The School of Master of Science in Clinical Research at the American University of Health Sciences. Clinical research professionals are the link between the biomedical industry and the physician in testing new drugs, devices, and procedures. These health professionals oversee the administration and progress of a clinical trial on behalf of a sponsor.
Goals
At the completion of this training program, the student shall be able to demonstrate:
- Build familiarity with basic medical terminology and recognize the meanings of medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes
- Explain key concepts in human anatomy and physiology, how the various human biologic systems function, and the homeostatic nature of these systems with reference to human disease states.
- Perform pre-operative physical examination techniques i.e., patient interviews and medical write-ups.
- Identify health care problems that require appropriate evaluation and management.
- Understand general treatment approaches and pharmacology for the major body systems.
- Describe the basic principles of drug actions and interactions, including adverse reactions.
- Explain techniques by which drugs are administered to treat diseases.
- Understand regulatory requirements for medical devices and pharmaceuticals, quality control, and design controls for product development.
- Understand the significance of research as cornerstone for medical innovation.
- Develop critical thinking and analysis to encourage autonomous thinking necessary for medical decision- making.
- Understand key health care issues and be able to communicate with other members of the medical community with confidence, precision, and force.
- Appreciate the financial management of Clinical Research.
- Have a good baseline understanding and practice of statistics.
- Be able to design and conduct clinical trials.
- Show capability in the administering of clinical trials.
- Manage multiple projects of clinical research.
- Appreciate and follow Good Clinical Practices.
- Appreciate and follow current good manufacturing practice.
- Perform audits and inspections.
- Show proficiency in business development side of clinical trials.
- Be familiar with and able to use clinical trial materials.
- Communicate effectively within the Clinical research community.
- Be able to take apart, dissect and reconstruct randomized trials.
- Have the ability to submit grants for funding of clinical trials.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Graduates of the Master of Science in Clinical Research program will be able to:
- Describe basic research strategies, settings, methods, and goals of clinical research including all aspects of the preclinical and clinical phases of clinical trials.
- Critique the advantages and disadvantages of various study protocol designs as related to the test product and anticipated endpoints of the clinical research process.
- Critically appraise published clinical research and interpretation of new research in the context of existing knowledge and global trends/issues.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of the different roles in the clinical research team including the alliance of subjects, regulatory agencies, sponsors, and sites.
- Identify ethical, legal, regulatory, and financial considerations that impact clinical trials.
- Apply the essentials of Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
- Demonstrate an understanding of how the evolution of the safety and efficacy date in drug, biological, and device developments from pre-clinical testing through to registration and post-marketing surveillance impact product development.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the basic physiological and epidemiological causes and correlates of disease as they relate to clinical trial investigations.
Admissions
The Master’s Degree is designed for students who have a BA or BS degree in the sciences, nursing, pharmacy, allied health fields, or liberal arts.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete 84.5 quarter credit units of prescribed Master’s degree courses
- Students must complete all coursework, examinations, and clinical experiences with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or a letter grade of B or higher.
- Present at Poster Session for a selected drug, medical device or research question on health care disparity and present a final paper for that poster session.
- Complete at least 100 clock hours of community service
- Successfully prepare and defend the thesis.
- Has completed at least one AUHS authorized and/or sponsored international mission trip.
- All financial obligations to the university are paid in full.
The thesis at AUHS is completed over three quarters (9 quarter units/hours), which includes 699A. The thesis represents 10.0% of total course work for the Master’s degree. A committee of three representing the student’s intended area of research will be appointed by the Office of the Provost. One of the three members must be appointed as the Chair. The thesis course work cannot be taken until all other courses are completed and the following is achieved
- A Committee Chair and two additional members have been duly appointed.
- The Course work for the Master with the exception of the thesis has been completed.
- The student must successfully defend the thesis proposal with a one-week advanced notice to the public of this defense.
- The student has been advanced to candidacy with the approval of the committee (Advancement duly certifies that all components at 1 through 3) have been completed and student is now all but thesis).
The Student will be expected to register for 699B for 3 hours and 699C for 3 units; both of which are not in-class structured classes towards the thesis work. But altogether with 699A total 9 quarter hours toward the thesis.
Award of the Master’s Degree
- When the committee believes the Thesis has been duly completed, the student must arrange a public oral defense of the thesis with at least a one week notice to the public. Part I of the defense shall be public and Part II of the defense shall be Private. The Committee must take a vote on the success of the thesis and if successful make a recommendation for graduation. The Student will be expected to register for 699B for 3 hours and 699C for 3 units; both of which are not in- class structured classes towards the thesis work. But altogether with 699A total 9 quarter hours toward the thesis.
- The degree is awarded only when the thesis committee certifies that the student has complete all course work and supporting course work and other projects. The form certifying completion must be signed and sent to the Office of the Provost eight weeks before the student wishes to graduate. At this time, the Thesis must be book bound, printed on acid free/acid neutral, 20-pound weight, 25% cotton, single- sided, and watermarked paper. The book bound version of the thesis must be sent to the Office of the Provost before the certifying form is accepted.
Occupational Options for Masters of Science in Clinical Research
For information about possible occupations for graduates of Masters of Science in Clinical Research program, please refer to: https://auhslive.com/school-of-clinical-research
Foundational/Pre-requisite Courses (These courses can be taken prior to admission, or during the duration of the MSCR program, prior to graduation)
Course Number | Course Name | Quarter Credit Units |
---|---|---|
MSCR 100 | Medical Terminology | Cr |
MSCR 500 | Human Anatomy & Physiology | Cr | MSCR 688 | Communication Skills Development | Cr |
TOTAL | Cr |
MSCR COURSE LIST
Course Number | Course Name | Quarter Credits |
---|---|---|
MSCR 600 | Pathophysiology | 2 |
MSCR 610 | Medical Law and Ethics | 3 |
MSCR 620 | Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
MSCR 650 | Epidemiology | 3 |
MSCR 655 | Physical Diagnosis | 1 |
MSCR 657 | Toxicology | 2 |
MSCR 658 | Oncology | 3 |
MSCR 659 | Health Care Financial Management | 3 |
MSCR 660 | Introduction to Drug Development | 3 |
MSCR 662 | Regulatory & Compliance Issues | 2 |
MSCR 664 | Advanced Regulatory Issues | 2 |
MSCR 665 | Medical Device | 3 |
MSCR 670 | Biostatistics | 2.5 |
MSCR 672 | Design & Conduct of Clinical Trials | 3 |
MSCR 674 | Clinical Study Administration I | 3 |
MSCR 676 | Clinical Study Administration II | 2.5 |
MSCR 678 | Advanced Topics in Clinical Study Management | 3 |
MSCR 680 | Multiple Project Management Skills | 2.5 |
MSCR 682 | Good Clinical Practices | 3 |
MSCR 685 | Audits and Inspections | 1.5 |
MSCR 686 | Clinical Trials Business Development | 1.5 |
MSCR 687 | Clinical Trials Material | 1 |
MSCR 689 | Special Issues in Clinical Research | 1.5 |
MSCR 690 | Medical/Technical Writing | 3 |
MSCR 691 | Grant Writing | 2.5 |
MSCR 697 | Preceptorship – Clinical Research Practicum I | 8 |
MSCR 698 | Preceptorship – Clinical Research Practicum II | 8 |
MSCR 699A | Thesis | 3 |
MSCR 699B | Thesis | 3 |
MSCR 699C | Thesis | 3 |
TOTAL | 84.5 |
Note: Courses may be taught in a sequence that differs from the order represented above.
MSCR PROGRAM INFORMATION
(CIP 51.0719; SOC 11-9121)
Program Length | 18 Months |
Quarters | 6 Quarters |
Units | 84.5 Units |
Clock Hours | 1,376 |
Instructional Clock Hour to Credit Conversion |
FOR LECTURE | One Credit = 10 Lecture Hours |
FOR LABORATORY | One Credit = 20 Laboratory Hours |
FOR EXPERIENTIAL | One Credit = 30 Practicum Hours |
Instructional Clock Hours to Credit Conversion |