Clinical Research
La Jolla Village Professional Center
8950 Villa La Jolla Drive, Suite A-212
(858) 534-9164
E-mail: clre@ucsd.edu
http://clre.ucsd.edu
Program Description
The Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Clinical Research offers a broad-based curriculum in clinical research methodology and integrates classroom instruction with practical training to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to produce valid, credible research. Linking the academic and professional scientific communities, the program is appropriate for physicians, pharmacists, nurses with advanced training, psychologists, and biomedical scientists employed in biomedical firms, hospitals, and pharmacies. The program aims to accommodate the varying needs of the students through its modular approach to instruction, a part-time year-round schedule, and a choice of general electives organized by tracks.
The MAS in Clinical Research is a part-time, self-supporting degree program with a flexible course schedule designed for working professionals and academics. The UC San Diego graduate division confers the MAS degree and the Department of Medicine in the UC San Diego School of Medicine is responsible for the academic management of the curriculum. UC San Diego Extended Studies and Public Programs administers the program and provides student advising and career counseling services.
Admission
New students are admitted in the winter and summer quarter of each academic year. Prospective candidates should submit and complete the official UC San Diego online graduate application for admission, the application fee, one set of official transcripts from each institution attended after high school, three letters of professional letters of recommendation, and a current resume or curriculum vitae. The GRE/GMAT is not required; however, it is strongly recommended that candidates possess, or currently be pursuing, a graduate degree in a scientific or health-care related field and also have some level of experience in scientific or clinical research. In some instances candidates without an advanced degree may be admitted to the program if they have demonstrated substantial professional experience in the field at increasing levels of responsibility. The application deadlines are September 30 (winter) and April 30 (summer).
Program of Study
The part-time master’s degree program is designed to be completed in eighteen to thirty months, depending upon a participant’s time to devote to the program. Classes are typically scheduled in the late afternoons and evenings. The thirty-six-unit degree comprises eighteen units of core clinical modules, four units of seminar courses, two units of mentoring and career planning, four units of general electives, four units of advanced statistics electives, and four units of an independent study project as follows:
Core modules—first year:
- Epidemiology I, CLRE 251(2)—winter quarter
- Epidemiology II, CLRE 257 (2)—spring quarter
- Patient Oriented Research I, CLRE 250 (2)—Summer Session 3
- Patient Oriented Research II, CLRE 256 (2)—fall quarter
- Scientific Communication Skills, CLRE 259 (2)—spring quarter
Core modules—second year:
- Biostatistics I, CLRE 253 (2)—winter quarter
- Biostatistics II, CLRE 254 (2)—spring quarter
- Health Services Research, CLRE-252 (2)—Summer Session 3
- Data Management and Informatics, CLRE-255 (2)—fall quarter
Professional Development Seminars—first and second year:
- Research Budgeting and Project Management, CLRE-258 (winter quarter—2)
- Personal Development Skills, CLRE-258 (fall quarter—2)
Advanced Statistics Seminars—4 units required
Please contact the MAS in Clinical Research program for more information on courses offered to fulfill the advanced statistics electives requirement.
Mentorship and Career Planning, CLRE 299—2 units
(offered every quarter)
General Electives—Varies, 4 units required:
Students enroll in four units of course work relating to clinical research, chosen from a list, preapproved by the department. Please contact the MAS in Clinical Research program for a complete list of courses offered to fulfill the general electives requirement.
- CLRE 258. Clinical Decision Analysis (2)
- CLRE 260. Directed Studies in Clinical Research (2)
- HLAW 205A. Bioethics Seminar—Clinical Focus A (2)
- HLAW 205B. Bioethics Seminar—Clinical Focus B (2)
- HLAW 208. Influencing Public Policy (2)
- LHCO 204. Managing People and Teams (2)
- LHCO 207. Health Law and Medical Liability (4)
- LHCO 209. Patient Outcomes and Quality of Care (4)
- LHCO 214. Practical Business Communication for Healthcare Professionals (2)
- MED 224. Molecular and Cellular Basis for Disease (2)
- MED 262. Current Trends in Biomedical Informatics (1)
- MED 263. Bioinformatics Applications to Human Disease (3)
- MED 264. Principles of Biomedical Informatics (3)
- SPPS 273. Drug Discovery, Development, and Commercialization (3)
Independent Study Project, CLRE 298—4 units required
(offered every quarter, but typically completed in last quarter of study)