Every new medical advancement needs focused, controlled research before it is allowed on the market. Clinical researchers conduct such experiments and analyse data in labs and in public healthcare settings. They may also find employment as epidemiologists, principal investigators, data managers, or quality control specialists. This field is expected to grow faster than average, and positions such as Principal Investigator make a median salary of $105,086 per year.
What Is Clinical Research?
It’s easy to think of clinical research in terms of trials, where researchers evaluate new drug treatments with human subjects. While these trials are important to making safer, more effective drugs, they are not the only type of clinical research. Some researchers experiment in the prevention, diagnostic, and screening fields. Others may study genetics or epidemiology to determine how our genes and environments influence our wellbeing.
Top 5 Masters in Clinical Research Programs
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | Houston, Texas |
| 2 | University of North Texas Health Science Center | Fort Worth, Texas |
| 3 | St. Cloud State University | St. Cloud, Minnesota |
| 4 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, Michigan |
| 5 | University of California: San Diego | San Diego, California |
What Skills Does A Masters In Clinical Research Teach?
Clinical research masters students learn to develop testable hypotheses in their chosen field, and how to test those questions in collaborative clinical settings. Knowledge of biostatistical and epidemiologic methods is an important aspect of the program, as is the ability to assess, critique, and adapt said methodology. Finally, masters students will improve their oral and written communication skills in order to present their findings effectively.
Discover online degree options in clinical research by using our Degree Finder tool!
What Is The Best Masters In Clinical Research Program?
We ranked 15 clinical research masters degree programs from across the country by tuition cost and program length. Check out the results below!
Best 15 Masters in Clinical Research Programs
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
The University of Texas at Houston offers a Master of Science in Clinical Research. Classes are held on Wednesday afternoons, with the entire program taking a minimum of 3 years to complete. There are two specialization tracks available: Patient-Based Clinical Research and Translational Research.
School Overview
University of North Texas Health Science Center
The University of North Texas Health Science Center features a graduate degree in Clinical Research Management. Courses are available in an on campus cohort format as well as online. On average, full-time students can complete this degree in 18 months if they take classes during the summer. Part of the program is an internship practicum either on campus or locally in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
School Overview
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University offers a Master of Science in Applied Clinical Research. This program is specifically focused on medical devices. Classes are held evenings and weekend at the Plymouth campus, or can be taken synchronously online. The school also has a graduate certificate available.
School Overview
Eastern Michigan University
The Clinical Research Administration Master of Science program at Eastern Michigan University is designed for those wishing to enter the field as well as those already credentialed or have career experience in clinical research, including medicine or device development. Courses are held in the evenings and are available in hybrid formats to accommodate working students. The MS program can be completed in 5 semesters.
School Overview
University of California: San Diego
The University of California’s Master in Clinical Research program is ideal for working professionals who wish to advance their existing careers in the medical science field. A concentration in Translational Science is available. The flexible schedule allows for completion of the degree at three different paces: 12 months, 18 months, or 24 months.
School Overview
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
University of Tennessee awards a Master of Science in Epidemiology with a concentration in Clinical Investigation. The program is open to individuals holding at least a bachelor’s degree in related fields such as medical science, social science, and biological science. Core courses are held online while electives are available on campus or in hybrid format.
School Overview
CUNY York College
CUNY York College offers a Master of Science in Clinical Trial Management. This program takes an average of 18 months to complete. Classes are held in the evenings, weekends, or on a single day each week. The program is a good fit for those already working in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries. The CTM program provides a clinical opportunity for 50-120 hours rotation in Clinical Trial Managements and/or Regulatory Affairs at Health + Hospitals Corporation of New York City, the largest Public Healthcare System in USA (11 hospitals, 54 Diagnostic Centers, and 9 Rehabilitation Centers). This clinical experience is done in collaboration with Health + Hospitals Corporation of New York City, and, thereby, it is completely covered by student’s academic tuition.
School Overview
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona offers a Master of Science in Clinical Translational Sciences with a specialization track in Clinical Research. Students will develop, conduct, and analyse the results of their own supervised research project as part of the thesis process. The average length for completion of the program is 2 years.
School Overview
San Jose State University
The Master of Science in Medical Product Development Management at San Jose State University is decisively focused on turning students into leaders in the product development and clinical trials fields. This multidisciplinary program teaches a range of courses including medical ethics and social responsibility, business, and development strategy.
School Overview
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont offers a Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Science. There are two concentration options: Investigation and Research Management. Investigation is intended for doctoral level professionals. The Research Management is designed for anyone holding at least a bachelor’s degree but not offered in academic year 2021-22.
School Overview
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville features a Masters in Science in Clinical Investigation Sciences. Graduates will have participated in a joint supervised research project and defended their written professional paper before exiting the program. The school also offers a professional certificate program.
School Overview
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia provides a Master of Science in Clinical Research. The degree may be earned within 1 year. They also offer a dual MD-MS program that can be completed in 5 years altogether. Research divisions include biostatistics, biomedical informatics, and translational research & applied statistics.
School Overview
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
The Master of Science in Clinical Research at MCPHS is available in two tracks: clinical research and industry-related research. This program is designed for anyone with a bachelor’s degree and interest in the field – career experience is not required. Courses are available in person on the Boston campus or fully online.
School Overview
University of Rochester
The Masters in Clinical Investigation at the University of Rochester features a full host of core classes and electives as well as optional training workshops as needed to enhance learning. Coursework may be completed in 1 year at full-time enrollment. They also offer an advanced certificate in Clinical Research Methods online.
School Overview
Boston University
The Master of Science in Clinical Research at Boston University is designed mainly for professionals with some career experience. The university also offers a dual MS in Medical Sciences and Clinical Research as well as a MD/MS in Clinical Research. Students may enroll full or part-time, earning the degree within an average 1 year for full-time.
School Overview
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Our Research Methodology
We ranked a list of 15 schools that offer masters degrees in clinical research. Our criteria included tuition costs for residents and nonresidents and program length by credit hour. Both tuition and program length were gathered directly from each school’s website. Tuition is an estimate and does not include variable factors such as materials or housing costs.
We sorted by lowest tuition (resident and non-resident) and lowest program length, assigning points to each school in each category. Tuition made up ⅔ of the ranking. Length made up ⅓ of the ranking. The maximum point award was 99. On the occasion of a tie, the school with the lowest in-state tuition was ranked first. If a tuition-per-semester value couldn’t be found, we multiplied the cost-per-credit by 9 to simulate a full-time graduate student’s semester.
If you are an employee of a school listed above feel free to contact us at your leisure to report errors in our data. We will make corrections as soon as possible.
