MS in Clinical Research

MSCR MS graduate students must complete a specified curriculum and a research project.

Coursework Overview

Students must complete a minimum of 48 units, including:

• 32-units of required upper division (100-series) and graduate (200-series) courses
• Elective courses (8-units), which are selected in consultation with and approval by the assigned adviser(s)
• Biomath 596 (8-units) directed individual study with assigned quantitative mentor

Mentored Research Project

MSCR MS degree students may choose between a Capstone Plan II (capstone: research report) and a Thesis Plan.

Capstone Plan II

• A Master’s Report Committee will be constituted for each student. The Committee will have a chair and at least two other faculty members. Subject to approval of the committee, the capstone report can take on a variety of forms including a research article or a grant proposal. However, in all cases, the committee expects each Master’s Research Report would add to the body of knowledge in the student's clinical specialty. The Committee will supervise the preparation of the report and will meet with the student regularly to review progress. The final research report will be presented orally to the committee and the full committee must approve the final written research report.
• Students are assigned a quantitative mentor to help with the design of the capstone project.

Thesis Plan

• Every master's degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research.
• A master's thesis committee consisting of a minimum of three faculty is nominated by the department and appointed by the Graduate Division. Students discuss with their adviser(s) their choice for the chair of the thesis committee (which must be a faculty within the Department of Computational Medicine). The Executive Committee must approve the committee composition. The completed thesis is presented to the thesis committee for approval.

• Students are assigned a quantitative mentor to help with the design of the research thesis.

Required courses are listed below. All required courses are held at UCLA, but are available via Zoom for Cedars-Sinai, Lundquist-Harbor, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

Please see the UCLA Schedule of Classes for dates, times, and locations of classes.

Required Courses for Clinical Trials Track

• Biomath 170A. Introductory Biomathematics for Medical Investigators
• Biomath 259. Controversies in Clinical Trials
• Biomath 265A. Data Analysis Strategies I
• Biomath 266A. Applied Regression Analysis in Medical Science
• Biomath 266B. Advanced Biostatistics
• Biomath M261. Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans
• Methodology in Clinical Research (3 quarter series)
  • Biomath M260C. Methodology in Clinical Research 3: Observational Studies
  • Biomath M260A. Methodology in Clinical Research 1: Clinical Trials
  • Biomath M260B. Methodology in Clinical Research 2: Longitudinal and Community Studies
• Required Mentored Research Course
  • Biomath 596 Directed Individual Study with Research Mentor (total of 8 units needed)

Required Courses for Biomedical Informatics Track

• Bioeng M227. Medical Information Infrastructures and Internet Technologies
• Bioeng 220: Introduction to Medical Informatics
• Bioeng M226: Medical Knowledge Representation
• Biomath 170A. Introductory Biomathematics for Medical Investigators
• Biomath 265A. Data Analysis Strategies I
• Biomath 266A. Applied Regression Analysis in Medical Science
• Biomath 266B. Advanced Biostatistics
• Biomath M261. Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans
• Biomath M260C. Methodology in Clinical Research 3: Observational Studies
• Required Mentored Research Course
  • Biomath 596 Directed Individual Study with Research Mentor (total of 8 units needed)

Elective Courses

MSCR MS trainees in either track must take a total of 8-units of graduate elective courses (200 series). These can be taken in any quarter(s) during training. Electives must be basic science courses and can include courses offered in other departments.

Sample Timelines

• MSCR Clinical Trials track (PDF) (subject to change).
• MSCR Biomedical Informatics track (PDF) (subject to change).

Course Descriptions

View all the TPTS course descriptions.

Upon acceptance to the MSCR MS Program, participants must apply directly for admission to the UCLA Graduate Division.

MSCR MS Degree Students

• MSCR student stipends and fees are supported by their home departments; admission to the program requires a letter of commitment for this support from the student's clinical department chair.
• UCLA non-academic-senate employees with appointments of at least 50% may qualify to receive a two-thirds reduction in fees. See Procedure 51—Reduced Fee Enrollment.
• Select UCLA Department of Medicine (DoM) fellows who have applied for and been accepted into the MSCR IGNITE Program will receive tuition funding for two years. See details on IGNITE

Fees are subject to revision without notice. View the current fee schedule.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have an affiliation with UCLA, Harbor-UCLA, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, or Charles R. Drew University (the CTSI partner institutions)
• Be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the U.S.
• Have a bachelor’s degree or the foreign equivalent
• Have an MD, DDS, DMD, DO, DC, OD, or ND (Doctor of Naturopathy) degree; be a doctorally prepared nurse; have a PhD with clinical responsibilities
• Have salary and tuition support for the duration of the program and a letter of commitment from their division or department
• Have selected and established a relationship with a strong research mentor in a clinical department that also has support for the research

MSCR MS Application Steps

STEP 1: Submit your initial information with this form and discuss your eligibility with Dr. Elashoff and Dr. Ranganath before submitting a full MSCR application packet. To schedule a meeting, please email: delashoff@mednet.ucla.edu and vranganath@mednet.ucla.edu.

STEP 2: Submit an application packet (see instructions below).

STEP 3: Applicants accepted into the MSCR MS program will be notified and instructed to officially submit an online application to UCLA Graduate Division.

MSCR Application

Deadline

• MSCR MS applications are accepted December 1 to April 1. Additional time can be given on a case-by-case basis.
• MSCR IGNITE deadline is January 5. 
  See details on IGNITE
• The academic year begins in Sept/Oct (Fall Quarter).

Application Item Checklist

1. MSCR application cover page:
   Instructions and Cover Page (include with application packet)
2. Current CV
3. Personal Statement including career goals
4. Official transcripts: (electronic transcripts, such as "e-transcripts", please).
   • Submit all that apply: undergraduate, graduate, and medical school.
   • Transcripts must be the official institution documents
   • Transcripts must be sent directly from the institutions to Doug Smoot at dsmoot@mednet.ucla.edu or training@ctsi.ucla.edu. Transcripts sent from applicants cannot be accepted.
5. Research Project: A brief (2-3 pages) description of the research project to form the basis of the thesis/capstone.
6. Mentor Documents: Research mentor's current NIH Biosketch and NIH Other Support pages.
7. Three (3) letters of recommendation:
   • One letter from Division Chief / Departmental Chair indicating financial support (stipend and registration fees) to be provided during the didactic and research period of the graduate program. The letter must specifically state the source of the stipend and support for registration fees. The letter should also address the arrangements made for protected trainee time for period of the program.
   • One letter of commitment from research mentor(s). The letter should describe the mentoring program to be provided and funding specifics for the research. Mentor’s NIH Biosketch and Other Support also submitted.
   • One letter from another faculty member.

Application Packet Submission

Please email your application items, PDF preferred, to the contact below. (Transcripts must be sent separately from the institution directly to the contact below):

Doug Smoot
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
CTSI Student Affairs
E-mail: dsmoot@mednet.ucla.edu

Questions: Please email the TPTS Coordinator at training@ctsi.ucla.edu.

Online application to Graduate Division (ONLY if accepted into the program)