C. KENNETH AND DIANNE WRIGHT CENTER
FOR CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

The post-baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Research educates students in the conduct of clinical (human) research studies and trials. The certificate focuses upon foundational knowledge and skills necessary to understand: basic clinical research and trial study design; statistics and data management; ethical principles to respect and protect the rights and welfare of individuals participating in clinical research; and select regulations and guidelines to guide activities related to new biopharmaceutical and medical device product development. 

Students will develop the essential knowledge and understanding to organize, coordinate and administer clinical research studies and trials by working with participants in a culturally-aware manner, supporting and performing quality data collection, and applying ethical, regulatory and compliance requirements. Students who complete the certificate will be well-prepared as effective and successful members of the clinical research workforce.

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF STUDENT IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS.

Certificate at a Glance

The curriculum requires 12 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree: nine required credit hours focusing on federal clinical research regulations, basic principles of clinical trial design and data management, ethical conduct of research and multicultural communication skills, as well as three elective credit hours from a set of predetermined courses. 

Students are expected to obtain a minimum grade of B in all courses to demonstrate competency in the course areas at the level of a certificate program. Courses may be taken in any order (not all courses are offered every semester), and no prerequisites are required other than those listed in the admission requirement section. All classes follow the VCU Academic Calendar.

Course	Title	Credit Hours
Required courses
BIOS 606 or CCTR 630	Clinical Trials or Design Implications in Clinical Trials	3
CCTR 520	Fundamentals of Research Regulation	2
OVPR 601 or OVPR 602 or OVPR 603	Scientific Integrity or Responsible Scientific Conduct or Responsible Conduct of Research	1
WRLD 302 or ALHP 300	Communicating Across Cultures or Communication Strategies in Health Services	3
Electives: Students must select 3 credits from the following course(s)
ALHP 410	Professional and Clinical Ethics	3
CCTR 640	Team Science: Theories and Practice	2
PHLT  580	Public Health Ethics	1
HADM 646	Health Care Organization and Leadership	3
SBHD 605	Introduction to Social and Behavioral Health	3
SBHD 608	Health Communication	3

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of and commitment to the protection of the human research participant rights, safety, and welfare.

• Students will commit to practicing as a clinical research professional in an ethical and responsible manner in accordance with good clinical practice and applicable regulations and laws.

• Students will understand how to conduct clinical research with cultural awareness utilizing appropriate study design and best practices for data collection methods.

• Students will demonstrate their commitment to engage in continuing education toward becoming increasingly proficient in their practice and to ensure that their practice-related knowledge and skills remain current.

Admission Requirements

THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF STUDENT IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS.

Applicants to the post-baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Research must apply online. It is expected that students will complete the program within two years, taking three credits per semester, which also provides adequate time for course offerings which may not occur each semester. The certificate must be completed within three years. 

All post-baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Research applicants must:

• Submit a completed application and pay the application fee.

• Have earned an undergraduate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited university or college (or its equivalent from a foreign institution based upon a four-year program) with a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA.

• Provide two letters of recommendation.

• Submit a current resume or CV.

• Provide an official undergraduate transcript(s) from baccalaureate-conferring institution, including final cumulative GPA.

• Submit a statement of intent, not to exceed 500 words, addressing the applicant’s:
• career goals and how this certificate program would help you meet them
• Work and life experiences related to your interest for this certificate program
• Preparedness to successfully complete the requirements of this certificate program

• Provide current certificates of completion for the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative modules in basic human subject protection and good clinical practice (either social/behavioral clinical trials or biomedical clinical trials).

Additional Information

Tuition 
Students enrolled in the post-baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Research program are assessed flat tuition and fees for enrollment in 9 to 15 credits per semester or at a per-credit-hour rate for enrollment in 8 credits or less. Select the “Masters – Monroe Park Campus” option on the Post-undergraduate calculator and select the residency and enrollment options for an estimate of your per-semester tuition and fees.

Tuition Benefit / Tuition Reimbursement
VCU and VCU Health employees may be eligible for tuition benefit / tuition reimbursement and are encouraged to talk with their manager or departmental HR representative.  VCU employees may refer to the Central VCU Human Resources Tuition Benefit webpage for policy, forms and procedures.  It is recommended that VCU Health employees consult VCU Health Human Resources prior to applying.  

Financial Aid 
Students enrolled in the post-baccalaureate Certificate in Clinical Research program may be eligible to receive federal direct loans. Please contact the Student Financial Management Center for more information. 

International Students
For more information on applying to VCU as an international graduate student, visit the international graduate admissions page. Additional details on international graduate admissions policies can also be found in the VCU Bulletin. For specific questions not answered on the admissions pages, please reach out to International Admissions at vcuia@vcu.edu.

English Proficiency Requirements and Testing
The VCU Global Education Office (GEO) is available to provide assistance, guidance and support to international graduate students. Services include opportunities for student connection, advice on housing options, health insurance, English language courses, placement testing for proof of English proficiency and more. To connect with GEO, visit their website or contact geo@vcu.edu.

Apply Here

Application Information and Deadlines:

• Fall Semester Enrollment:  applications accepted January 1^st – July 1^st
• Spring Semester Enrollment:  applications accepted June 1^st – December 1^st
• Summer Semester:  no new student enrollment

Program contacts:

Catherine Brown, MEd, CCRP, crbrown@vcu.edu
Shirley Helm, MS, CCRP, shirley.helm@vcuhealth.org