Online Master’s in Clinical Research Management, Organization, & Administration

MS in Clinical Research Organization and Management

Drexel University’s nationally ranked College of Medicine offers an accredited online Master’s in Clinical Research Organization and Management degree program. Taught by industry experts, this Master’s in Clinical Research is tailored for experienced research professionals seeking credentials and clinical management skills.

Program at a Glance

• Semester Credits: 36 credits
• Average Completion Time: 2 to 3 years
  • You may take up to 7 years to complete the program
• No thesis, on-campus, or residency requirements
• Courses are led by distinguished researchers, administrators, lawyers, and scientists with extensive experience in clinical research
• Flexible course plans cater to your career goals
• Well-rounded, accredited curriculum which combines seven tracks of study
• Management training covers key organizational and administrative skills for high-level professionals
• Uses a simple, easy-to-use interactive online format that caters to active and at-work clinical researchers

What is a Clinical Research Management Graduate Program?

The online Master’s in Clinical Research Organization and Management degree is a 36-semester credit (12 course) non-thesis fully online program. Organized into seven areas of clinical research study, you will have the opportunity to expand your clinical research and related administrative and regulatory knowledge. Yet, unlike most clinical research graduate programs, there is no fixed curriculum. Instead, you'll work with your advisor to customize a relevant course plan to meet your specific career goals.

Master’s in Clinical Research Organization and Management Program Requirements: Areas of Study

• New Product Research and Development
• Compliance and Safety Surveillance
• Ethics and Law
• Regulatory Affairs
• Biostatistics and Data Management
• Clinical Research Management
• New Therapeutic Product Business and Strategic Planning

What Will I Learn?

Clinical Research is a branch of healthcare science. It studies the safety and efficacy of a wide array of items used by humans to prevent, treat, diagnose, or relieve symptoms of a disease. As a result, clinical researchers may test things such as medications, devices, diagnostic products, and treatment regimens.

The biomedical, pharmaceutical, defense, medical device, and diagnostic industries need highly-trained professionals capable of overseeing a broad range of research projects. Drexel’s Master’s in Clinical Research program can help you develop an advanced skill set to manage the conduct of clinical investigations, while introducing you to relevant business, legal, and ethical issues.

There are no standard required courses for the online MS in Clinical Research Organization and Management program. You’ll be able to choose from courses that are essential and will help you to develop as a broadly-educated and well-prepared professional. At the same time, you’ll be ready to thrive in clinical research and new therapeutic product investigation. You may take courses in:

• A preferred area of study
• A cross-section of courses within other areas of study
• Any other clinical research online courses being offered

Learn from the Best – Faculty Spotlight

Professors like Dennis Salotti provide guidance and expertise to students at all phases of the program.

Program Outcomes

Depending on your plan of study, you’ll complete your Master’s Degree in Clinical Research Organization and Management at Drexel with essential skills and knowledge such as:

• Be able to successfully apply research frameworks and philosophies to clinical trials management
• Understand how to employ quality principles of current good clinical practices to produce valid and useful data
• Make use of current statistical knowledge and methods in the design, implementation, conduct, and assessment of clinical trial management
• Know how to ensure sound ethical principles and values are always recognized and upheld in research

Will this program prepare me for ACRP and SOCRA certification?

Drexel’s clinical research master’s degree program can help in your preparation for the ACRP or SOCRA certification. To be ACRP certified, a Clinical Research Associate is expected to have proficiency in the six (6) main content areas of clinical research:

Since we offer courses that cover these six content areas, you can attain the knowledge necessary to be eligible to sit for ACRP or SOCRA certification. That stated, our program intentionally does not have a core set of required courses. So, if sitting for this exam is your goal, we can help you to map out a suitable study plan.

What Can I Do with a Clinical Research Master’s Degree?

Graduates of our online clinical research master’s degree program may pursue a variety of career paths and job titles within the wider pharmaceutical, research and development industries. To enter the field, some jobs may require a bachelor’s degree, though a master’s degree with a focus in clinical research administration may be preferable. Students planning a career as medical scientists often need either a Ph.D. or medical degree.

By today’s standards, clinical research management is a fast-growing field. Clinical Data Managers (CDMs) apply their knowledge of healthcare and databases to analyze clinical data. They work to ensure the testing of new medical drugs and products are ethical, compliant, and adhere to protocols.

Other reported clinical research job titles include: Clinical Program Coordinator, Clinical Program Manager, Clinical Research Administrator, Clinical Research Associate (CRA), Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Manager, Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator, Clinical Trial Coordinator, Clinical Trial Manager, and Research Coordinator.

The chart below outlines some of the recent clinical research–related workforce data. Most individuals work in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Sector which requires a high degree of expertise and training.

How Long Does it Take to Earn a Master’s in Clinical Research?

On average, you can complete the online MS in Clinical Research Organization and Management degree program in 2 to 3 years.

How Much Do Clinical Research Managers Make?

Recent reports show that Clinical Data Managers earned an average annual salary of $112,590. However, salaries can fluctuate for a number of reasons. These include a candidate’s experience, education level, job title, and location. 

Archived Webinar

• How Technology is Changing Clinical Research - June 2019

Related Programs

Drexel University offers several other online clinical research master’s and certificate programs designed to match your career goals:

• MS in Clinical Research for Health Professionals
• Certificate of Study in Clinical Research
• Quantitative Principles for Clinical Research Certificate

If you have questions, please contact:

Patricia Cashin
Academic Administrator
215.762.4075
pcc36@drexel.edu

Drexel University offers a variety of Graduate Minors that can be added to any master's degree program.
State restrictions may apply to some programs.