The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research has rolling admissions. Applicants have the option to start taking courses either in the summer or the fall semester. The Certificate consists of 4 courses (11 credit hours), plus the online CITI Basic course in Protection of Human Research Subjects. One of the courses, CRSP 401 (“Introduction to Clinical Research”), is a 3 week, 3 credit hour intensive course and is only offered during the summer semester. The other 3 courses are only offered during the fall semester.
The cost is based on a per credit hour rate. The Certificate is an 11 credit hour program. Therefore, the cost would be determined by multiplying 11 credit hours by the current per credit hour rate, which can be found on the Student Financial Services website.
For a Graduate-level scholar, 9 credit hours is considered to be full-time and anything less is considered part-time.
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research is geared towards clinicians and health-science professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, etc.
However, each applicant is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Other professionals, such as research assistants, students in the Master’s in Medical Physiology program, or those with a scientific baccalaureate degree, wishing to gain knowledge in conducting research, in collaborating with other clinician-scientists and in patient-oriented research should also apply.
At this time, Case Western Reserve University plans to offer courses both online and in-person. Please check with the individual class schedule for more details.
None of the 4 required courses is offered during the evening or weekends.
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research is a part-time program. Part-time enrollment requires a student to be enrolled in less than 9 credit hours in any given semester. The Certificate is only 11 credits (4 courses), and due to the arrangement in class schedules (listed below), the Certificate can only be taken part-time. Once accepted into the program, individuals have a maximum of 3 calendar years to complete the requirements.
| Course Code | Course Name | Credits | Semester Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRSP 401 | Introduction to Clinical Research | 3 | Summer |
| PQHS 490 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 | Fall |
| CRSP 603 | Research Ethics and Regulation | 2 | Fall |
| CRSP 431* | Statistical Methods I** | 3 | Fall |
*Plus the online CITI Basic course in Protection of Human Research Subjects
**Or equivalent (e.g. NURS 630 Advanced Statistics – Linear Models)
NOTE: If you are on a student visa, you must maintain a full-time status. In order to maintain said status and be a Certificate student you will be required to take additional courses.
For course(s) descriptions, please view Course Descriptions.
If during your participation in the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research program, you decide to transfer into the Master’s in Clinical Research program, the courses successfully completed (with a grade of B or higher) may be transferred.
To transfer into the Master’s program, an online application for the Master’s in Clinical Research Scholars Program must be completed and submitted.
No. The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research does not require a research or Capstone project.
If you have a desire to pursue clinical research as part of your career, the 11 credit hours of coursework in the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research program lays the foundational training in clinical research. It will give the scholar the necessary tools to become a more effective, efficient and ethical clinical investigator.
The GRE is not required for the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research.
If you are an international student (non-U.S. citizen) and have not already completed a degree program in the United States, or have not attended an institution where English is the primary language, then you will be required to provide verification of successfully passing the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or the USMLE Part 2. Passing scores are as follows:
- TOEFL (90 on internet-based version, or 577 on paper version or higher)
- IELTS (7.0 or higher)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic) (61 or higher)
The following is a list of required documentation:
- An online Application for Admission
- A Personal Statement describing the reasons for seeking clinical research training
- A recent CV or resume
- Official Transcripts - For the Admissions Committee's purposes, unofficial transcripts can be used to review your application. However, if you are accepted, the School of Graduate Studies will require official transcripts.
- International students must submit scores for the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or USMLE part 2
Once the application and all supporting documentation are received, the entire application packet will go to the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee will review the application packet and will make a decision as to whether admittance will be granted. An email will be issued to the applicant informing them of the Admissions Committee’s decision.