Program Description
The Clinical Research and Learning Healthcare Certificate at McGovern Medical School is a focused, flexible, and affordable program that provides graduate-level education for students who plan to develop a career in patient-oriented clinical research. The objective is to produce clinical investigators who are skilled in clinical research study design, competitive in seeking research support and knowledgeable about advanced biostatistical methods. This 12-credit program is designed to accommodate clinicians’ busy schedules, with most courses offered on Wednesday afternoons or evenings. The program is largely comprised of live, in-person small group classes; this is not an online or distance-learning program.
The program includes graduate-level coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical trial design, health care economics, and clinical guideline development.
Students will receive training in planning and executing clinical research designs as well as analyzing and disseminating research results.
Admission Requirements
This certificate will provide graduate-level education for students who plan to develop a career in patient-oriented clinical research. The objective is to produce clinical investigators who are skilled in clinical research study design, competitive in seeking research support and knowledgeable about advanced biostatistical methods. The program is designed for those with a graduate healthcare-related professional degree (e.g., MD, DO, PhD, PharmD) who currently hold a full-time faculty or fellowship appointment at an academic institution. The rapid pace of the curriculum assumes a working knowledge of clinical medicine and an excellent scholastic aptitude.
General admission requirements for the Certificate program are below:
- Degree requirement: (one of the following degrees is required)
- Advanced degree in health-related field (MD, DO, PhD or PharmD in a related field)
- Pre-requisite training: At least one year of the Clinical Research Curriculum (CRC) is strongly encouraged before applying to the Certificate program. The CRC is an introductory level series of courses open to all clinical researchers at McGovern Medical School, other Texas Medical Center institutions, and CTSA-affiliated institutions. More information on the CRC can be found here.
- Completed application form with curriculum vitae and personal statement expressing commitment to a career involving biomedical research
- Submit two (2) letters of reference/support
- Official transcripts covering all periods of post-secondary enrollment in accredited institutions of higher education
MSCR students in good-standing may elect to transition from the degree program to the certificate program if this better aligns with their educational and career goals. Additionally, students enrolled in the certificate program who wish to matriculate to the MSCR degree program may apply, and if accepted, all relevant coursework would transfer towards the degree requirements.
Certificate Requirements
To be eligible for award of certificate, a student must:
- complete the minimum of 12 semester credit hours of coursework within five years of admission to the program
- have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Program Requirements | ||
| CLRS 5010 | Advanced Biostatistics for Clin Investig | 4 |
| CLRS 5017 | Advanced Clinical Research Design | 4 |
Select one of the following courses: | ||
| CLRS 5015 | Using Rsrch to Infrm Hlth Cre Polcy&Prac | 4 |
| or CLRS 5020 | Economic Evaluations in Clinical Research | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |