Health Sciences

Students graduating with this concentration will be eligible to sit for a certification exam as a Clinical Research Associate. This concentration substitutes five specific HSCR course for electives. 

What is the Health Sciences Clinical Research Administration (HSCR) concentration?

This concentration substitutes five specific HSCR course for electives. The first HSCR course will be taken in the Fall. By taking CRA courses as your electives, you will be working towards meeting the eligibility criteria and preparing for the SOCRA and ACRP Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and the Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) certification exams  

Society for Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) https://www.socra.org/
Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) https://acrpnet.org/

What is a Clinical Research Associate and Clinical Research Coordinator, and why would I want to become one?

The role of a CRA or CRC is to coordinate the collection, distribution and storage of data obtained during clinical trials. Responsibilities include development of clinical trial protocols, forms and templates for data collection; coordination with ethics committees to ensure trials are conducted in an ethical manner; setting up trial sites to ensure trials are conducted as per procedures and regulations; education of patients, doctors and other personnel about the trial; active monitoring of the conduct of trials at various sites and review of data for regulatory submissions; and preparation of reports, presentations and manuscripts for publications.

CRAs and CRCs  often find jobs with clinical research organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and in hospital systems. Average salaries range from $46,000 to $120,000+ a year and there is a 10-14% projected growth of the occupation by 2026.

So, how many credits is the M.S. in Health Sciences with the Clinical Research Administration (HSCR) concentration?

Regardless of concentration, the M.S. in Health Sciences is 36 credits. When concentrating in HSCR, you simply take HSCR courses as your electives.

 What are the HSCR courses?

• Clinical Research Methods
• Clinical Research Administration 1
• Clinical Research Administration 2
• Medical Product Development and Regulation
• Clinical Research Administration Internship

How can I learn more?

Contact:
Rebecca McIntyre, DHA, MSHA, CCRP
Assistant Professor and Clinical Research Administration Coordinator
rmcintyre1@radford.edu

If you are aspiring to get your doctoral degree, consider our M.S. in Health Sciences to D.H.Sc. Dual Degree track. Enrolling in this track may allow you to complete both the M.S. and D.H.Sc. programs in as little as 8 semesters. For students who choose this track, 12 credits (4 courses) completed in the M.S. in Health Sciences degree program are counted toward the D.H.Sc. program, thus reducing the number of credits for the D.H.Sc. program to 66 credit hours and reducing the time of degree completion by two semesters.

This accelerated track is geared toward highly motivated individuals who aspire to quickly advance in the areas of higher education, community and public health, or healthcare administration. By successfully completing this track, students will graduate with two degrees in less than three years.

Students will select to pursue one of three 12-credit (4 courses) concentrations designed to build students' knowledge, skills and abilities within that content area:  

• Health Administration
• Community and Public Health
• Higher Education

There are two pathways by which students may enter this track:

• Applicants may select this track when initially applying for the Master of Science in Health Sciences program. Applicants selecting this track will need to complete the admission requirements for the Master of Science in Health Sciences program as well as complete a virtual interview with program faculty.
• Students enrolled in the Master of Science in Health Sciences program may apply for the Master of Science in Health Sciences to D.H.Sc. Dual Degree track before the end of their second semester. Students will need to complete a new graduate application and fulfill the admission requirements for the D.H.Sc. program. The dual track is 100% online, allowing students to pursue their education from any location while continuing to work.

Admission Requirements

Students currently enrolled in the M.S. in Health Sciences program will need to apply for the M.S. in Health Sciences to D.H.Sc. Dual track before the end of the second semester in the M.S. in Health Sciences program. Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.

The followed will be required as part of the application and admission process:

1. Completion of the online Application for Graduate Admission.
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in the MSHS program.
3. Personal statement of approximately 500-700 word describing your academic and career goal(s) and how the D.H.Sc. program will assist you in meeting these goal(s).
4. Master's level statistics course and/or master’s or doctoral level research methods course with a grade of “C” or higher.
5. Current resume or CV documenting professional experience and educational achievement. 
6. Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters should preferably be obtained from one academic and one professional reference.
7. Completion of a virtual interview with program faculty.

For more information, please email Kim Baskette, Ph.D., CHES®, Graduate Program Director. 
She will be happy to schedule a time to personally meet with you to discuss the program and answer any questions you may have. 

The mission of the Master of Science in Health Sciences program is to provide an advanced interdisciplinary education in the health sciences and to enhance skills and opportunities leading to professional advancement in academic, clinical, community, or administrative settings. 

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Health Sciences program, graduates will be able to:

• Appraise evidence-based interventions to improve population health and healthcare.
• Analyze factors and emerging trends that influence population health and healthcare delivery.
• Evaluate policies, leadership strategies, and ethical practices that impact health outcomes.
• Critically evaluate literature in the health sciences.

Upon completion of the Clinical Research Administration concentration, graduates will be able to:

• Model and apply competences required to develop successful careers in a variety of  clinical trial operations and research sectors.
• Develop concepts, skills, and techniques in planning and management of clinical trial operations and design, including practices relating to the organization, execution, and monitoring of clinical trials.
• Formulate and promote Good Clinical Practice Guideline (GCP) representative of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) in all aspects of clinical trial design, development, implementation, submission, and post-market surveillance. 

We are honored that you are considering the Master of Science in Health Sciences online program. Applications for the program are reviewed and accepted on a rolling admission beginning in the Fall of each year and each applicants’ skills, experiences, passions and overall preparation for the program are evaluated holistically by a faculty panel. The following will be required as part of the application and admission process:

• Completion of the online Application for Graduate Admission.
• Baccalaureate degree awarded from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the field of health sciences, public health, education, administration, healthcare or other health-related discipline.
• Official transcripts from each college or university from which you have earned a degree or post-baccalaureate credits.
• Completion of a college level statistics course with a grade of C or higher prior to or during the first semester of the program.
• Personal statement of approximately 400-600 words detailing how the Master of Science in Health Sciences or M.S. in Health Sciences-D.H.Sc. Dual-Track program will assist you in achieving your academic and professional goals.
• Current resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) documenting educational achievement and professional experience.
• Two letters of recommendation are preferred but not required.
• Applicants may transfer up to twelve (12) graduate credit hours into the Master of Science in Health Sciences program. Only approved graduate-level credits completed within the past five years and with a grade of “B” or higher will be considered for transfer.  Transfer credit is not allowed for a course counted towards completion of another graduate degree and credits for Pass/Fail courses will not transfer into the program.
• Completion of a virtual interview with program faculty (Master of Science in Health Sciences-D.H.Sc. dual-track applicants only).

The Master of Science in Health Sciences program is a 36-credit fully online degree program which can be completed over 4 sequential semesters, taking 9 credits (3 courses) per semester. Students may select to pursue the Clinical Research Administration concentration when applying to the program. 

View the M.S. in Health Sciences course details in the academic catalog.

Upon graduation, the Master of Science in Health Sciences degree positions students to advance within their current field or move to a new position in healthcare. There is a broad range of salaries, dependent on your experience and area of interest. Some of the career fields our graduates pursue include:

• Population Health Management
• Health Analytics
• Health Informatics
• Community/Public Health Promotion & Education
• Allied Health Leadership 
• Health Services Management
• Epidemiology
• Public Policy and Administration

Students who complete the Clinical Research Administration concentration will be prepared to sit for the SOCRA and ACRP Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and the Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) certification exams. Students completing the CRA concentration may  find jobs with clinical research organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and in hospital systems. Average salaries range from $46,000 to $120,000+ a year and there is a 10-14% projected growth of the occupation by 2026.

Careers for students pursuing the Clinical Research Administration track include:

• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Clinical Research Associate
• Clinical Data Manager
• Clinical Trial Manager
• Research Program Manager

Can students begin the semester in any semester?
While new student cohorts begin in fall semester of each year, students not pursuing the Clinical Research Administration concentration may begin the program in the spring.

What is the application deadline?
Student applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis beginning in the fall semester of each academic year. The earlier you submit the application, the sooner you will know your acceptance status. 

What is the program tuition costs and fees?
View the tuition and fees for Radford University at Carilion.

Are transfer credits for courses completed at other universities accepted into the program?
Up to 12 credits may be transferred into the program; however, there are a number of conditions that must be met for the courses a student would like to transfer in:

• Must be a masters level course completed at an accredited institution
• Courses cannot have been used in obtaining another degree;
• Courses must have been completed within the past five years with a grade of B or higher;
• The course syllabus will be reviewed to determine If the proposed transfer class can be substituted for a course in the M.S. in Health Sciences program of study.

Is the GRE required for admission to the program?
No, the GRE is not required to be accepted to the program.

Are students required to take any courses on campus, or can all courses be completed online?
Although we do have students come on campus and meet with faculty in person, students are not required to take any in-person classes and all courses in the degree program can be completed 100% online.

What is the final “culminating experience in Health Sciences” project like?
For the culminating experience, students can choose from a practicum experience where they work and apply what they've learned in the field, OR a scholarly research project where the student works under the mentorship of a faculty member. The practicum is well suited to those who plan to work in an industry such as health care while the scholarly project is well suited to those who are interested in working in research or academia, or in pursuing a future doctoral degree.

Is there a deadline for completion of the program?
Yes; the program must be completed in eight years from the date the first course is taken.

What if a students’ cumulative GPA is lower than 3.0? Can they still apply?
As part of the initial screening process, your application materials will be reviewed by panel in order to better understand your past grades and determine if an interview is to be granted. If your application is accepted for admittance following the interview process, you will be admitted on a conditional basis and your grades evaluated after completion of the first semester of courses.

Are there any opportunities for graduate assistantships in the M.S. in Health Sciences program?
Our department currently has one Graduate Assistantship at the master’s level. However, other opportunities for assistantships may arise through grants and other funding sources.

In the event of family, work, and/or financial constraints, are students allowed to take less than 9 credits per semester?
Students are not required to take three courses per semester; however, note that courses are generally offered once per year and always in the same semester. That is, a fall class is offered fall only, and not fall and spring. Therefore, if a course is missed in any given semester, students will need to wait until the following year to take the course. Most students, with good planning with their academic advisor, have not found this to be an issue.

How can I learn more about the program?
Please email Kim Baskette, Ph.D., CHES®, Graduate Program Director. 
She will be happy to schedule a time to personally meet with you to discuss the program and answer any questions you may have. 

Radford University at Carilion is authorized by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to offer postsecondary education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
 
Radford University at Carilion is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters and Doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Radford University at Carilion.