Advanced Training in Clinical Research (Certificate)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-06-01 | - |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
| 2025-12-01 | - |
| 2026-03-01 | - |
| 2026-06-01 | - |
| 2026-09-01 | - |
| 2026-12-01 | - |
| 2027-03-01 | - |
| 2027-06-01 | - |
| 2027-09-01 | - |
| 2027-12-01 | - |
Program Overview
Advanced Training in Clinical Research (Certificate)
The Advanced Training in Clinical Research (ATCR) Certificate Program is a four-academic quarter program consisting of fifteen required courses and a variety of electives that provide detailed instruction in the methods of clinical research and ongoing methodologic guidance as scholars begin to implement their research projects.
Program Description
The ATCR Certificate program is designed to provide scholars with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform clinical research. The program consists of 16 required courses (28.5 quarter credit units) and a variety of electives. Scholars are encouraged to take one or more elective courses according to their interests.
Admission Requirements
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (equal to a letter grade of B).
- Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated knowledge or experience in some aspect of a health-related field (e.g., clinical practice, public health, health promotion) by virtue of a graduate or professional degree (MD, DDS, PharmD, PhD, or international equivalent), being currently enrolled in such a program or relevant work experience.
- For scholars who are primarily based in other training programs at UCSF, we require a supervisor's assurance that at least 70 percent of their time will be available from August through May to divide between the classroom activities of this program and the conduct of the trainee's clinical research projects.
- Affirmation of the Professional Conduct Statement.
Learning Outcomes
Through required coursework, students learn the methods to:
- perform both observational and experimental clinical research;
- apply clinical research methods to one or more projects; and
- analyze, interpret and present their clinical research data.
Degree Requirements
A total of 16 required courses (28.5 quarter credit units) must be successfully completed. In addition to the required courses, scholars are encouraged to take one or more elective courses according to their interests.
Core Courses
A minimum of 28 units are required to meet graduation requirements for the Certificate. There are 14 required courses (25.5 quarter credit units). In addition to the required courses, scholars can take elective courses to address the unit difference between the core/required course units and the required units required by the Certificate.
Plan of Study Grid
| Quarter | Course | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | EPIDEMIOL 202: Designing Clinical Research | 2 |
| Summer | EPIDEMIOL 218: Data Collection and Management for Clinical Research | 1 |
| Summer | BIOSTAT 212: Introduction to Statistical Computing in Clinical Research | 1 |
| Fall | BIOSTAT 200: Biostatistical Methods in Clinical Research I | 3 |
| Fall | EPIDEMIOL 201: Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.5 |
| Fall | EPIDEMIOL 230: ATCR Seminar | 1 |
| Fall | EPIDEMIOL 203: Epidemiologic Methods | 4 |
| Fall | EPIDEMIOL 204: Clinical Epidemiology | 3 |
| Winter | BIOSTAT 208: Biostatistical Methods II | 3 |
| Winter | EPIDEMIOL 222: Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities | 1 |
| Winter | EPIDEMIOL 230: ATCR Seminar | 1 |
| Spring | BIOSTAT 209: Biostatistical Methods III | 3 |
| Spring | EPIDEMIOL 230: ATCR Seminar | 1 |
Electives
- EPIDEMIOL 205: Clinical Trials (2)
- BIOSTAT 210: Biostatistical Methods for Clinical Research IV (2)