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CTS Curriculum

The PhD in Clinical Translational Science program curriculum is based on a set of nationally-developed core competencies to guide the nationwide training of clinical and translational scientists and is purposefully designed to furnish our students with the required knowledge, skills and experience to become productive and innovative researchers in the field of clinical translational science.

Program graduates will be able to:

  • Independently lead, design, execute, manage and interpret multidisciplinary clinical-translational research in a conceptually, methodologically, ethically and regulatory sound manner
  • Assume leadership roles in both academic and industry settings
  • Establish national reputations as leaders in a given area of expertise

PhD in Clinical Translational Science Program of Study Tracks

Required Courses

Course #

Course Title

Units

Grading

CRSP 440

Translational and Patient-Oriented Research Theory

3

Graded

CRSP 550

Meta-analysis and Evidence Synthesis

2-3

Graded

CRSP 401**

Introduction to Clinical Research

3

Graded
PQHS 490

Epidemiology: Introduction to Theory and Methods

 3 Graded

CRSP 431

Statistical Methods I

3

Graded

CRSP 432

Statistical Methods II

3

Graded

CRSP 603

Research Ethics and Regulation

2

Graded

 

TOTAL GRADED

19-20

 

CRSP 450

Seminar in Multidisciplinary Clinical and Translational Research

0

P/F

CRSP 501

Team Science

1

P/F

CRSP 412

Communication in Clinical Research I – Grant Writing

1

P/F

CRSP 413

Communication in Clinical Research II – Oral Presentation, Posters, and the Mass Media

1

P/F

 IBMS 500

Responsible Conduct of Research – Required for NIH-funded students only

1

P/F

 

 TOTAL P/F

3-4

 
TOTAL REQUIRED   22-24  

Required Electives

Students must take one of the courses from the list below, depending on their specific needs and mentor approval.

Course #

Course Title

Units

Grading

PQHS 426

An Introduction to GIS for Health & Social Sciences

3

Graded

SYBB 421

Clinical Informatics

3

Graded

PQHS 450

Clinical Trials and Intervention Studies

3

Graded
CRSP 500 Design and Analysis of Observational Studies 3

Graded
PQHS 416 AI in medicine: knowledge representation and deep learning  3 Graded

Electives

Students will take electives and CRSP 601 Research Practicum to satisfy the graded and pass/fail course requirements and to advance to candidacy. These courses are selected based on students’ needs and mentor approval. Any CWRU credit-bearing course may qualify. The courses could be ‘field specific’ or include other core elective courses not taken as part of the requirement above. The following list is for illustrative purposes:

Course #

Course Title

Units

Grading

IBIS or other

Field specific, e.g. Immunology, Physiology, Pathology

Up to 18

Graded

NURS 518

Qualitative Nursing Research

3

Graded

SASS 614

Models of Qualitative Research

3

Graded

CRSP 504

Managing Research Records - A System's Approach

2-3

P/F

CRSP 510

Health Disparities

3

P/F

CRSP 500

Design and Analysis of Observational Studies

3

Graded

CRSP 505

Investigating Social Determinants of Health

2-3

P/F

PQHS 400

Statistics as Integral to the Scientific Method

3

P/F

PQHS 411

Introduction to Health Behavior

3

Graded

CRSP 410

Independent Study (e.g., laboratory, clinic, community based)

Variable

P/F

Research Component

Course #

Course Title

Units

Grading

CRSP 701

Dissertation Research

18

S/U

 

* Per School of Graduate Studies Guidelines, programs of study for dual clinical-research degree students (e.g., MSTP-CTSTP, DMD-PhD) and for students entering with an approved master’s degree may be modified to reflect credit for concurrent and/or previous coursework.

 

**Waived for MD/PhD students in the CTSTP program or by petition with sufficient background from previous coursework.