Skip to header Skip to Content Skip to Footer
A student smiles as she works in a lab on equipment

Clinical Research Operations, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Start or Enhance a Career in Clinical Research
  • 100%

    Online - Perfect For Working Professionals

  • Faculty

    Have Extensive Research And Industry Experience

Clinical Research Operations Program Overview

Foundational Knowledge & Skills

In this program you’ll gain the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to understand the structure, function, and operations of biopharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations, clinical study sites, academic medical centers, and other organizations involved in biopharmaceutical clinical trials.

Learn To

Explain the marketing approval process for new drugs, biologics and devices and compare the process in the U.S. to other countries and regions

Distinguish each phase of product development in terms of key criteria

Select appropriate regulations and guidelines to guide biopharmaceutical and device product development

Examine and critique approaches for ensuring high quality clinical trial data

Construct a model for forecasting and managing the resources necessary for clinical trials

Find Your Career as:

Healthcare professional who performs medical research, runs clinical trials to test drugs for their effectiveness and confirms that they're safe to put on the market for consumers. (Source)

Design clinical trials to answer specific research questions related to a medical product. (Source)

Database professional who manages all health-related data services provided at a hospital or a clinic. (source)

Responsible for overall conduct of the study at the clinical site, including directing the administration or dispensing of the investigational product and ensuring that data are correctly collected and maintained. (Source)

Collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue and other substances. (Source)

Sample Courses

A table showing a few sample courses for clinical research operations post-baccalaureate certificate.
CLR 505 Fundamentals of Clinical Research
CLR 501 Clinical Research Monitoring & Ethics
CLR 520 Regulatory Affairs & Quality Management
CLR 550 Clinical Research Trial Design & Data Management
CLR 525 Current Issues in Global Regulatory Development & Management
CLR 530 Project Management in Clinical Research
See The Full Curriculum

How Do I Apply?

A bachelor’s degree preferably in a life science, health care discipline, or mathematics/statistics from a regionally accredited university or college in the U.S. (or its equivalent from a foreign institution based on a four-year program) with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

To apply for admission to this certificate program, the candidate must submit the following:

  1. An application for graduate admission.
  2. Official transcripts of all prior university or college coursework (undergraduate and graduate).
  3. Three letters of recommendations describing the individual’s potential to complete the program (at least one from a current or former employer).
  4. Current professional resume or curriculum vitae.
  5. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

These admissions requirements apply only to the graduate certificate program in Clinical Research Operations. Students interested in combining the certificate program with a master’s degree will have to meet all admission criteria for that degree.

Admission Deadlines & Requirements

Information: Clinical Research Operations - Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Apply Now

  • All application and supporting documents must be received by the published deadline.
  • All complete applications received by the priority deadline will be considered for admission as a group.
  • All complete applications received between the priority and space available deadlines will be considered for admission until the class is filled.

Coordinator

Location/Delivery Method

  • Distance Education - Online - Asynchronous (instructional materials made available on the Internet and available 24 hours a day every day-not time-dependent slots).

Deadlines (11:59 p.m. EST)

  • Spring 2025:
    • Deadline: November 1, 2024
  • Fall 2025:
    • Priority Consideration: February 15, 2025
    • Space Available Deadline: April 1, 2025

Transcripts

  • One official transcript is required from each U.S. post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Getting Started page for international transcript instructions.

Test Scores

  • None Required

Recommendations

  • 3 letters of professional recommendations describing the individual’s potential to complete the program (at least one from a current or former employer).

Additional Requirements

  1. Upload Supplemental Documents After Application Submission
  2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae 
  3. Bachelor's Degree, preferably in a life science, health care discipline, or mathematics/statistics from a regionally accredited institution.
  4. Reuse of Documents:  Application materials from a previous application cycle may be re-used, in accordance with Graduate School policy, except for the resume/CV, which should be updated.
  5. Experience:  Experience working in the biopharmaceutical or related industry is NOT required.
  6. Financial Aid: Non-federal loans are available for this program. Admitted students may apply through the UNCW Scholarship Application to be considered for additional scholarships. Please consult your Financial Aid Counselor for further details.
  7. Visa Sponsorship: This program does not qualify for visa sponsorship.
    UNCW financial aid options

Explore More Program
Details

See everything happening in the
School of Nursing

  • Related Programs

    Clinical Research and Product Development, M.S.

    Provides a didactic and rigorous curriculum that prepares graduates for mid-to upper-level roles in the biopharmaceutical clinical research industry.

    Learn More

    Healthcare Administration, MHA

    Prepares early- to mid-level careerists to plan, direct and manage healthcare services in a broad range of healthcare industries.

    Learn More