Advanced Clinical Research Methods Certificate Program

Overview

Eligibility

Curriculum

Tuition and fees

How to apply

More information

Overview

With the explosive growth of medical science and technology, clinical researchers play a critical role in helping to move new knowledge from the laboratory bench to the practitioner's office and ultimately to health care systems and communities.

The Advanced Clinical Research Methods certificate program is intended for aspiring clinical researchers who have already completed a masters program in a relevant discipline (such as epidemiology or health services research) but who desire additional advanced and specialized course work in research methodology.

This graduate certificate program involves advanced courses in epidemiologic methods and biostatistics, including design of clinical trials. 

Students attend regular, daytime graduate classes on the Seattle campus. At least 18 course credits must be earned, as described below. The formal requirements can usually be met within approximately one calendar year, beginning in Summer or Autumn Quarter.


Eligibility

Applicants should be individuals who have already earned a masters degree in Epidemiology, Health Services, Biostatistics, or the equivalent.  Clinical experience is desirable, but the program can be pursued by non-clinicians who seek to apply their prior graduate training to clinical research.  Priority is given to candidates who have already been accepted into a funded University of Washington pre- or postdoctoral training program.

Individuals who do not already hold a masters degree and who wish to earn one in preparation for a clinical research career should instead consider the clinical research track in the Master of Science degree in Epidemiology, Health Services, or Biostatistics.  Those with a clinical background who seek a basic introduction to research methods but do not plan to seek a masters degree should consider the Basic Clinical Research Methods certificate program.


Curriculum

Required courses (14+ credits):

Course number
Title
Credits
EPI 542
Clinical Epidemiology
2
EPI/BIOST 536
Categorical Data Analysis
4
EPI/BIOST 537 Survival Analysis
4
BIOST 524
Design of Medical Studies
3
One of:


(None)
Biomedical Research Integrity Series
0
Research Ethics and Regulation
3
Applied Research Ethics
1
EPI 600, HSERV 600, or BIOST 600
Capstone Project (see below)
1

Electives (3+ credits):

Course number
Title
Credits
EPI 541
Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
2
EPI 573
Biological Measurements in Epidemiologic Research
3
EPI 590
Research Operations
3
BIOST 540
Correlated Data Regression
3
HSERV 583
Economic Evaluation in Health and Medicine
3
HSERV 584 Assessing Outcomes in Health and Medicine
3
PHARM 523
Survey of Biomedical Regulatory Affairs
3

At least 9 course credits must be taken for a grade.  Students whose prior training included one or more of the specifically required courses will have that course requirement waived, but are still required to earn at least 17 credits by taking additional electives from the approved list.

For more details about course credit requirements and program policies, click here for the current Certificate Checklist:
Certificate CHECKLIST


Capstone Project(1 credit)
Students may choose one of two options:


 1. Write a potentially publishable paper on a clinical research topic relevant to their interests and career goals.  It may be a critical literature review or a report of new data analyses (usually on pre-existing data).  Primary data collection is allowed but not required. 

 2. Write a research proposal, similar in length, detail, and format to an NIH R01 grant application.

Under either option, the product must demonstrate the ability to motivate the problem and place it in a proper clinical and research context, critically appraise evidence from previous studies, and correctly use methodological concepts and skills acquired through formal course work.  The capstone project is supervised and evaluated by a faculty mentor, and 1 course credit will be earned under EPI 600, HSERV 600, or BIOST 600 depending on the preceptor's home department.

Counting of Credits Toward Current or Future UW Graduate Degrees

Current UW Graduate Students

If you are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in another school at the University of Washington, courses taken for the certificate program may count toward your graduate degree as elective credits only. At most 6 course credits earned as electives from a graduate certificate program may also be counted as electives for a UW graduate degree program. Certificate program courses may not be used to satisfy your degree requirements for required/core courses.

GNM Students

For Graduate Non-Matriculated students (GNM), courses taken as part of a graduate certificate program may not also be counted toward meeting core degree requirements by a student who is later accepted into a UW graduate degree program. At most 6 course credits earned as electives in a graduate certificate program may also be counted as electives toward a graduate degree program that the student joins later.


Tuition and fees

Graduate Non-Matriculated students pay tuition and fees according to the Education Outreach Tuition Schedule for graduate courses on the Seattle campus. GNM students are eligible to use the UW Faculty/Staff Tuition Exemption (partial).

Note for GNM students using the Faculty/staff tuition exemption program

GNM students using the faculty/staff tuition exemption will be charged about $70 for up to 6 course credits (below the 600-level). If the student is enrolled in 6 course credits plus extra credits, for a total of 7 to 18 credits, then the tuition will be about $800 per quarter, if the student is a Washington resident or a 1st year postdoctoral fellow at the UW or a related teaching hospital.

Graduate students enrolled in UW degree programs pay tuition at the rate specified for their program.


How to apply and Application Deadlines

Applications for Summer Quarter Due May 15th
Applications for Autumn Quarter Due August 1st

1. How to apply if you ARE a current UW Graduate Student:

Submit all of these items by the application deadline to M. Conrad (see address below)

The certificate application

Goal Statement

Current Curriculum Vitae

Print and send your current UW transcript from myuw.washington.edu

Have your current UW department send these:
a) Copies of your previous transcripts and
b) A copy of your previous UW graduate or professional school application



2. How to apply if you are NOT a current UW Graduate Student:

Application as a
Graduate Non-Matriculated Student (GNM Status)


If you are not or will not be a UW graduate or professional student by the quarter you enter the certificate program, then you must submit a completed Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) application, by the certificate application deadline.

Step 1: GNM Application

Apply on-line and complete your application for GNM status by May 15 (for summer entry) or by August 1(for autumn entry).

To complete the application, you must provide official transcripts, and upload your goal statement and CV, so prepare those beforehand. International applicants see information below.

Go to this webpage and complete your "Profile"

Upload your goal statement and CV

After completing your profile, please select "Graduate Non-Matriculated," and then the webpage here requires that you select "Epidemiology MS Clinical Research Track" from the "Program List" even though you are NOT applying to the MS program.

Send one unopened official copy bachelor's degree transcript to GNM Graduate Admissions, Box 84808,University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98124-6108.

IMPORTANT: An international applicant without a prior U.S. degree must also provide an acceptable TOEFL, IELTS or MLT score by the deadline. Consult:
The additional requirements for interantional applicants page here


Step 2: Documents for UW Department of Epidemiology

Submit ALL of these items to M. Conrad
The certificate application
One set of unopened Official Transcripts for All Degrees earned.
If you have completed any courses at the University of Washington which did not count towards a degree, then send an unofficial UW transcript from MyUW.
Last updated 4/30/08

More information

Details about program logistics and the application process may be obtained from:

M. Conrad, Department of Epidemiology
Room F-262 Health Sciences, Box 357236
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-7236
E-mail: msconrad@u.washington.edu
Telephone: 206-543-8226

For other questions, contact the program director:

Professor Thomas Koepsell, MD, MPH
Room F-261F Health Sciences
E-mail: koepsell@u.washington.edu
Telephone: 206-543-8830