Dorota L. Stankowska, PhD, Specialized Master’s Program Director
Interdisciplinary Research & Education Building (IREB), Room 508
Phone: 817-735-0239
E-mail: Dorota.Stankowska@unthsc.edu
The master’s program in Clinical Research Management provides a strong foundation upon which to build or advance a career. The rigorous curriculum focuses on providing students with a broad-based view of the biomedical sciences, as well as in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements (Code of Federal Regulations, Good Clinical Practices), ethical issues, and both the medical writing and administrative skills necessary to conduct clinical research. As part of the program, all students will complete an internship practicum in clinical studies and use this experience to write the internship practicum report pursuant to receiving the Master of Science (MS) degree. The average time to complete the degree is 18 months with full-time enrollment.
An applicant to the Clinical Research Management program may apply to either the on-campus track or the online track. Students in either track can enter in the summer, fall, or spring semesters. All students complete a 6-12 month internship practicum experience or a Capstone project.
Track Options
On-Campus Track (5-6 Semesters)
The on-campus track is designed for the student who works best in a team setting, alongside other students, with daily faculty interaction. On-campus students will participate in didactic lectures and interact with faculty and other students in real time. The students in the on-campus track can enter in the summer, fall, or spring semesters. After completing all didactic courses, students will be enrolled in a 6- to 12-month internship experience located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The average time to complete the program is 18 months with full-time enrollment.
Online Track Option (5-6 Semesters)
The online track is designed for students who need flexibility and are unable to attend class in-person. Didactic courses are completed online with the option of completing the CRM program with an in-person 6- to 12-month internship practicum experience located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or an online Capstone project spanning 6-12 months. Due to the complexity of completing an internship practicum experience in a foreign location or remote location other than Dallas-Fort Worth, students enrolled in the online track option will have their internship practicum replaced with an online Capstone project worth 6 SCH. In addition to the rigorous curriculum, students will have online access to advising. With three starting points each year, students in this program can begin classes at the time most convenient for them. The average time to complete the program is 18 months with full-time enrollment.
Campus resources are available, from financial aid to the library, including the Career Readiness Center and the Center for Academic Performance, without traveling to our physical location.
Opportunities for Graduates in Clinical Research Management
Well-trained clinical research professionals are in high demand. The tremendous increase in medical technology and information in the last decade has resulted in an explosion of potential new drugs, devices, and biologics that must be tested before being released for public use. The profession is constantly challenged to improve and streamline the clinical research programs to shorten the development timelines and control the cost of new product development.
Clinical research professionals can hold a multitude of positions either in industry, at the investigational site, or in the clinical research service profession either at a contract research organization (CRO) or a site management organization (SMO). Job titles may include, but are not restricted to, Clinical Research Associate (CRA), Clinical Research Scientist (CRS), Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC), Medical Writer, Clinical Trial Auditor, Clinical Trial Monitor, Product Safety Specialist, Clinical Research Trainer, etc. Industry (sponsor) and service professions (CRO, SMO) usually provide technical and managerial career paths and ample growth opportunities.
Typically, a CRC involved with implementing and coordinating a clinical trial at a research site (private, clinic, hospital) will advance his/her career by switching to either industry or one of the service professions. Others make the reverse switch because they prefer the interactions with patients, or they may want to travel less than what is typically required from a clinical trial monitor. Turnover in all these industries and positions is relatively high because of the growing variety of choices clinical research professionals have, especially after they have accumulated several years of experience.