the Marketplace
• Good Clinical Practices in Clinical Research
• Ethical Issues in Clinical Research
• Molecules to Molecular Therapeutics

Depending on the type of degree and its requirements, students may also need to complete an internship or practicum experience.

Learning outcomes can vary by program. But in general, students of a Master’s in Clinical Research will exhibit the following skills:

• Inculcate good clinical practices and formulate strategies that address cultural and ethical considerations.
• Meet regulatory requirements in clinical trials by ensuring compliance with established guidelines and also appropriately prepare regulatory documents.
• Use medical, clinical, scientific, regulatory, and commercial aspects required to draw up new investigational product clinical development plans by evaluating research design principles.
• Effectively arrange for subject recruitment and retention and risk assessment.
• Integrate clinical, commercial, and regulatory aspects in planning and deploying clinical trials.
• Ensure data integrity in clinical trials.
• Design and develop clinical research, effectively conduct trials based on such research, and evaluate their outcomes.
• Present clinical research results to colleagues (either from outside publications or from own research).
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to read and evaluate clinical research literature.

Accreditation for Masters in Clinical Research Online Programs

When considering a Master’s in Clinical Research online program, students must always check for accreditation of the college, and preferably the program as well. Accreditation is important when students wish to transfer to another college or in almost all sectors of the job market, that the accreditation endorses the quality of the program and the fulfillment of the standards it sets.

In many cases, accredited Clinical Research programs are limited to region, in the sense that colleges or programs may be regionally accredited. An example of this is the Middle States Association (MSA) that accredits colleges or programs that fall within its defined region. But there are other accrediting bodies, such as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which is the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the US and internationally. Discover why accreditation is vital from the in-depth Accreditation Guide.

Timeline for graduation from Masters in Clinical Research Online Programs

As for the time it takes for students to graduate from a Master’s in Clinical Research online program, most programs usually take two years to finish. Students can take up part-time programs as well but are required to complete them within a maximum duration of 5 years. Some colleges offer full-time programs that can be completed in 1 academic year (including the summer). Dual programs are also available but are not so common. These programs typically offer a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree together in a shorter time frame. An example of this is the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHS) and Master of Health Sciences (MHS) that require five years to complete, instead of the usual six years.

Masters in Clinical Research Online Programs Admission Requirements

The main requirement for a Master’s in Clinical Research online is an accredited Bachelor’s degree (or even Master’s degree) that includes courses with content in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, biology, chemistry, or medical terminology. Alternatively, students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in any other field must provide evidence of successful completion of additional courses in some of these subjects, along with a work experience of 6 months in clinical research conduct. Here is a quick look at other admission requirements for a Master’s in Clinical Research online program:

• Admission Application and Application Fee.
• Official Academic Transcripts.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
• Personal Statement outlining short and long-term goals and interest in the field of clinical research, and the reason for applying to the program
• Two or Three References or Letters of Recommendation.
• Proof of 6 months experience in clinical research, if required.
• Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00.

While some colleges require a GRE or GMAT standardized test score to be submitted along with the application, many have either waived this requirement or ask for the score only if the applicant’s cumulative GPA is below 3.00.

Note: Admission requirements, especially the academic background and/or work experience, may vary by program and college. It is always best to check the program guide for additional or specific details.

Free online courses are sometimes good for students who want to enhance their knowledge and gain a deeper insight into some specific aspect of Clinical Research. These courses are not graduate degrees but assist in studying a full-fledged Masters in Clinical Research online program. Here are a few we could find online:

1. Coursesity
   Coursesity has courses on topics such as Clinical Research-Informed Consent in Depth, Essential Documentation within Clinical Research, Clinical Research in Medical Devices, and more.
2. Coursera
   Coursera has courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners and mixed levels of learning. In all, the site claims to have some 572 Clinical Research-related courses.
3. Class Central
   Class Central offers free online courses in Clinical Research from some of the best-known Universities, such as Harvard University, John Hopkins University, Stanford University, and others.
4. SOCRA
   The Society for Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) provides access to training and continuing education in Clinical Research through online courses. Free courses may require a membership.

MS in Clinical Research jobs are not hard to come by in settings such as education, medicine, industry, and research, among others. With skills that include critical thinking, strategic development, leadership, and evaluation, graduates can cater to the growing need for Clinical Research jobs. For example, there are many careers in Clinical Research management that one could consider, such as:

• Project Specialists
• Regulatory Affairs Specialists
• Medical Writers
• Data Managers
• Clinical Research Monitors
• Study Coordinators; and
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) Administrators

Some other career examples related to Clinical Research degrees and specializations include but are not limited to:

• Epidemiologist
• Microbiologist
• Clinical Trial Director
• Clinical Data Manager
• Biochemist
• Natural Sciences Manager
• Clinical Trial Program Manager
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Clinical Research Associate
• Medical Scientist

Several factors, such as an aging population and an increase in the demand for public health programs, contribute to the overall demand for Clinical Research degree holders in the health care industry. The list below highlights a few in-demand jobs and their median annual salaries (as reported by ‘Payscale’, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

• Clinical Research Director: $115,568
• Clinical Research Coordinator: $49,681
• Clinical Research Associate: $67,214
• Clinical Trial Manager: $98,839
• Clinical Data Manager $77,401
• Medical and Health Services Manager: $104,280
• Epidemiologist: $74,560
• Medical Scientist: $91,510
• Microbiologist: $84,400
• Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technician: $54,180

These are only a few of the high-paying and in-demand Clinical Research professions that a Master’s in Clinical Research will lead to. Some others can command even higher salaries, such as Natural Science Managers, who, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), take a median annual salary of $137,940, with the top 10% of earners taking over $208,000 a year!

An applied clinical research certificate often provides a shot in the arm and increases the value of a student’s education quite considerably in the job market. Additionally, for students to work in clinical trial organizations, or governmental agencies (especially in public health), additional Certifications and Licensure may be required. Some such Certifications and Licensing programs are:

Offered by the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA):

• Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)

Offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP):

• Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA)
• Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC)
• Certified Principal Investigator (CPI)
• ACRP Certified Professional (ARCP-CP)
• ACRP Medical Device Professional Subspecialty (ACRP-MDP)
• ACRP Project Manager Subspecialty (ACRP-PM)

Offered by Clinical Research society:

• Certified Clinical Research Associate (CRS-CCRA)
• Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CRS-CCRC)
• Certified Clinical Project Manager (CCPM)
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Certification
• Emerging Clinical Research Professional (ECRP)

Staying up to date with the latest research and developments in Clinical Research goes a long way in helping students and professionals in building up their knowledge, discovering new methods and approaches, and solving real-world problems in Clinical Research. Therefore, Master’s in Clinical Research online students, as well as working professionals, should commune, network, and grab every opportunity possible to leverage resources made available to them. Here are a few such resources:

1. Georgia CTSA
   The Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA) has a wealth of research resources, education and training insights, funding opportunities, and a growing community of Clinical Researchers.
2. ClinicalTrials.gov
   ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine) has publications, clinical alerts and advisories, RSS feeds, trends, charts and maps, and content for analysis.
3. American Society of Clinical Oncology
   American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has resources supporting physician investigators and research staff in conducting and managing clinical trials.