Program Overview

Program Overview

The online, part-time Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research (CCR) is ideal for individuals with a science background, specialists, residents, fellows, and other healthcare professionals seeking to develop essential skills in clinical trial design, research ethics, and more. The program provides a foundation in human clinical research, equipping professionals with the core competencies needed to lead and contribute to groundbreaking medical advancements.

Application Timeline

• Spring: Oct 1 – Dec 1
• Summer: Jan 1 – Apr 1
• Fall: Oct 1 – Aug 1

Learning Experience

Engage in year-round online coursework taught by MUSC faculty, covering clinical biostatistics, epidemiology, trials, ethics, team science, grant writing, and regulatory issues.

Year 1, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

• Course ID | Course Title | Credit Hours
  • MCR700 | Clinical Biostatistics | 3
  • MCR736 | Clinical Epidemiology | 3
  • MCR750 | Ethical Issues in Clinical Research | 1
  • Semester Total | 7

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

• Course ID | Course Title | Credit Hours
  • MCR724 | Introduction to Clinical Trials | 3
  • MCR752 | Team Science in Clinical Research | 1
  • MCR732 | Comparative Effectiveness Research | 3
  • MCR777 | Introduction to Grant Writing | 1
  • Semester Total | 8

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

• Course ID | Course Title | Credit Hours
  • MCR731 | Critical Review | 2
  • MCR773 | Industry/Regulatory | 2
  • Semester Total | 4
  • Curriculum Total | 19

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must possess a bachelor's or master's degree in health care or clinical sciences from an accredited institution of higher education (e.g., BSN, MHS); or a doctorate degree from an accredited institution in health care or clinical sciences (e.g., M.D., Pharm.D., O.D., D.M.D., Ph.D.)

Minimum Abilities

At MUSC, we actively support all students to ensure their success in both academic and clinical settings. To support this goal, the university outlines the essential qualities and functional abilities required for participation in its educational programs. These include a range of observational, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioral skills necessary for safe and effective practice.

Application Process

1. Complete the MUSC application.
2. Once the application and all supplemental materials have been received, the application will be reviewed.
3. Selected applicants may be contacted by the admissions committee.

Application Requirements

• MUSC Application: All applicants must submit an MUSC application.
• Supplemental Materials: Applicants will need to submit the following supplemental materials:
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
  • Letters of guarantee: All applicants must provide a letter of guarantee indicating they have full support to pursue the certificate. For residents and fellows, this should be provided by their program director. For faculty, this should be provided by their division or department chair/director.
  • Personal statement: All applicants must submit a personal statement, not to exceed 1,000 words, which identifies the applicant's future professional goals, their purpose for applying and choosing the program, an area of research interest and qualifications, and the name of their research mentor and institution, if identified.

International Applicants

Due to the distance-education nature of this program, MUSC is unable to issue I-20 forms to allow students to obtain F-1 student visas.

Funding Your Path Forward

Discover how the program supports students through transparent tuition information and opportunities for need-based scholarships and FAFSA-based financial aid.

Tuition

• Fee Type | Fee
  • Application Fee (per application) | $95
• Tuition and fees listed below are per credit hour unless otherwise noted.
• Tuition/Fee Type | Fall | Spring | Summer | Annual
  • In-state Tuition (per credit hour) | $480 | $480 | $480 | -
  • Out-of-state Tuition (per credit hour) | $725 | $725 | $725 | -

Cost of Attendance

• Item | Year 1
  • Direct Costs
    • Tuition - In-state/Out-of-state | $11,040 / $16,675
    • Health Insurance | $3,780
    • Fees | -
    • Direct Costs Subtotal | $14,820 / $20,455
  • Indirect Costs
    • Housing/Food | $27,144
    • Personal | $2,880
    • Transportation | $3,240
    • Books/Required Expenses | $1,510
    • Indirect Costs Subtotal | $34,774 / $34,774
  • Total - In-state/Out-of-state | $49,594 / $55,229

Scholarships

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need.

Career Outlook

• Clinical Research Associate | $67,310
  • Oversee clinical trial sites to ensure compliance with protocols and regulatory standards and work with pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (CROs), or government agencies.
• Clinical Project Manager | $100,750
  • Lead clinical research projects by coordinating teams, managing budgets, and ensuring milestones are met on time.
• Medical Science Liaison | $100,590
  • Act as a scientific expert, bridging the gap between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals while fostering relationships with key opinion leaders.

Program Faculty

• Andrea Boan, Ph.D., MSCR, MSPAS, PA-C
  • Assistant Professor
  • Director of Assessment
• Jihad Obeid, M.D.
  • Assistant Vice President for Research – AI Strategy & Research Intelligence
  • Professor, College of Medicine – Public Health Sciences
• Tammy Loucks, MPH., DrPH
  • Science Development Officer

Competencies

Upon completion of the CCR program, graduates will be able to:

• Conduct a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature
• Formulate a well-defined or translational research question
• Select an appropriate study design to address a clinical or translational research question
• Compute, describe, and evaluate descriptive and inferential statistics appropriate to the chosen study design
• Apply ethical codes and professional standards for the conduct of clinical and translational research

Values

At the core of our program, we are guided by a commitment to the following values that drive our mission:

• Compassion: We act with kindness, empathy, and dignity.
• Collaboration: We achieve common goals through teamwork and partnerships.
• Innovation: We drive transformation by embracing new ideas, discoveries, and practices.
• Integrity: We do the right thing and commit to accountability in words, actions, and use of resources.
• Respect: We value everyone and their many perspectives to build trust and a sense of belonging.