Online Master’s in Clinical Research Administration

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The world depends on clinical research administrators. Research administrators are crucial to the advancement of medical knowledge, and they do so by studying the effectiveness of clinical trials in improving healthcare outcomes. Those who pursue a career as a clinical research scientist or administrator are at the forefront of healthcare research and play an instrumental role in improving public health.

Clinical researchers are frequently involved with clinical trials, where they work closely with research participants over an extended period. The goal of clinical trials is to evaluate the effectiveness of a medication, behavioral intervention, or holistic treatment method. Participants in a clinical trial often aim to improve their health via experimental research that might in turn help thousands of other people improve theirs.

The National Institutes of Health maintains a database of all active clinical trials. It is not uncommon to have nearly 300,000 going on at the same time across the country, which means the demand for clinical research administrators is high. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not keep a specific page on clinical research administration, it does predict an 18 percent increase in openings across the U.S. for health services managers between 2018 and 2028.

People who already work in healthcare with a strong interest in research typically excel in this career path. Since most employers require at least a graduate degree for an entry-level position, one convenient way to secure the necessary education is by enrolling in a distance-based program.

Check out what to expect from an online master’s program in clinical research administration (CRA), including the expected tuition, curriculum, and program length.

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Featured Clinical Research Administration Programs
Wake Forest University MS in Clinical Research Management View Full Profile
The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences MSHS in Clinical & Translational Research View Full Profile
The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences MSHS in Clinical Operations and Healthcare Management View Full Profile
The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences MSHS in Clinical Research Administration View Full Profile
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Featured Online Master’s Programs in Clinical Research Administration

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

1George Washington University View Full Profile

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 school developed its curriculum based on the eight competency domains of clinical research professionals, as defined by the Consortium of Academic Programs in Clinical Research. These include scientific concepts and research design, ethical and participant safety considerations, medicine development and regulation, clinical trials operation, study and site management, data management and informatics, leadership and professionalism, and communication and teamwork.

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, development of medicines, biostatistics, trends in health systems, and quality and risk management.

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 Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Format: Online
  • Tuition: $895 per credit
  • Program length: Two years
2Arizona State University View Full Profile

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

Students take a total of 11 classes, each of which runs for 7.5 weeks. The credit requirements include 15 credits of required core courses, such as clinical research monitoring and responsible conduct of clinical research, 15 credits of restricted electives and a three-credit capstone research project.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA), official transcripts from previous schools, 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
  • Format: Online with an optional two-day orientation
  • Tuition: $512 per credit
  • Program length: One to two years
3Campbell University

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 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, healthcare economics, and biostatistical monitoring. They also complete several electives such as international clinical trials, pharmacokinetics, bioterrorism and mass public health threats, and epidemiology.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, submission of GRE scores, prerequisites of anatomy and physiology, statistics, and 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
  • Format: Online
  • Tuition: $800 per credit
  • Program length: Two to three years with a five-year maximum
4Drexel University

The Drexel online master’s in clinical research organization and management prepares students to conduct medical research in a variety of industries, including biomedical, defense, diagnostic, medical device, and pharmaceutical. Students learn about the fundamental organizational and management skills for high-level professionals as well as the business, legal, and ethical issues facing the field so that they can obtain leadership roles after graduation.

The program requires the completion of 12 three-credit courses. Students can focus on one of five career tracks. These include biostatistics and data management, business and strategic planning of new product development, clinical research management safety and surveillance, new product research, and regulatory compliance and law. An example course from each of these tracks includes epidemiology, pharmaceutical research and development, ethical issues in research, fundamentals of academic research administration, and strategic planning.

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, resume, and an essay on goals and objectives for seeking the degree as well as past successes. Students may also need to complete a telephone interview.

  • Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Format: Online
  • Tuition: $1,098 per credit
  • Program length: Two years
5Emmanuel College

The program at Emmanuel was designed with the mid-level research administrator in mind. It provides students with new skills so that they can obtain leadership positions within the field of research administration. Recent graduates of the program have been hired as financial managers, directors of research administration and faculty affairs, and senior grants administrators.

Students must complete 11 seven-week courses, totaling 36 credits, to earn this degree. They also need to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Each class runs for seven weeks, and most are worth three credits. Examples of coursework include changing economies, financial management of sponsored programs, and contracts.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 or higher GPA, official transcripts from previous colleges, two letters of recommendation, a 500-word admission essay, and a current resume.

  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
  • Format: Online and on-campus
  • Tuition: $2,192 per course
  • Program length: One to two years
6University of Central Florida

UCF’s College of Health and Public Affairs offers an online master’s of research administration (MRA) program that provides several career paths for students, which include associate or assistant vice president of research, clinical research administrator, and director of research operations, among others. 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 Central Florida for its affordable online programs.

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

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

  • Location: Orlando, Florida
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
  • Format: Online
  • Tuition: $641.22 per credit for both Florida and non-Florida residents
  • Program length: Two years

Professors to Know in Online Graduate Programs in Clinical Research Administration

  • William Pickard - Campbell University

    William Pickard is an associate professor of clinical research and chairman of the department at Campbell University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He completed his master’s degree in pharmacy practice and his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also completed a clinical pharmacy residency at Duke University Medical Center and is a certified immunization pharmacist. He currently teaches medical ethics, bioterrorism, and physical assessment courses at Campbell University. Previously, he worked in the infectious diseases division at Duke University where he completed hundreds of clinical trials. While at Duke, his primary focus was in the immunocompromised host cancer population and he developed the first two AZT trials for AIDS in the world.

  • Marianne Woods, PhD - Johns Hopkins University

    Dr. Marianne Woods is the faculty and program director of the research administration master's program. She has been in her current role since November 2013. Before that, she worked as the associate vice president of research at the University of Texas at Arlington and San Antonio, as well as the University of Alabama. In 2016, Dr. Woods traveled to Australia to participate in the International Network of Research Management Societies. Some of Dr. Woods’s research interests include research integrity, research support, research compliance, data management, export controls, classified research, industrial and contract agreements, and technology innovation and transfer. She has worked with the FBI on its citizen board of directors and currently holds membership in the National Council of University Research Administrators. Dr. Woods earned her doctorate in policy studies and evaluation from Claremont Graduate University.

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