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Clinical Research, B.S.

Exploring the Science, Regulatory and Business Aspects of Healthcare
  • 100%

    Online + In-Person Internship

  • 85%

    Of Students Employed 1 Month Before Graduation

Clinical Research Program Overview

Student Experience

Students gain a broad-based understanding of the science, regulatory, and business aspects of developing new therapies to treat illness and improve quality of life. Courses are online, but applied learning is offered, including a required in-person internship in the clinical research industry.
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Learn To

Demonstrate a foundational understanding of clinical research methodologies described in study protocols with emphasis on study design, operational aspects, and regulatory compliance

Integrate knowledge and skills gained in the basic sciences to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of clinical research

Apply and explain scientific and regulatory concepts related to the development, design, and analysis of clinical studies for biopharmaceutical and medical device product development

Evaluate ethical issues, including the protection of human subjects and the evaluation of safety in the conduct of clinical studies, in the context of underlying regulations and guidelines

Explain processes and rationale for clinical study operations in the context of Good Clinical Practice and other relevant guidelines and regulations (e.g., study management, monitoring, safety management, handling of investigative products, data management)

Opportunities for Development

Where Can I Work?

Most graduates work for pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (like PPD/Thermo Fisher, Syneos Health, IQVIA, Fortrea, etc.), clinical research service providers or clinical sites, enrolling clinical trial subjects.

Graduates are employed as:

Clinical research coordinators are responsible for the support and coordination of all aspects of clinical research including subject screening and recruitment, regulatory maintenance, data collection and data management activities. These positions manage protocols to ensure the safety of patients and quality of clinical trial data. Salaries range from $56,000 to $85,000.

Project assistants and clinical trial assistants work with team members to ensure that projects and assignments are completed in accordance with contract, customer and/or organizational expectations. Salaries range from $38,500 to $58,000.

Data research coordinators are responsible for clinical data review and query generation, resolution and reconciliation to support the delivery of clinical data. Salaries range from $40,000 to $60,000.

Biostatisticians are responsible for intermediate-level statistical analyses and programming for clinical trials and/or research projects and will assist in trial design and data management review and consultation. Salaries range from $65,000 to $86,000.

Clinical research associates conduct site visits to assess protocol and regulatory compliance, data reliability, and the proper care and treatment of test subjects. Salaries range from $58,000 to $89,000.

Safety assistants oversee the pharmacovigilance department to ensure all adverse events are processed to the required standard and submitted to the client and regulatory agencies. Salaries range from $47,500 to $73,500.

Sample Courses

A table showing a few sample courses required for the Clinical Research B.S. program.
CLR 301 Introduction to Clinical Research
CLR 330 Fundamentals of Biopharmaceutical Product Development
CLR 340 Study and Site Management for Clinical Trial
CLR 430 Managing Clinical Trials
CLR 470 The Business of Clinical Research 
CLR 496/7 Clinical Research Internship
See The Full Curriculum

Requirements to Declare: Clinical Research, B.S.

  • Students can declare Pre-Clinical Research after completion of 24 credit hours and a 2.0 or higher UNCW GPA.
  • Admission into the Clinical Research major requires a 2.0 UNCW GPA or higher, and a C or higher in the following pre-requisite courses:
    • PSY 105 General Psychology
    • BIO 201 General Biology
    • BIO/L 240 Anatomy and Physiology I with lab
    • BIO/L 241 Anatomy and Physiology II with lab
    • BIO 246 Microbiology
    • CHM/L 101 General Chemistry with lab
    • STT 210 or STT 215
    • MAT 101 or higher (excluding MAT 141 and MAT 142)
  • Students taking outstanding prerequisites over the summer prior to admission into the Clinical Research Program must provide copies of transcripts prior to the start of their courses in the Clinical Research Program.
  • The ONE outstanding prerequisite course must be completed by the end of the second semester of the program. Failure to complete all outstanding prerequisites by this deadline will prevent students from progressing in the program and most likely result in a one-year delay in graduation.
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years prior to application. Some exceptions may be granted based on educational or work history. The Clinical Research Program Coordinator will make the final decision regarding prerequisite courses that are over 10 years old. Please contact chhs@uncw.edu if you believe you qualify for an exception.
  • UNCW students taking courses elsewhere to meet prerequisite requirements are required to complete the UNCW Transient Study request pre-approval process to ensure that courses will transfer to UNCW appropriately.
  • Courses that are transferred but not accepted as prerequisites by UNCW may be evaluated by the CLR Admission Information Program Coordinator and potentially accepted as meeting the prerequisite requirement.
  • Once students have met these requirements, they can declare Clinical Research in My Seaport. An application is not required.
  • All students must complete all core and elective courses with a grade of C or above.

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