Clinical Research Certificate Program
The Clinical Research Certificate Program provides less intense training than a degree-granting program. The Certificate Program is designed primarily for School of Medicine residents, fellows, and faculty who seek careers as collaborative researchers. It is ideally suited for clinician-educator track faculty. The program also works well for clinical research project managers, those working in private industry, and others interested or currently working in careers in collaborative and clinical research support roles.
The amount of coursework required is much less than that for the Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE), Master of Science in Translational Research (MTR), and Master of Science in Health Policy Research (MSHP) degrees and does not include the completion of a research project.
Requirements
A certificate is awarded to those who complete a series of core and elective courses, totaling a minimum of 3.0 course units. The required elements are:- an introductory course in research methods/study design (the equivalent of 0.5 or more course units);
- an introductory course in biostatistics (the equivalent of 0.5 or more course units);
- a course covering practical applications of research, including protocol development, data collection, and compliance with federal guidelines and other regulations (the equivalent of 0.5 or more course units);
- a course that includes material covering aspects of scientific and ethical research conduct; and
- completion of two online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) programs: 1) Responsible Conduct of Research and 2) Protection of Human Subjects, which are accessible through the School of Medicine's Knowledge Link, (the modules required for the Biomedical Research Track for each program) or CHOP's Office of Research Education. Documentation of completion of either the School of Medicine or CHOP programs is required.
All courses must be taken at the University of Pennsylvania. Certificate Program participants are encouraged to take courses offered through the CCEB's MSCE and PhD degree programs, the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics' MTR degree program, the Masters of Science Program in Health Policy Research jointly offered by the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics and the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, and the CCEB's non-degree clinical research training program, but courses offered through other programs also may be eligible. View suggested pathways and listings of courses that satisfy each of the elements 1 through 4.
The Clinical Research Certificate Program Committee, composed of faculty within the CCEB and ITMAT, is responsible for the review and approval of all courses taken in order to fulfill Certificate Program requirements. Ultimately, CCEB faculty are responsible for reviewing all transcripts to ensure that all requirements have been met and approving all certificates to be awarded.
Upon the successful completion of program requirements, an application can be submitted to request a certificate. Requests are reviewed three times a year, after each semester, so applications for certificates should be submitted by September 15th, January 15th, or June 15th.
For more information
To register for courses, please go to the Certificate Program Registration page and fill out the registration form.
Summer 2013 registration is open April 15, 2013 - May 31, 2013.
When course registration is open, it is conducted online through a registration form on this page.
For questions about the Clinical Research Certificate Program, please contact Anna Nagy (215-898-7946, nagya@mail.med.upenn.edu).
Course Descriptions and Schedules
- Course Descriptions (EPID 800 series and Certificate Program Courses)
- Schedule of Classes Taken for Academic Credit
- Schedule of Non-Credit Classes (UPHS-Affiliated Residents, Fellows, and Medical Students)
