Master of Science in Clinical Research

Our Mission

The Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) Master of Science (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.

Program Highlights

• The program covers all aspects of clinical research, including designing research studies, good clinical practice, actively managing patient-based research, biostatistics and data analysis, as well as regulatory and compliance issues.
• The program requires 22 credits, including a practicum and capstone project.
• Courses are offered through Graduate Medical Sciences and delivered at BU’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
• Students can choose practicum experiences (a minimum of 240 hours of hands-on, meld-based learning) from a broad range of academic and industry settings.
• Coursework emphasizes practical, applied learning. Faculty, all of whom are active practitioners in the field, share real-world case histories, and there is a significant amount of group work, modeling the collaborative nature of clinical research.
• MD/MSCR students will complete the program in one academic year, prior to the beginning of the 4th year of medical school.
• The MSCR degree is awarded by Graduate Medical Sciences at Boston University Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine.

Program Overview

• Combining medical education with training and experience in clinical research prepares clinician-researchers to improve patient health and healthcare. The dual degree program is appealing to those students who are interested in pursuing careers in areas of medicine and clinical research in either an academic environment or pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry setting.
• Graduates are well prepared to develop study protocols, work directly with subjects, interpret data and train and educate others in the field.
• Program graduates are qualified to sit for several of the clinical research certification exams offered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA).

Curriculum

Required Courses

Admissions Criteria
Applicants for admission to the MD/MS in Clinical Research should:

• Meet the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution — an undergraduate degree with an academic background that includes science courses is recommended, with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Be a current medical student in good standing at the BU Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine.

The Clinical Research program no longer requires GRE or MCAT scores.

Application Deadline

Students will apply to the MD/MSCR at the beginning of their 3rd year of medical school, and will complete the MSCR between their M3 and M4.

Application Requirements

A completed application consists of the application, a personal statement, one letter of recommendation from a BU Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine faculty member, a CV/resume, and official transcripts for all colleges and universities attended.

To apply to the program, please visit the GMS website.

Contact

Janice Weinberg, ScD – janicew@bu.edu
Professor, Department of Biostatistics BU School of Public Health
Director, MS in Clinical Research, BU Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine

Stacey Hess Pino, MS, MS – sahess@bu.edu
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Sciences and Education, BU Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine
Assistant Director, MS in Clinical Research, BU Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine

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