Online Clinical Research Degree Program

Online Clinical Research Degree Programs - What Do You Study?

The National Institutes of Health define clinical research as "research that either directly involves a particular person or group of people or uses materials from humans, such as their behavior or samples of their tissue, that can be linked to a particular living person." Clinical research is a very diverse and dynamic field that can be subcategorized into three categories. Patient-oriented research involves a particular person or group of people or uses materials from humans. Typical studies in this type of clinical research include: studies of mechanisms of human disease, studies of therapies or interventions for disease, clinical trials (e.g. studies that test the safety and/or effectiveness of prescription drugs or therapies), and studies to develop new technology related to disease. A second type of clinical research is epidemiological and behavioral studies which examine the distribution of disease, the factors that affect health, and how people make health-related decisions. A third category of clinical research is outcomes and health services research which seeks to identify the most effective and most efficient interventions, treatments, and services.

Related Clinical Research Degree Programs

Colleges and universities that offer clinical research programs focus on giving students formal training in accepted research methods, administration and development while also teaching them about the most up-to-date regulations involved in conducting research on human subjects. As the field continues to evolve, new industry-related issues are always arising and schools that offer this degree aim to give their graduates the experience and confidence necessary to find solutions to these problems. Many schools offer a multidisciplinary approach which may include education in business and financial practices, as well as education in overall management of clinical drug, biological, and medical device trials.

Typical courses offered in this field include biostatistics, health services research, epidemiology research, clinical research design, scientific writing, use of computers in clinical research, clinical data management, clinical research ethics, and medical terminology. Many degree programs also may offer/require courses in the hard sciences such as biology, chemistry, genetics, and anatomy. Degrees are most often available at the graduate level but may be available at the undergraduate level as well. Some common degrees are Master's of Clinical Research Administration, Master's of Clinical Research Organization and Management, and Master's of Nursing in Clinical Research Trials.

Career Options in Clinical Research

Clinical research is one of the most happening fields in today’s time of increased numbers of lifestyle diseases and increasing use of drugs and therapies to alleviate these diseases. The most common entry-level job is a Clinical Research Associate who helps in the design and implementation of clinical research projects. There are great opportunities for growth to become either a Clinical Research or Project Manager or a Clinical Research Coordinator. In addition, you can become a Biostatistician, Business Development Manager, Clinical Research Investigator, Clinical Data Manager, Market Research Coordinator, or Quality Manager. You can be in the center of this fast-evolving field with an online degree in Clinical Research.