masters of medical research

Master's Programs

Department of biomedical data science.

Department of Biomedical Data Science (DBDS)  advances scientific inquiry and clinical decision-making through the application of computer science, statistics and other quantitative disciplines to today's growing volume of biomedical data.

Community Health and Prevention Research

Community health and prevention research  engages future health professionals with the science of building healthy diverse communities across the entire lifecycle. This program is offered by the Department of Medicine.

Epidemiology & Clinical Research

Epidemiology  studies the factors that cause illness and impairment in human populations. It is the cornerstone of population health and clinical research, informing policy, prevention, disease treatment, and understanding of disease mechanisms. The program is offered by the Department of Epidemiology & Population Health.

Health Policy

The Masters Degree in  Health Policy  provides students with the skills to conduct and interpret research in health policy and clinical decision-making.

Human Genetics & Genetic Counseling

Human genetics and genetic counseling  trains students to understand molecular and clinical variations in the human genome and to translate their findings to health-care professionals, patients and their families.

Laboratory Animal Science

Laboratory Animal Science  engages students who want to pursue advanced careers in biomedical research, focusing on animal modeling and biomethodology, laboratory animal science, organizational  management and facility design, regulatory and compliance, and animal welfare. The program is offered by the Department of Comparative Medicine.

Master of Science in Clinical Informatics Management (MCiM)

MCiM is a 12-month interdisciplinary program designed for working professionals seeking to advance the digital transformation of health care and care delivery. Harnessing Stanford’s expertise across medicine, business, and technology, MCiM prepares leaders and emerging leaders to bring together diverse technologies and the clinical enterprise in novel ways. 

Master in Translational Research and Applied Medicine

The new one-year Master of Science in Translational Research and Applied Medicine (M-TRAM) prepares emerging academic and industry leaders to successfully translate scientific discoveries and clinical applications into practical solutions that improve and save lives. Drawing on Stanford Medicine’s world-class expertise in medicine, technology, and business, M-TRAM is the only early translational program of its kind on the West Coast and one of only a few such one-year programs offered by a top-ranked U.S. university.

Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistants (PAs) are board certified and state licensed healthcare providers who practice and prescribe in all 50 states. They have a proven track record for success in all areas of medicine, and for expanding access to health care in underserved communities.

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In addition to these degrees available directly through the School of Medicine, Stanford MD students may also pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at UC Berkeley through our  MD/MPH dual degree program . 

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• MS in Clinical Research

For more information, please visit the Graduate Medical Sciences website .

The Master of Science in Clinical Research is a rigorous program that meets the needs of health professionals engaged in the full spectrum of patient-oriented research. This flexible degree program is designed for a variety of professionals, including physicians who will plan and oversee translational research and clinical trials; research nurses; study coordinators; managers in clinical research and site management organizations (CROs and SROs); and professionals in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the MS in Clinical Research , students are expected to:

• Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct clinical research, analyze results, and answer a research question.
• Demonstrate the ability to read and critique the clinical research literature.
• Present clinical research findings (from literature or their own research) to peers.

Our Mission

Inspire, Instruct, Innovate. The MS in Clinical Research program is dedicated to the discovery, development, and application of knowledge as it pertains to all areas of clinical research. Our mission is to foster an engaging and effective educational environment that promotes the pursuit of outstanding teaching and learning through formal classroom and practical training. With established collaborative relationships with pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic institutions, students are provided with unique opportunities to pursue clinical research in areas that are of personal and professional interest.

We hope that the information you receive about our program encourages you to pursue your graduate degree in clinical research with us. If you are interested, click here to get your application started. We accept applications for both September and January start dates.

Degree Requirements

The program consists of three components:

• Minimum of 32 graduate units; 22 required and 10 elective
• Clinical research practicum; hands-on involvement in a clinical research project
• Capstone Project; clinical research project resulting in a written research paper

Master of Science in Clinical Research degree candidates are required to complete all of the following:

A minimum of 32 units at the graduate level across four terms. These must include the following 22 units of required coursework:

• GMS CI 631 Management of Clinical Trials (4 units), spring term
• GMS CI 640 OL Regulatory and Compliance Issues (4 units), spring term
• GMS CI 670 Biostatistics with Computing (4 units), fall term
• GMS CI 675 Designing Clinical Research Studies (4 units), fall term
• GMS CI 790 Seminar in Clinical Research (2 units), spring term
• GMS CI 794/795 Practicum in Clinical Research (2 units), fall or spring term
• GMS CI 804/805 Research (2 units), fall or spring term

A minimum of 10 units in elective coursework: A wide variety of courses offered in Graduate Medical Sciences will count toward elective units. A minimum of 10 units must be taken as electives or directed study. Up to 4 units across two terms may be taken as the practicum or for research. Students who have completed one or more of the required courses before matriculation may acquire “advanced standing” for that requirement. “Advanced standing” means that the student may waive the requirement but would need to replace the course requirement units by taking an elective course(s). The student would not need to retake the course requirement. To waive a course requirement, students must speak to their academic advisor and complete/submit a “Petition for Approval of Advanced Standing.” No transfer units from other BU departments or institutions will be accepted.

Completion of a minimum of 240 hours of a practicum in clinical research is required for the degree. The goal of the practicum component is to provide the student hands-on exposure to clinical research. The student will work with a mentor and will be actively involved in the development, execution, and evaluation of a clinical research project or projects. During the practicum, it is expected that the student will be exposed to some or all of the following: clinical research planning, protocol preparation, interaction with Institutional Review Boards, regulatory requirements, selection of subjects/patients for the clinical trial, study monitoring, and data analysis. The practicum may be completed with a mentor who is actively conducting clinical research studies within a clinical research or hospital setting. It may also be performed under the direction of a clinical research professional within a drug, device, or biotechnology company, a clinical research organization (CRO), or site management organization (SMO) actively involved in clinical trials.

Capstone Project  

Students in the MSCR program are required to complete a capstone project that provides a culminating experience and applies the principles and methods learned in the coursework to a real-life clinical study.

The goal of the capstone project is to demonstrate the student’s understanding of the clinical research process from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. Students conduct their capstone research in a wide variety of settings, including academic medical centers and local drug or device companies.

Students generally identify their capstone mentor and develop their capstone proposal while they are completing their coursework or practicum. The capstone project must involve the analysis and interpretation of data. Students are encouraged but are not required to conduct primary data collection. Once the final draft is approved, the student gives a short oral presentation on their capstone project to the readers, capstone mentor, MSCR students and faculty members, and any other interested parties. The purpose of the oral presentation is to demonstrate the student’s ability to (1) describe clearly the capstone topic, methods, and results, (2) demonstrate their understanding of study design and analytic principles and methods, and (3) place their research into a clinical context.

Additional Information

Students are required to abide by the rules and regulations of Graduate Medical Sciences:

• Units toward a degree will only be obtained from a passing grade (A to B–).
• Grades of I and C+ or lower are interpreted as failures. A student receiving such grades in a total of 8 unit hours may be terminated. A student receiving a failing grade will not be permitted to take a makeup examination.
• A degree candidate, after completing all departmental course requirements, must register each regular term as a continuing student and pay the continuing student fee until all remaining degree requirements are completed.

Please visit the Graduate Medical Sciences website at bumc.bu.edu/gms to view detailed administrative policies and procedures.

Study Options

The MSCR program can be completed on either a part-time or full-time basis depending on the student’s goal. Most of the courses take place in the late afternoons or early evenings to accommodate those who work during the day.

The program is designed so that a full-time student may complete their coursework in one academic year, including summer. Practicum and capstone components of the program should begin near completion of the coursework and the time frame for finishing them will be determined on a student-by-student basis by the program director or assistant director. A full-time student is enrolled in 12–18 units per academic term (fall and spring).

Part-time students must register for at least 4 but not more than 11 units each academic term until all course requirements are fulfilled.

Continuing Student

Students who have completed all departmental course requirements (32 units) must register each subsequent term as continuing students until all requirements for the degree have been completed.

Nondegree Option

A number of individuals with an accredited bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent, who are uncertain as to whether they want to enroll in MSCR, have the option of taking a few of the MSCR courses as a nondegree student, and may then make their decision about completing the MSCR application process. We allow the transfer toward the MSCR degree of up to 2 MSCR courses (8 units) taken as a nondegree student. Applicants must submit a copy of the Application for Admission, indicating the specific objectives of the studies/courses sought. In addition, the applicant must submit (with the application) the nonrefundable application fee. Nondegree applicants are not eligible for University sources of financial aid or aid that requires matriculation in a degree program.

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