clinical research masters

Best Online Master’s in Clinical Research Programs of 2024

A master’s in clinical research hones in-demand skills in research methods and clinical investigation. You can work in medical research, epidemiology, or clinical management. And earning your master’s in clinical research online offers flexibility so you can work while in grad school.

Learn more about the top-ranked clinical research programs and your career options.

Popular Online Clinical Research Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

What Can I Expect From an Online Master’s in Clinical Research Program?

Clinical research programs build strong critical thinking, math, and statistical skills. The program usually includes 30-45 credits and up to two years of training, combining theoretical and practical studies. A master’s in clinical research program can offer specializations for many interests.

While most clinical research master’s programs award a master of science degree, some alternatives may be available, such as a master of advanced studies or a master of science in health science. Though they differ in name, these programs usually feature similar course offerings and career pathways.

The biggest differences between programs are the available concentrations. Programs may offer specializations in epidemiology, trial management, community health, and clinical investigation. Concentrations allow learners to focus on one area and can better prepare them for careers or further training in that subdiscipline.

In an online master’s in clinical research program, laboratory work plays a large role, with students completing practical assignments on campus or via online labs. These programs also feature heavy practicum components, familiarizing learners with professional environments and research topics.

Still Looking for the Right Fit? Discover Similar Degree Programs.

What courses will i take in an online master’s in clinical research program, epidemiology research, patient-oriented research, clinical trial design, biostatistics and data management, find the tools you need to get started on your degree, what are the admission requirements for an online master’s in clinical research program.

The admission requirements for an online master’s in clinical research program depend on the specific program. However, most students need a bachelor’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Though most programs accept applicants from various disciplines, some schools may require candidates to have specific health-related prerequisites.

The list below highlights some of the most common application requirements for graduate admissions .

While mostly used by undergraduate students, you apply through a college application system . Additional requirements may include having the appropriate technology for online learners and completing an interview in rare cases.

Test Scores

Many graduate-level programs use entrance exams, such as the GMAT or GRE , to make admission decisions. In clinical research, most programs do not require test scores. However, you may need to submit test scores if your GPA does not meet the minimum requirement.

Letters of Recommendation

Most college applications require three letters of recommendation , which provide insight from a former employer or teacher on a prospective student. These letters can offer a glimpse into your work and study habits or suggest how the candidate might fare in a graduate program.

Resume and Work Experience

College applications may require resumes and cover letters so schools can get information about an applicant’s professional history. While few clinical research programs require professional experience for admission, those who do have it may receive preference.

Writing a grad school essay provides the school with information on your academic history, educational interests, and career goals. You may be asked how your research interests align with the school and faculty.

Official Transcripts

Transcripts provide schools with useful information, including all the grade and credit details from the applicant’s post-secondary journey. Schools use transcripts to identify if the prospective student has the appropriate prerequisites and if they qualify for transfer credits .

Clinical Research Not for You? Check Out These Related Careers.

How do i choose an online master’s in clinical research program.

What factors should you consider when researching online master’s in clinical research programs? You can find a program that matches your budget, career goals, and schedule by considering cost, program focus, and format.

Comparing costs can help you choose a program. The total cost of an online degree includes tuition, fees, textbooks, and other expenses. While the median cost of tuition for a health-related master’s program is $9,310, the total cost reaches $23,100, according to the National Center for Education Statistics . Comparing the cost of online vs. on-campus programs can help you save money.

Program Format

Program format influences how and when a learner studies. Prospective students must think about how they learn most effectively and what schedule works best for their other obligations. They should compare asynchronous vs. synchronous study and part-time and full-time schedules to find the most suitable format.

Whether they choose an online or on-campus program, students should consider location. Online learners must know if their program features on-campus requirements and if they’re close enough to complete them. Other location-related considerations might include in-state or out-of-state tuition rates.

Accreditation

All schools must be accredited to offer students financial aid and employment opportunities in their field. For programmatic accreditation, prospective students can seek recognition from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accreditation Council for Clinical Research and Education to ensure their healthcare education meets quality standards.

Student Support

Student services can improve the educational experience for students. Consider the school’s online student services during the selection process, including tutoring, mentorship programs , career services, alumni networking opportunities, and practicums and internships .

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s in Clinical Research Programs

Is a master’s in clinical research worth it.

A master’s in clinical research can be worth it if you’re interested in clinical research or clinical management careers. This specialized master’s degree emphasizes research and clinical leadership, which can lead to careers in medical science, public health, and research. These fields report strong demand.

What can I do with a master’s in clinical research?

With a master’s in clinical research, graduates have several pathways available to them. An epidemiologist career may be the most direct route, but other career options include medical science, microbiology, and community health.

Depending on the role and employer, some professions may require additional training. Graduates can also choose to continue their schooling, such as pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical research or a related medical field. A doctorate can lead to teaching roles in colleges and universities and advanced medical scientist and microbiologist positions.

Are clinical research majors in demand?

Yes. Clinical research majors are in very high demand, particularly in the epidemiology and public health fields. The impact of COVID-19 has helped drive demand for more professionals in this field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 30% job growth for epidemiologists between 2022 and 2032, much faster than average.

Both community health workers and medical scientists are also in high demand. The BLS projects 4,400 new jobs for community health workers and 11,600 new jobs for medical scientists between 2022 and 2032, with COVID-19 influencing the demand in both cases.

How much money can I make with a master’s in clinical research?

The salaries for graduates with a master’s in clinical research vary by location, profession, credentials, and experience. The median annual wage for epidemiologists, for example, was $78,520, according to the BLS. With experience, epidemiologists can make significantly more, as the top 10% of earners in the field make more than $123,430.

Industry also influences wages, with those in scientific research earning the highest epidemiologist median annual wages of $103,650 as of May 2022. Hospital professionals earn the next highest at $95,240, and epidemiologists at colleges and universities earn the lowest median annual wages at $80,180.

How much does a master’s in clinical research cost?

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Making Breakthroughs in Medicine

Our practical curriculum provides critical knowledge and hands-on experience for leaders in impactful clinical research.

Students in our programs learn how to design a clinical research project, obtain funding, execute investigations and communicate results. Graduates are prepared to succeed in a range of careers: as clinical faculty in medical centers, investigators in the pharmaceutical or medical device industries, employees of research organizations or federal agencies, and in academic oversight roles or directorship of accredited specialty/subspecialty training programs.

Join Us in Spring or Fall 2025!

Spring Final Deadline: November 1 Fall Final Deadline: July 1

The Georgetown Difference

Choose a master’s area of concentration and plan a research project

Attend classes online with your professors and peers

Master’s or certificate, full-time or part-time to meet your needs

Our Master of Science and Graduate Certificate combine the rigor of traditional in-person degrees with the flexibility of online programs. You’ll attend virtual classes to learn from our expert faculty and collaborate with fellow students, gaining a deep understanding of the foundations of clinical research and the practical know-how to conduct a project.

Meet CLTR Students

Tiffany Brooks Roberts

“When I fall in love with something, there is a void that opens, and that void makes it hard to not research all that comes with whatever caught my eye.”

September 19, 2023

Taylor Schulte

“The program spans topics such as ethics, epidemiology, clinical research administration, and project development, in order to provide a truly comprehensive base for a career in clinical research.”

October 17, 2018

Alexzander Ballard

“I am grateful to be a part of this education program as I know it will prepare me for my future endeavors.”

September 7, 2018

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MS in Clinical Research

For more information, please visit the Graduate Medical Sciences website .

The Master of Science in Clinical Research is a rigorous program that meets the needs of health professionals engaged in the full spectrum of patient-oriented research. This flexible degree program is designed for a variety of professionals, including physicians who will plan and oversee translational research and clinical trials; research nurses; study coordinators; managers in clinical research and site management organizations (CROs and SROs); and professionals in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the MS in Clinical Research , students are expected to:

Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct clinical research, analyze results, and answer a research question.
Demonstrate the ability to read and critique the clinical research literature.
Present clinical research findings (from literature or their own research) to peers.

Our Mission

Inspire, Instruct, Innovate. The MS in Clinical Research program is dedicated to the discovery, development, and application of knowledge as it pertains to all areas of clinical research. Our mission is to foster an engaging and effective educational environment that promotes the pursuit of outstanding teaching and learning through formal classroom and practical training. With established collaborative relationships with pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic institutions, students are provided with unique opportunities to pursue clinical research in areas that are of personal and professional interest.

We hope that the information you receive about our program encourages you to pursue your graduate degree in clinical research with us. If you are interested, click here to get your application started. We accept applications for both September and January start dates.

Degree Requirements

The program consists of three components:

Minimum of 32 graduate units; 22 required and 10 elective
Clinical research practicum; hands-on involvement in a clinical research project
Capstone Project; clinical research project resulting in a written research paper

Master of Science in Clinical Research degree candidates are required to complete all of the following:

A minimum of 32 units at the graduate level across four terms. These must include the following 22 units of required coursework:

GMS CI 631 Management of Clinical Trials (4 units), spring term
GMS CI 640 OL Regulatory and Compliance Issues (4 units), spring term
GMS CI 670 Biostatistics with Computing (4 units), fall term
GMS CI 675 Designing Clinical Research Studies (4 units), fall term
GMS CI 790 Seminar in Clinical Research (2 units), spring term
GMS CI 794/795 Practicum in Clinical Research (2 units), fall or spring term
GMS CI 804/805 Research (2 units), fall or spring term

A minimum of 10 units in elective coursework: A wide variety of courses offered in Graduate Medical Sciences will count toward elective units. A minimum of 10 units must be taken as electives or directed study. Up to 4 units across two terms may be taken as the practicum or for research. Students who have completed one or more of the required courses before matriculation may acquire “advanced standing” for that requirement. “Advanced standing” means that the student may waive the requirement but would need to replace the course requirement units by taking an elective course(s). The student would not need to retake the course requirement. To waive a course requirement, students must speak to their academic advisor and complete/submit a “Petition for Approval of Advanced Standing.” No transfer units from other BU departments or institutions will be accepted.

Completion of a minimum of 240 hours of a practicum in clinical research is required for the degree. The goal of the practicum component is to provide the student hands-on exposure to clinical research. The student will work with a mentor and will be actively involved in the development, execution, and evaluation of a clinical research project or projects. During the practicum, it is expected that the student will be exposed to some or all of the following: clinical research planning, protocol preparation, interaction with Institutional Review Boards, regulatory requirements, selection of subjects/patients for the clinical trial, study monitoring, and data analysis. The practicum may be completed with a mentor who is actively conducting clinical research studies within a clinical research or hospital setting. It may also be performed under the direction of a clinical research professional within a drug, device, or biotechnology company, a clinical research organization (CRO), or site management organization (SMO) actively involved in clinical trials.

Capstone Project

Students in the MSCR program are required to complete a capstone project that provides a culminating experience and applies the principles and methods learned in the coursework to a real-life clinical study.

The goal of the capstone project is to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the clinical research process from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. Students conduct their capstone research in a wide variety of settings, including academic medical centers and local drug or device companies.

Students generally identify their capstone mentor and develop their capstone proposal while they are completing their coursework or practicum. The capstone project must involve the analysis and interpretation of data. Students are encouraged but are not required to conduct primary data collection. Once the final draft is approved, the student gives a short oral presentation on their capstone project to the readers, capstone mentor, MSCR students and faculty members, and any other interested parties. The purpose of the oral presentation is to demonstrate the student’s ability to (1) describe clearly the capstone topic, methods, and results, (2) demonstrate their understanding of study design and analytic principles and methods, and (3) place their research into a clinical context.

Additional Information

Students are required to abide by the rules and regulations of Graduate Medical Sciences:

Units toward a degree will only be obtained from a passing grade (A to B–).
Grades of I and C+ or lower are interpreted as failures. A student receiving such grades in a total of 8 unit hours may be terminated. A student receiving a failing grade will not be permitted to take a makeup examination.
A degree candidate, after completing all departmental course requirements, must register each regular term as a continuing student and pay the continuing student fee until all remaining degree requirements are completed.

Please visit the Graduate Medical Sciences website at bumc.bu.edu/gms to view detailed administrative policies and procedures.

Study Options

The MSCR program can be completed on either a part-time or full-time basis depending on the student’s goal. Most of the courses take place in the late afternoons or early evenings to accommodate those who work during the day.

The program is designed so that a full-time student may complete their coursework in one academic year, including summer. Practicum and capstone components of the program should begin near completion of the coursework and the time frame for finishing them will be determined on a student-by-student basis by the program director or assistant director. A full-time student is enrolled in 12–18 units per academic term (fall and spring).

Part-time students must register for at least 4 but not more than 11 units each academic term until all course requirements are fulfilled.

Continuing Student

Students who have completed all departmental course requirements (32 units) must register each subsequent term as continuing students until all requirements for the degree have been completed.

Nondegree Option

A number of individuals with an accredited bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent, who are uncertain as to whether they want to enroll in MSCR, have the option of taking a few of the MSCR courses as a nondegree student, and may then make their decision about completing the MSCR application process. We allow the transfer toward the MSCR degree of up to 2 MSCR courses (8 units) taken as a nondegree student. Applicants must submit a copy of the Application for Admission, indicating the specific objectives of the studies/courses sought. In addition, the applicant must submit (with the application) the nonrefundable application fee. Nondegree applicants are not eligible for University sources of financial aid or aid that requires matriculation in a degree program.