Certificate in Fundamentals of Clinical Research

To conduct patient-oriented clinical studies adequately, it is necessary to understand the principles of research design and statistical analysis. With increasing complexities in clinical research, it is imperative that clinical researchers receive a minimum training in clinical research methods. The objective of the certificate in the fundamentals of clinical research is to provide formalized training in clinical research methodology and a practicum in research design and statistical analysis in patient-oriented clinical research. Areas of study include: biostatistics, epidemiology, research ethics and the responsible conduct of research, and clinical trials design and implementation.

1. Determine when it is appropriate to use a patient-oriented research design to investigate a translational clinical problem.
2. Understand the principles of clinical research design and statistical analysis.
3. Understand the principles of multidisciplinary patient-oriented clinical research protocols.
4. Apply and foster professional, ethical and responsible conduct of clinical research.

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school.

A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by paper.  Our office address is: UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions, 232 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.  Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if: