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 twenty-six units of required courses, which includes eighteen units of core clinical modules, two units of professional development seminar, two units of mentoring and career planning, and four units of an independent study project. Students are also required to take four units of advanced statistics electives and six units of general electives as follows:
Core modules
- 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
- 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
Mentorship and Career Planning, CLRE 299—2 units
Professional Development Seminars—2 units required
(offered every quarter)
- Research Budgeting and Project Management, CLRE 258 (2)—winter quarter
- Personal Development Skills, CLRE 258 (2)—fall quarter
Advanced Statistics Electives—4 units required
Please note that courses you select to satisfy the advanced statistics requirement cannot be used toward the general elective requirement.
- Analyzing Medical Data Using “R”, CLRE 262 (2)—summer quarter
- Longitudinal Data Analysis, CLRE 263 (2)—spring quarter
- Clinical Decision Analysis, CLRE 264 (2)—winter quarter
- Advanced Regression Methods, CLRE 265 (2)—fall quarter
- Bioinformatics Applications to Human Disease, MED 263 (3)—winter quarter
- Principles of Biomedical Informatics, MED 264 (3)—fall and spring quarters
Independent Study Project, CLRE 298—4 units required
(offered every quarter, but typically completed in last quarter of study)
General Electives—varies, 6 units required
Students enroll in six units of course work within a designated pathway/track, relating to clinical research.
Biostatistics and Data Analysis:
Selected course(s) must not have been taken previously for advanced statistics requirement.
- CLRE 262. Analyzing Medical Data Using “R” (2)
- CLRE 263. Longitudinal Data Analysis (2)
- CLRE 264. Clinical Decision Analysis (2)
- CLRE 265. Advanced Regression Methods
- CLRE 260. Directed Studies in Clinical Research (2)
Biomedical Informatics and Data Mining:
Selected course(s) must not have been taken previously for advanced statistics requirement.
- MED 263. Bioinformatics Applications to Human Disease (3)
- MED 264. Principles of Biomedical Informatics (3)
- MED 262. Current Trends in Biomedical Informatics—seminar format (1)
- CLRE 260. Directed Studies in Clinical Research (2)
Clinical Research Leadership:
- LHCO 215. Modern Healthcare Organizations (2)
- HLAW 205A or B. Bioethics Seminar—Clinical Focus (2)
- HLAW 208. Influencing Public Policy (2)
- LHCO 204. Managing People and Teams (2)
- FPM 246. Occupational and Environmental Health (2)
- CLRE 260. Directed Studies in Clinical Research (2)
Global Health Research:
- FPM/MED 287. Emerging Global Infectious Diseases (3)
- FPM 270A. Cultural Perceptions about Health/Disease (3)
- FPM 296. Independent Study in Public Health (4)
- CLRE 260. Directed Studies in Clinical Research (2)
Additional General Electives
Students may enroll in course(s) below:
- 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)
- SPPS 273. Drug Discovery, Development, and Commercialization (3)