Program Overview

Fundamentals of Clinical Research, Capstone Certificate

The Fundamentals of Clinical Research capstone certificate is offered through the UWMadison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (UW ICTR), part of a national consortium of patient care and research institutes funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Awards. The capstone certificate allows students to understand and practice evidence-based research to help tackle the worlds complex research questions such as those in therapeutics, diagnostics, and preventative health care and bring solutions to patients. Courses are taught by UWMadison faculty in population health sciences, biostatistics, veterinary surgical sciences, oncology, and medical history and bioethics.

Program Overview

This capstone certificate provides formal training and a practicum in research design and statistical analysis for professionals in health care, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry. The certificate program is completed on average in just under two years.

Admission Criteria

The capstone program is for health professionals or health program managers who do not have an existing student relationship with the University. Students do not need to be seeking a degree to earn the Capstone Certificate in the Fundamentals of Clinical Research. Applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree, as the required courses are graduate level.

Requirements

Grade Requirements

• Must have a minimum GPA of 3.000 during the program to remain in good standing

Required Courses

• Students complete 1215 graduate-level credits.
  • Introductory Requirement:
    • B M I/STAT 542: Introduction to Clinical Trials I (3 credits)
    • POP HLTH/SOC 797: Introduction to Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • Biostatistics Requirement:
    • Students complete 3-6 credits to fulfill this requirement. Course selections include the following:
      • B M I/STAT 541: Introduction to Biostatistics
      • B M I 699: Independent Study 1 (for students with instructor consent who have prior statistics coursework)
      • B M I/POP HLTH 551 & B M I/POP HLTH 552: Introduction to Biostatistics for Population Health and Regression Methods for Population Health
  • Clinical Translational Science Requirement:
    • Students must complete 3-credits to fulfill this requirement. Course selections include the following:
      • B M I 544: Introduction to Clinical and Healthcare Research II
      • B M I 773: Clinical Research Informatics
      • POP HLTH 709: Translational and Outcomes Research in Health and Health Care

Minimum Requirements for Capstone Certificate Completion

• Students must earn a minimum grade of C in each course used to meet Capstone Certificate requirements.
• Courses in which a student elects the pass/fail or audit option will not count toward completion of Capstone Certificate requirements.
• All of the Capstone Certificate credits must be earned "in residence" (which includes on campus and distance-delivered courses) at UW-Madison.
• All of the Capstone Certificate credits must be earned while enrolled in the Capstone Certificate program.

Learning Outcomes

1. Determine when it is appropriate to use a patient-oriented research design to investigate a translational clinical problem.
2. Understand the principles of clinical research design and statistical analysis.
3. Understand the principles of multidisciplinary patient-oriented clinical research protocols.
4. Apply and foster professional, ethical, and responsible conduct of clinical research.