Clinical Research: Curriculum

The curriculum for the program is single track the first year and self-directed the second year. All students in the program are required to pass the following courses. All courses offered are pass/no pass. With the exception of the IRB modules, all classes are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

There are no required courses the second year although the students may take electives in topics dealing with Clinical Trials, Outcomes/Epidemiology Research, or Clinical Pharmacology. Classes are tailored to the specific needs of the student and are arranged through the track director of these programs. The students will also meet periodically with the Program Director during the second year to monitor progress on the research project.

All courses will be graded as pass/no pass. A trainee who receives a no pass in a course will have an opportunity to retake the exam or rewrite the paper to reverse the no pass grade. Failure to remediate the no pass grade will automatically require the advisory committee to review the trainee's status and officially place the trainee on academic probation for a period of one quarter. In collaboration with the course director, the advisory committee will develop a remediation plan to ensure the trainee has mastery of the subject area covered. Failure in that process or receipt of a no pass grade while on probation will result in termination from the program.

The second year is designed to provide an intense mentored clinical research experience that leads to the submission of a clinical research manuscript. Students usually enroll in at six credit hours/quarter that are typically research hours (PVM 597 or PHR 598) or elective readings classes. Together, the student and mentor will identify a clinical research project and will submit that project in the form of an abstract by the end of the fall quarter. The student and mentor will further refine the proposal and the IRB submission must be completed by the summer quarter of the beginning of the second year. Only projects requiring IRB approval will be considered for this program. Basic science projects will not be considered. The student is expected to complete all of the data collection by the beginning of the spring quarter for submission of the thesis by the end of the spring quarter of the second year.

Minimum Credit Hours Required
A minimum of 48 credit hours is required for completion of this degree program. These hours include the first-year didactic hours and research hours taken the second year. Most students complete the program within two years.