Clinical research students in class

Clinical Research (BS)

The School of Nursing offers a nationally ranked clinical research program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. This major offers students the opportunity to gain specialized education, training, and experience in the exciting field of clinical research. Clinical Research is the process by which new therapies (medications, biological agents, and devices) are tested in clinical studies prior to approval. Clinical Research also includes the study of products after approval once they are on the market, particularly for rare or unexpected adverse events. Students in the Clinical Research program gain a broad-based understanding of the science, regulatory, and business aspects of developing new therapies to treat illness and improve quality of life. 

Our program is situated in a vibrant clinical research industry here in Wilmington, providing ample opportunities for students to gain hands on experience through internships. FuseCR (The Center for Clinical Research Workforce Development) was recently developed to fuse the ties between academia and industry, which benefits our students in their readiness for the workplace.

Upon completion, graduates are prepared to participate in the science and business of developing health care products, such as drugs, biologics, and biomedical devices with emphasis on pre-approval human clinical trials and post-marketing safety studies. Our alum are employed in a variety of settings such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and patient device companies; contract research organizations (CROs); clinical settings; and government agencies.