Program Overview

Program Overview

The Applied Clinical Research program is designed for individuals seeking to enter the field of clinical research. The program content is based on knowledge and skills for clinical research associates and managers as identified by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) and the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA).

Program Highlights

• Theory and practical experience
• Taught by industry experts
• Learn in-demand skills and advance your career with convenient, flexible online learning that fits your life

What You'll Learn

• The principles of Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Regulatory, legal and ethical research practices
• Strategies for good clinical trial management

Program Features

• Job-ready skills in clinical research principles, ethics, regulations, project management, data management, and pharmacovigilance in relation to clinical operations
• A culminating applied capstone that will enable you to enhance your resume
• Convenient online courses to fit your life

Career Opportunities

• Study Coordinator
• Ethics Coordinator
• Clinical Data Coordinator
• Clinical Data Management Associate/Specialist
• Project Coordinator
• Clinical Trial Assistant
• Clinical Research Associate (Junior)
• Clinical Research Assistant
• Clinical Research Coordinator

Academic Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, learners will be able to:

1. Summarize clinical research principles and study design concepts
2. Identify the sequential steps, milestones, processes, and deliverables for conducting a clinical trial across a study’s start-up, maintenance, and close-out phases
3. Describe study conduct in compliance with clinical research protocol requirements, as well as good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), research ethics board (REB) requirements, and federal regulations (Health Canada and FDA)
4. Create study documents and forms that are essential for clinical trial conduct
5. Explain how quality management processes are implemented in clinical trials to ensure participant safety and data integrity
6. Apply core principles when examining ethical issues in clinical research
7. Demonstrate teamwork, leadership, communication, and project management skills needed to work effectively with multidisciplinary study teams

Program Requirements

• Earn the Certificate in Applied Clinical Research by completing all 5 courses listed below.
• Academic Credit – 15 Units
• Admission requirement: A completed post-secondary education (diploma or degree) is strongly recommended.
• Students are given a three-year period to complete all required components of the certificate program.

Courses

• ACR 101: Principles of Clinical Research
• ACR 102: Research Ethics
• ACR 103: Clinical Trial Design
• ACR 104: Clinical Trial Management
• ACR 105: Clinical Research Capstone

Schedule

• Registration: Fall and Winter terms open in mid-July and Spring term opens in mid-March.
• Program Requirements: Review certificate or diploma tab.
• Time Zone: Courses run in the Eastern Time (ET) Zone.
• Course Fees: A McMaster Part Time Student fee is included in the cost of academic credit courses.

Admission Requirements

• This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure.
• To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
  • Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent OR
  • Be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University OR
  • Be deemed an exceptional case

Language Requirements

• If English is not your native language, you must meet McMaster University’s English proficiency requirements by either qualifying for an exemption or passing a McMaster-approved English test.

Registration

• Visit the Schedule tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.

Payment Options

• Payment must be made in full at the time of enrolment
• Online credit card or debit payments are preferred
• Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express
• Accepted debit cards: Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard
• Google Pay is available for faster checkout
• Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution and can take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in your McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, you can register for your course. Please note that if the amount of the course fees owing is more than what was transferred to your student account, you will be dropped from the course.

Land Acknowledgment

McMaster University recognizes and acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, and within the lands protected by the Dish With One Spoon wampum agreement.