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MS in Clinical Investigation
The Master of Science in Clinical Investigation prepares students for advanced research careers solving patient-centered health concerns. During the course of studies in this program, students become grounded in biostatistical and epidemiological methods to be successfully able to work with medical researchers and practitioners to address contemporary health problems. The program emphasizes the understanding of clinical issues and prepares student to apply epidemiological methods in clinical and translational research settings. All students complete a research internship as well as a thesis, both of which will help them to employ skills learned in academic settings.
Program Competencies
- Define the concepts and contents of epidemiology; formulate research hypothesis; determine study aim, objectives and appropriate study design to test hypothesis
- Define ethics and regulations in relation to clinical trials; define and develop clinical trial design
- Identify risk and/or preventive factors that may contribute to outcomes and incorporate them into a research study
- Assess the use of questionnaires and measurement instruments in collection of data to maintain validity in a clinical trial
- Utilize computers to collect, manage and analyze data for evaluation of hypotheses
- Analyze data to compose an understandable and presentable report of the results
- Practice ethical research; demonstrate clinical research proficiency via NIH grant submission and/or peer reviewed journal article submission and acceptance.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the school's admission requirements for entrance into master's programs at SPHTM.
Degree Program Requirements
In addition to the SPHTM academic standards, students in the MS in Epidemiology and those taking advanced epidemiology courses must demonstrate the following standards:
- All students must complete and earn a "B" or better in the prerequisite foundational course, SPHL 6060 Epidemiology for Public Health, before advancing to EPID 7120 Epidemiologic Methods II or other advanced epidemiology courses.
- Any Epidemiology student receiving a grade of "C" in any required course (including any foundation course) must repeat the course.
- Epidemiology students receiving a grade of "F" in any course may not continue in the MS program (unless special extenuating circumstances can be demonstrated).
- To take an advanced epidemiology course, student must have a grade of "B" or better in any prerequisite courses.
The MS in Clinical Investigation Degree in Epidemiology requires 42 credits that includes:
Epidemiology Course Requirements (30 credits)
SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health (3)
SPHL 6060 Epidemiology for Public Health (3)
EPID 6230 Computer Packages for Epi (2) EPID 6340 Clinical and Translational Research Methods (3)
EPID 6420 Clinical Epidemiology (3)
EPID 7000 Department Seminar (1)
EPID 7120 Epidemiologic Methods II (3)
EPID 7130 Observational Epidemiology (3)
EPID 7170 Clinical Trials: Design, Conduct and Analysis (3)
EPID 7220 Analytic Epidemiology (3)
EPID 7310 Meta-analysis (3)
Biostatistics Course Requirements (12 credits)
SPHL 6050 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
BIOS 6040 Intermediate Biostatistics (3) B
IOS 7060 Regression Analysis (3)
BIOS 7150 Categorical Data Analysis (3)
Thesis
Students must successfully complete a thesis. The thesis is based on a supervised research project demonstrating scholarship in the area of clinical research. The results will be presented orally and in writing and reviewed by two faculty members. The master’s thesis must be completed within a year of completion of the required courses. It should be an academic investigation suitable for publishing.
Degree Program Requirements (entry prior to Fall 2018)
The MS in Clinical Investigation requires 42 credits. The program is grounded in epidemiology, the basic science of public health with the following requirements:
Epidemiology Required Courses (27 credits)
- EPID 6030 Epidemiology Methods 1 (3)
- EPID 6230 Computer Packages for Epi (2)
- EPID 6340 Clinical and Translational Research Methods (3)
- EPID 6420 Clinical Epidemiology (3)
- EPID 7000 Department Seminar (1)
- EPID 7120 Epidemiologic Methods II (3)
- EPID 7130 Observational Epidemiology (3)
- EPID 7170 Clinical Trials: Design, Conduct and Analysis (3)
- EPID 7220 Analytic Epidemiology (3)
- EPID 7310 Meta-analysis (3)
Biostatistics Required Courses (12 credits)
- BIOS 6030 Introduction Biostatistics (3)
- BIOS 6040 Intermediate Biostatistics (3)
- BIOS 7060 Regression Analysis (3)
- BIOS 7150 Categorical Data Analysis (3)
Elective courses (3 credits)
Selected from courses offered within the department, school, or university in consultation with an academic advisor.
Grounding in Public Health
- BIOS 6030 Introduction Biostatistics (3)
- EPID 6030 Epidemiologic Methods (3)
- EPID 7000 Department Seminar (3)
Research Experience
EPID 9910 Master of Science Research Experience (0)
Thesis
MS students must successfully complete a research thesis that demonstrates an ability to interpret current literature and conduct epidemiologic research and analysis.
Contact Us
Department Chair: Jiang He, MD, PhD
Program Director: Jiang He, MD, PhD
Department Administrator: Therese Carter
Email: epi@tulane.edu
Phone: (504) 988-6809
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