Degree Programs

Master of Science in Clinical & Translational Research

FALL Application Deadline: July 1
SPRING Application Deadline: November 1

Online Application

The graduate program in Clinical and Translational Research helps students become well versed in foundational aspects of research methods as well as essential clinical research methods. In addition, the program aims to prepare students with skills in project design and associated grant preparation, effective communication of research results and emerging powerful tools for clinical investigation.

Clinical and translational research and systems medicine/biosciences are becoming increasingly central approaches to understanding and addressing barriers to health and healthcare. While there are several mechanisms that support mentored research training for subspecialty fellows and junior faculty, clinical and translational research increasingly requires focused, rigorous, and targeted didactic training.

Our program is committed to preparing our graduates for careers as clinical faculty in academic medical centers; as investigators in the pharmaceutical or medical device industries; as employees of clinical research organizations or federal agencies, or to support oversight roles within academic organizations, such as membership in Institutional Review Boards or directorship of accredited specialty/subspecialty training programs.

The MS-CTR program uses multimedia and distance-learning technologies for course delivery including techniques for 1) Live web-based, small-group collaboration, 2) virtual faculty "office hours," 3) viewing lectures, 4) collaborating with other students, 5) consulting faculty, and 6) completing assignments asynchronously from home or office. These resources allow us to offer flexible class scheduling that focuses on online, evening meeting times.  

Credits required: 33 credits
Terms: three-term program 
Part-time Option: Yes

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
The main components of the M.S. in CTR degree program are as follows:

(Core) Required Courses

• Research Ethics & Human Subjects (3 credits)
• Introduction to Biostatistics in Clinical Research (3 credits)
• Study and Clinical Trial Design (2 credits)
• Project Development in CTR(1 credit)
• Epidemiologic Methods (3 credits)
• Core Clinical & Translational Research Seminar Series (1 credit)
• Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3 credits)
• Capstone Project (3-6) credits)

Areas of Concentration:

Clinical Trials and Research

This area of concentration provides training related to the design and analysis of clinical studies, both observational and treatment trials. Students are encouraged to develop a protocol for a study involving human subjects or to participate in such a study and analyze the results. This could serve as a basis for the capstone project. The advisor and program faculty will work with each student to identify an appropriate mentor and project.

Health Disparities & Community Engagement

This area of concentration provides training that focuses on the importance of health and diversity in our community through community engagement and community-participatory research. 

Mechanistic and Biomedical Research

This area of concentration is appropriate for trainees interested in how discoveries and findings from basic research can be turned into studies of human subjects. It offers students the opportunity to focus on the concepts, methods, and tools in translational research. 

Non-U.S. citizens: Due to the nature of the fully online certificate programs, non-U.S. citizens need to do all coursework from outside the United States, or be here in the U.S. under a non-student visa that allows incidental study. For more information, please email internationalservices@georgetown.edu.

Graduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Research

FALL Application Deadline: July 1
SPRING Application Deadline: November 1

Online Application

The graduate certificate program in Clinical and Translational Research helps students become well-versed in foundational aspects of research methods as well as essential clinical research methods. The program aims to prepare students with skills in project design and associated grant preparation, effective communication of research results and emerging powerful tools for clinical investigation.

In addition to foundational instruction in Biostatistics, Experimental Design, Research Ethics, and Clinical Research Administration, students will have the opportunity take elective courses in Epidemiologic Methods, Bioinformatics, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health, Core Clinical and Translational Research Seminars, Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health, Introduction to Regulatory Science, Aspects of Drug Development, and/or in a directed readings or independent study project. This option provides students the opportunity to develop an individualized course concentration focused in an area of clinical or translational research which suits their own activities and goals.  Thus, students will be well prepared for both collaborative and independent research, where graduate-level interdisciplinary training in research methods is crucial.

The graduate program in Clinical and Translational Research program offers flexible class scheduling that focuses on online and evening meeting times.*

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Credits required:16 credits
Terms: two-term program 
Part-time Option: Yes

The main components of the Certificate in Clinical and Translational Research program are as follows:

(Core) Required Courses

• Research Ethics & Human Subjects (3 credits)
• Introduction to Biostatistics in Clinical Research (3 credits)
• Study and Clinical Trial Design (2 credits)
• Clinical Research Administration (3 credits)
• Directed Reading/Independent  Study Project (1-3 credits)

Sample Elective Courses

• Epidemiologic Methods (3 credits)
• Core Clinical and Translational Research Seminars (1 credit)
• Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3 credits)
• Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health(3 credits)
• Introduction to Regulatory Science (2 credits)
• Independent Study Project (1-2 credits)

Non-U.S. citizens: Due to the nature of the fully online certificate programs, non-U.S. citizens need to do all coursework from outside the United States, or be here in the U.S. under a non-student visa that allows incidental study. For more information, please email internationalservices@georgetown.edu.