Clinical Research (MS)

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Clinical Research (MS): Program Overview

The Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) is a rigorous program that meets the need of individuals engaging in the full spectrum of clinical research. This flexible and personalized degree program is designed for a variety of students, including those who seek to understand and/or conduct, supervise, co-ordinate varied aspects of clinical research (including clinical trials). This includes clinicians, researchers and research study personnel (research nurses; study coordinators; managers in clinical research) and site management organizations (CROs and SROs); and bachelor’s-prepared individuals with interests in applied clinical research in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Program trains and prepares individuals that study and improve the processes, policies and procedures of patient-oriented research.

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

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

Our mission is to provide students with a rigorous academic experience, and hands-on exposure to and practical experience in clinical research. MSCR graduates will be prepared to enter the workforce as competently trained clinical research professionals.

LEAP Funding

RUSH employees can qualify for tuition reimbursement through the Linking Education and Performance, or LEAP, program. Contact your department administrator for LEAP benefit and qualification information.

Clinical Research (MS): Academic Policies

Academic Standing

Students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average, earn a pass in courses with a pass/no pass option and meet the requirements of their program at the end of each term to remain in good academic standing. Any student who falls below this academic standard is academically deficient and not eligible for graduation. Failure to remediate deficiencies within one academic semester can result in dismissal by the Graduate College. Students who earn a C or below in a core course must retake the course.

Program Time Limitations

Students in the Clinical Research Program are expected to meet all requirements for graduation within three academic years in the Graduate College. This period begins with the term in which the student formally matriculates into the program. Exceptions to the time limitation must be submitted to the Academic Standards Committee in writing. The request must identify the reasons for the extension and provide a written plan with reasonable deadlines for completion. This document will be co-signed by the student’s research adviser and program director. The Academic Standards Committee will vote on the extension (simple majority) as a recommendation to the dean of the Graduate College. If the extension is approved, the student is expected to complete all milestones and Program requirements. A second request may be made by the student’s adviser and program director but will be approved for a recommendation to the dean of the Graduate College by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present at a formal hearing of the Academic Standards Committee. Following the second approved extension, the student must complete all requirements for the Master of Science degree or face dismissal.

Leave of Absence

The maximum length of accumulated Leave of Absence is 12 months. Requests for leave beyond the 12 month time limit must be submitted to the Academic Standards Committee in writing. The request must identify the reasons for the extend leave and provide a written plan for return and revised deadlines for completion. This document will be co-signed by the student’s research adviser and program director. If approved, the student must return at the time indicated on the initial request.

A second request may be made by the student’s adviser and program director but will be approved for a recommendation to the dean of the Graduate College by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present at a formal hearing of the Academic Standards Committee. Students must complete the University process to formally request a Leave of Absence. Please refer to the Leave of Absence policy under the Academic Resources and Policies section of this catalog for additional information.

Graduate College/RUSH University Academic Policies

Academic policies specific to the Graduate College are located earlier in this catalog. In addition, the Academic Resources and Policies section of this catalog contains RUSH University Academic Policies.

Clinical Research (MS): Curriculum

Degree Requirements

The program consists of three components:

Minimum of 32 graduate credits
Clinical research thesis project culminating in a written thesis
Live oral in-person public presentation and defense of thesis

Master of Science in Clinical Research curriculum:

Curriculum in the following subject areas is required:

Bioinformatics
Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Clinical Research Design
Ethics, Regulatory and Compliance for Clinical Research
Health Care Outcomes
Thesis Research

Transfer credits from other RUSH University Colleges or other institutions may be accepted dependent upon approval of the program director. Only coursework taken within the five years previous to program matriculation will be reviewed, but it is not guaranteed to be approved.

Required Coursework (27 credits)

Students are required to complete 15 credits of core coursework and 12 credits of Thesis Research.

CRE - 556 Clinical Research Design Credit(s): 4
CRE - 560 Health Care Outcomes Credit(s): 4
CRE - 561 Introduction to Epidemiology Credit(s): 2
GCC - 546 Principles of Biostatistics I Credit(s): 2
GCC - 548 Bioinformatics Credit(s): 1
GCC - 551 Ethics and IRB Credit(s): 2
CRE - 597 Thesis Research Credit(s): 1-9
Total required Credits / Units: 12

Additional Required Coursework (5 credits)

Students should select an additional five credits of course work from the following courses. Students select courses based on their specific career goals. Depending on the student’s interests and background knowledge, other GCC courses may be taken as elective credit with approval from the program director.

CRE - 500 Clinical Research in Practice Credit(s): 3
CRE - 562 Advanced Epidemiology Credit(s): 2
GCC - 547 Principles of Biostatistics II Credit(s): 2
GCC - 549 Bioinformatics II Credit(s): 1
GCC - 594 Introduction to Grant Writing Credit(s): 2

Capstone/Thesis Research

Students complete a minimum of 12 credits of research. Students must enroll in two to nine credits per term depending on their plan of study. While enrolled, students must complete thesis related milestones and requirements that ensure the successful completion of the research project.

Students are required to complete and defend a data-driven capstone/thesis that provides a culminating experience and applies the principles and methods learned in the coursework to a real-life research project. The goal of the capstone/thesis is to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the clinical research process from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. Students can conduct their thesis research in a wide variety of settings, including, but not limited to, academia, biotechnology, pharmaceutical or device companies.

To help facilitate the identification of a research mentor, an annual Research Forum is hosted by the Graduate College each fall. During the Forum, students are provided the opportunity to hear from research faculty and/or members of their laboratories about their work. This informal setting allows students in the program to learn about ongoing projects in laboratories of interest.

Students identify their mentor and thesis committee and develop their research proposal while they are completing their coursework in the first year. The research project must involve the analysis and interpretation of data. Students are encouraged but are not required to conduct primary data collection.

The primary thesis adviser in conjunction with the thesis committee will be responsible for guiding the student on the research idea, its practicality, feasibility, application and timeline for completion. Students must meet with their mentor and full thesis committee, including the program director, at least once every six months to provide a progress update and receive recommendations for moving forward to completion. The mentor and thesis committee are also responsible for reviewing and approving the thesis. Once approved, the student defends the thesis in a 45-minute public defense that includes their primary research adviser, committee, 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) clearly describe the research question, background, study methods and results; (2) demonstrate their understanding of study design, methods and analytic principles; and (3) discuss their research findings in the context of existing literature and/or its impact in applied settings.

All students will be required to submit the thesis to ProQuest to be eligible for graduation. Specific formatting guidelines are required as set forth by the Center for Academic Excellence. All students are encouraged to formulate their original research into a scientific journal article and submit the manuscript as a publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Course of Study

The MSCR program can be completed either part-time or full-time depending on the goals of the student. Courses will take place in person or synchronously online in the late afternoons or early evenings, supplemented with asynchronous components. The program is designed so that a full-time student may complete their coursework in one academic year, including summer. Thesis research components of the program should begin as soon as mentors have been identified during the first spring semester in the program. All students must at a minimum be enrolled part-time (five credits) during the first year of the program to maintain active status in the Graduate College. After completion of didactic courses, students in Thesis Research must enroll in a minimum of two credits to maintain active status.