Online Master’s in Clinical Research Administration Programs

Working professionals in the healthcare industry who wish to advance their careers can continue working while also earning the credentials they need at one of these twelve accredited, reputable schools.

Arizona State University partnered with the Mayo Clinic to design its award-winning online master’s in clinical research administration program. The 33-credit program is appropriate for those who already work as doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals. Graduates of the program can seek employment in various research areas, including clinical data managers, clinical nurse specialists, clinical research coordinators, and more.

Students take 11 classes, each of which runs for 7.5 weeks. This includes six core courses, four approved electives, and a clinical research management project. Classes include clinical research data management and technology implementation; clinical research monitoring; clinical research operations; fundamentals of regulatory affairs; responsible conduct of clinical research; scientific and research review boards; clinical research design and methods; global regulatory affairs leadership; and healthcare project management.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA), official transcripts from previous schools, a resume or curriculum vitae, three professional references, proof of English language proficiency, and proof of at least six months of clinical research experience.

• Location: Tempe, Arizona
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: One to two years
• Estimated Tuition: $869 per credit

George Washington University offers a flexible online MSHS in clinical research administration program as it was designed for working professionals in clinical research. Students focus on medical research ethics, processes for product development, regulations, and much more.

The online MSHS program consists of 36 credits broken down into 18 credits of core courses, nine credits of strategic leadership courses, six credits of graduate research coursework, and three credits of elective courses. Some of the classes students can expect to take include the clinical research industry; critical analysis in clinical research; medicines development; partnerships with human subjects; quality and risk management; monitoring, auditing, and oversight in clinical research; leadership and change in clinical research administration; and biostatistics for clinical and translational research.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, a 250- to 300-word statement of purpose, a resume or curriculum vitae, two reference letters, and the submission of official transcripts from previous colleges.

• Location: Washington DC
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years
• Estimated Tuition: $990 per credit

The online master of science (MS) in clinical research at Campbell University prepares students for leadership positions in the healthcare industry and teaches them how to produce and interpret medical evidence across many different sectors, such as medical institutions and hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, government agencies, and academia. Some of the specific positions that graduates of this program have obtained include jobs as a biostatistician, clinical research associate, clinical monitor, data manager, and project manager.

Students have the option of enrolling part-time or full-time and will complete several core courses, including principles of clinical research; new product development; advanced data management; and clinical trial operations. They also complete several electives such as international clinical trials; pharmacogenetics; bioterrorism and mass public health threats; and epidemiology.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, prerequisites of anatomy and physiology, statistics, 12 hours of science courses, official transcripts from previous colleges, two letters of recommendation, and a professional resume.

• Location: Buies Creek, North Carolina
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years with a five-year maximum
• Estimated Tuition: $1,030 per credit

This online master’s in clinical research organization and management prepares students to conduct medical research in various industries, including biomedical, defense, diagnostic, medical device, and pharmaceutical. Students learn about the fundamental organizational and management skills for high-level professionals and the business, legal, and ethical issues facing the field to obtain leadership roles after graduation.

The 36-credit program requires the completion of 12 three-credit courses. Students can focus on one of seven career tracks. These include biostatistics and data management; new therapeutic product business and strategic planning; clinical research management; new product research and development; compliance and safety surveillance; ethics and law; and regulatory affairs. An example course from each of these tracks includes epidemiology; designing the clinical trial; compliance & monitoring issues; ethical issues in research; emerging trends in medical device regulations; clinical project management; and clinical trial budgeting.

Admission requirements include having a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, two years of relevant work experience, official transcripts from previous colleges, a resume, an essay on goals and objectives for seeking the degree, and past successes. Students may also need to complete a telephone interview.

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years
• Estimated Tuition: $1,255 per credit

The School of Health Sciences at Eastern Michigan University offers a master’s of science in clinical research administration. This program aims to provide didactic and hands-on instruction and opportunities for drug/device development professionals to increase their knowledge base, creativity, and research skills.

Courses are taught in a hybrid format, on-campus and online, allowing students with full-time jobs to earn a degree. Graduates from this program are often admitted into preceptorship experiences with contract research organizations, pharmaceutical firms, and clinical research facilities affiliated with this program.

Required courses include an introduction to drug development; clinical study administration; and ethical issues in clinical research. Students in this program can choose from two tracks: clinical trial management or regulatory affairs, which have unique course requirements. To graduate, students can choose from two final projects: a research-based thesis, research proposal, or capstone project. The program comprises 34 to 35 credits.

To apply to this program, applicants must submit transcripts from institutions where they earned their bachelor’s degree and have a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester units of coursework, a 500-word statement on career objectives, and two letters of support.

• Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Format: Hybrid
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years
• Estimated Tuition: $993.50 per credit

The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) research administration master’s program is appropriate for professionals working in government agencies, higher education, and independent foundations and those in other healthcare areas seeking a career change. The school collaborates with the Research Administrators Certification Council, the National Grants Management Association, and the National Council for University Research Administration to create the curriculum for this program.

Students take 12 courses and can complete an additional four courses to earn a certificate in international research administration on top of their degree. Example coursework for the general program includes an introduction to research administration; organization and leadership for research administration; and an introduction to legal, ethical, regulatory, and compliance issues.

Admission requirements for the graduate degree program include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, a current resume, a one- to two-page statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts from previous colleges.

The school also has a related MS in regulatory science or food safety regulation.

• Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years
• Estimated Tuition: $4,130 per course

The School of Health Professions at Rutgers University offers a hybrid master of science in clinical research management. This program aims to provide a broad and well-rounded foundation for clinical research administrators. It offers three tracks: a clinical research management track, an academic clinical research management track, or a drug safety and pharmacovigilance, which monitors pharmaceuticals for side effects after authorization for use. Students can complete this program part- or full-time and benefit from proximity to healthcare research institutions and facilities in the Newark metropolitan area.

This 36-credit program features courses such as scientific concepts and research design; regulatory and ethical requirements in clinical investigations; project management and leadership; special topics in clinical trial sciences; multiple analyses in clinical trials; overview of disease processes and treatment; clinical operations and management; regulatory writing for submissions and publications; and scientific writing for the translation of medicine.

To apply to this program, students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Previous experience in clinical research is not required for admission, but applicants to the drug safety track are recommended to have a degree in nursing, pharmacy, or allied health. At the time of application, students must decide their specialization track and provide two letters of recommendation, a 250-word statement of short- and long-term goals, and official transcripts from the institution that conferred their bachelor’s degree.

• Location: Newark, New Jersey
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Format: Hybrid
• Expected Time to Completion: 16 to 36 months
• Estimated Tuition: $1,009 per credit

UCF’s College of Health and Public Affairs offers an online master of research administration (MRA) program that provides several career paths for students, including associate or assistant vice president of research, clinical research administrator, and director of research operations. The goal is to prepare students with the managerial, ethical, and administrative tools to succeed as leaders in the clinical research field. Both Kiplinger’s Report and Forbes Magazine have noted the University of Florida for its affordable online programs.

Students complete 36 credits before graduating, including 27 credits of core courses and nine additional required courses. Core courses include an introduction to research administration; contracting for sponsored programs; and intellectual property, technology transfer, and commercialization. The other three courses focus on management, specifically in grant and contract, human resources, and strategic planning.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, an essay, a personal statement, and a resume.

• Location: Orlando, Florida
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years
• Estimated Tuition: $655.62 per credit

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UNT’s Health Science Center at Fort Worth offers a master of science program in clinical research management. This program aims to provide a strong foundation in the discipline with a broad-based view of biomedical sciences, regulatory requirements, ethical issues, medical writing, and administrative skills for clinical research. Students can complete this program in as few as 18 months at full-time enrollment and choose from online, on-campus, or hybrid formats.

Students in this program take required core courses in biochemistry; immunology and microbiology; pharmacology; and principles of scientific communication. An internship practicum gives hands-on experience in off-campus locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Students in the online program complete a capstone project to contribute to scholarly research that addresses a specific problem in clinical research management. The online option consists of 37 credits.

To apply, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and provide transcripts showing natural science coursework, two letters of recommendation, and a resume. GRE scores are optional unless otherwise required.

• Location: Fort Worth, Texas
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Format: Online, on-campus, or hybrid
• Expected Time to Completion: 18 to 24 months
• Estimated Tuition: In-state residents ($2,368 per semester); out-of-state residents ($9,984 per semester)

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Wake Forest University offers an online master of science in clinical research management (CRM) for those entering the field. Macro and micro aspects of clinical research are the focus of this program which partners with industry professionals to prepare its graduates for the ever-changing industry. This program is designed for working professionals who can commit to two academic years. Students in this program are mentored by qualified clinical research professionals and leaders and learn innovative skills in an online educational environment.

This program offers two specialization tracks in strategic leadership and communications or operations. The curriculum emphasizes applying knowledge and skills in critical analysis, regulatory healthcare laws, and organizational considerations of clinical trials. Graduates are prepared for positions as clinical research managers and regulatory affairs managers and are ready to manage individuals and teams in clinical and healthcare industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and academic research labs.

Made up of 35 credits, the program’s curriculum includes courses such as ethical and participant safety considerations; medicines development, regulation, and industry; clinical studies development; quality systems and risk management; and data management and informatics.

Applicants to this program are advised to have some previous working experience in healthcare management or equivalent experience in another field. To be considered for admission, applicants must submit a 500-word statement summarizing their professional background and why they want to pursue a degree at Wake Forest, transcripts from previous degree programs, three letters of recommendation, a resume/CV, an attestation of readiness for online learning, and application fee.

• Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: 20 months
• Estimated Tuition: $1,650 per credit for part-time online students

An online master of science program in health informatics and analytics offered by the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arizona Global Campus provides students with the skills and knowledge required to help health professionals in providing optimal care. This master’s degree program focuses on the function and structure of information, privacy, security, and interoperability standards, health information exchange, and the effective use of data in problem-solving and information governance.

Consisting of 39 credits, the program includes courses such as foundations in health informatics; healthcare management information systems; healthcare program & project management; systems analysis, design & technology management; technology topics in information governance & business analytics; management topics in information governance; and providers topics in health informatics.

Graduates will be prepared for roles such as clinical data managers, medical and health services managers, health informatics analysts, clinical data managers, health informatics specialists, and health information technologists.

• Location: Chandler, AZ
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
• Format: Online
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years
• Estimated Tuition: $740 per credit