Clinical Research

The Clinical Research Certificate Program developed in partnership with the UC Irvine School of Medicine, is designed to prepare medical students, academics, physicians, industry and hospital-based researchers to conduct, implement and interpret clinical research at the intersection between basic science and clinical medicine. It is designed to bring diverse disciplines together to address the increasing gap between “bench” research and “bedside” application and from bedside application to improved healthcare quality.

Who Should Enroll

The Clinical Research Certificate is ideal for practicing physicians, junior faculty in clinical departments, residents, academics, industry, hospital-based researchers, fellows and 4th year medical students and others who are interested in the conduct, interpretation and implementation of clinical research that translates biomedical discoveries into clinical practice, improves the delivery of high-quality care and informs health care policies.

Courses within this certificate program carry full graduate course credit at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine and most can be directly applied to the school’s MS degree in Biomedical and Translational Sciences (MS-BATS). Students will be able to concurrently enroll in these courses via Concurrent Enrollment through UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education.

Program Benefits

• Acquire foundational skills and techniques to be able to collaborate successfully with colleagues in basic sciences and other disciplines in the effective conduct of high-quality clinical research, and applied to a broad spectrum of clinical issues and settings
• Develop competency in study design reflecting the breadth and complexity of clinical and translational science applications (i.e., beyond clinical trials)
• Learn skills to facilitate critical appraisal of multidisciplinary research literature
• Understand how to conduct and manage clinical research
• Engage in activities that develop the skills required to lead multidisciplinary research teams
• Understand the use of medical statistics, data analysis, and the use of data repositories
• Develop skills in communication, problem solving, educational methods, research and management, related to a clinical translational research
• Students are linked with mentors from more than one discipline appropriate to the students’ research interest

Eligibility and Requirements

Apply to become a candidate for the program: A Declaration of Candidacy is required to establish candidacy in this program. Complete the application and pay the application and candidacy fee of $125 (non-refundable). Learn more about the benefits of becoming a candidate. Candidacy is not required to enroll into individual course in a program.

A candidate in the program is awarded a certificate upon the successful completion of four (4) required courses totaling 16 units, each with a letter grade of “C” or better. All requirements must be completed within five (5) years after the student enrolls in their first course. To receive the Certified Digital Certificate after completing all the program requirements, students must submit the Request for Certificate to initiate the certificate audit process. Students not pursuing the certificate are welcome to take as many individual courses as they wish.

Admission Requirements

• 3.0 Cumulative undergraduate GPA
• Undergraduate degree (4 years minimum) in Science
• Original transcripts from all institutions attended
• If undergraduate degree was earned at an institution where English is not the primary language of instruction, a TOEFL exam with a score of 100 is required

Admission Procedures

1. Declare your candidacy for the program online.
   • Login to your MY ACCOUNT or Create New Account
   • Under “My Account”, select “Declaration of Candidacy/Specialized Studies”
   • Select your certificate program and pay $125
2. Send official transcripts verifying you meet the admission requirements of a completed bachelor's degree (4 years minimum) to the Records Office. We only accept electronic and mailed deliveries of official transcripts:
   • Electronic office transcripts (from e-Transcript Delivery Services) should be sent to dce-records@uci.edu
   • Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
     UC Irvine Continuing Education – ATTN: Records Office
     510 E Peltason Dr.
     Irvine, CA 92697
3. Once accepted, follow the registration & payment instructions sent via email by Student Affairs and Student Services to enroll and pay for the program.

How to Enroll in Individual Courses

Student who are not matriculating students in the UC Irvine MS-BATS Degree Program may submit their enrollment request for individual courses via the Concurrent Enrollment program administered by the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education. Students must have completed a bachelor's degree to enroll in the individual courses.

• For the Fall quarter:
  Students will enroll through Concurrent Enrollment.
• For the Summer quarter:
  Students should enroll through UC Irvine Summer Session.

Fees/Expenses

• The course fee for each course in the program is listed on the Concurrent Enrollment fee schedule
• For Summer course costs, please see the prices listed on the Summer Session enrollment form
• Declaration of Candidacy Fee $125
• Below are possible additional costs not included in course fees
  • Parking
  • Textbooks

Dates & Deadlines

• View the Concurrent Enrollment Academic Calendar for enrollment start & end dates for the Fall quarter.
• View the UC Irvine Summer Session Academic Calendar for enrollment start & end dates for the Summer 10-Week Session.

*Note to new students: Enrollment forms and supplementary documents will only be accepted during the enrollment periods for each quarter.