Program Description
In addition to doctoral and master’s level degrees, the College of Graduate Health Sciences offers an online graduate certificate in Clinical Research. This 12-credit hour certificate provides initial clinical research skills and training to healthcare professionals. All coursework is provided online, focusing on fundamentals of clinical investigation, biostatistics, epidemiology, and ethical and legal issues. The program is self-paced, but requires at least two terms for completion due to staggered Spring/Fall course offerings.
Minimum Admission Requirements
This program may be offered to qualified applicants holding baccalaureate, masters’ or professional degrees in a variety of disciplines, including physical, biological, and social sciences, as well as the health and medical sciences.
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited college or university;
- Submission of a completed application form for this program;
- Official academic transcripts from previous colleges or universities attended (applicants who have international transcripts must arrange for an independent educational-equivalency evaluation company to submit an evaluation of their international transcripts to this program at their own expense; the evaluation report should include the grade-point average based on a 4.0 scale);
- Recommendations from two people qualified to affirm the applicant’s capabilities for graduate academic work.
In addition, applicants must have sufficient computer literacy, English-language literacy, and technical skills to participate in web-based, graduate-level courses. A command of written and spoken English is essential. If there is cause to doubt the student’s proficiency in English, the program may, at its discretion, require additional examinations and/or other evidence of proficiency prior to registration. Applicants must have regular access to a computer with a high-speed Internet connection and with suitable technical support for online interactions. Applicants should be familiar with using standard computer software for word-processing, data-processing, Internet browsing, downloading and uploading Internet material in various formats, maintaining Internet security, e-mail handling, and related functions. Questions about computer compatibility with the UTHSC network may be directed to the UTHSC Computing Services Help Desk).
Prospective students apply to the Certificate in Clinical Research program to be considered for enrollment as non-degree students in the College of Graduate Health Sciences (CGHS). Students are expected to comply with regulations and procedures of the CGHS and UT Health Science Center (UTHSC), including procedures for enrollment and course registration, arrangements for tuition and fees, and other expectations of students as indicated in the UTHSC General Catalog and CenterScope student handbook. Admission to the certificate program is not linked to admission in any other graduate program of the CGHS; if students wish to enroll in another graduate program, they must apply to it separately. Certificate program graduates who later seek admission to the Master of Science program in the department may request that credit from the certificate program apply toward credit in the electives component of the curriculum for the MS degree at UTHSC.
State Authorization Requirements for Online Students
Institutions are required to secure authorization for students who intend to complete all or a portion of an academic program while residing outside of the state in which the program originates (i.e., for UTHSC students completing all or a portion of the certificate program while residing outside of Tennessee). The University of Tennessee has secured authorization for the delivery of online courses in the majority of states in the US and is continuing its efforts to secure the necessary authorizations in the remaining states. Students who reside outside of Tennessee who are seeking admission to this online certificate program are advised to contact the College of Graduate Health Sciences Office of the Dean to verify the presence of the requisite state authorization.
