Master of Clinical Research

The focus of the Master of Clinical Research (MCR) track is on formal training for clinicians and scientists who desire to make clinical and translational research either their predominant focus or a substantial part of their long-term career goals. The main objectives of the MCR program are to prepare a cohort of trained investigators who will be able to successfully compete for federal, foundation, and industry funding and to conduct research and publish their findings.

The MCR program requires at least 45 credit hours. In addition to completing required courses offered through the HIP curriculum and a capstone project resulting in an academic product such as a research proposal or publishable manuscript, trainees will choose electives offered by the HIP program and from other graduate programs at OHSU. These include Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Biomedical Informatics and all graduate courses in basic science in the School of Medicine, and any graduate course in the School of Nursing. Some students may be interested in transferring credits from graduate coursework at Portland State University as well. The elective curriculum can be designed to best fit with the candidate's research focus and methodology.

Eligibility

To apply, the applicant must be enrolled in or have completed the HIP Certificate track. Please also see HIP Certificate track eligibility requirements.

Requirements for MCR Track Completion

For the Masters of Clinical Research, at least 45 credit hours are required.

Required courses in the HIP curriculum (16.5 credits total)
Mentored capstone project (6 credits)
Choice of electives (at least 22.5 credits)

Required courses in the HIP curriculum (16.5 credits total)

Year One Core Course Sequence
Fall Term:

HIP Orientation (half-day seminar)
HIP 510 Intro to Clinical Research (online, 1 cr)
HIP 511 Clinical Research Design I (9 wks, 2 cr)

HIP 511A Proposal Development (2 sessions, 1 cr)- you must commit to enroll all 3 terms and be

enrolled in Clinical Research Design I, II and III. This course requires intensive work in order to
keep on schedule to write a research proposal.

Winter Term:

HIP 512 Clinical Research Design II (9 wks, 2 cr); formerly HIP 512 Biostatistics
HIP 511A Proposal Development (2 sessions, 1 cr) - continued

Spring Term:

HIP 513 Clinical Research Design III (9 wks, 2 cr); formerly HIP 511W Clinical Research Design II
HIP 511A Proposal Development (2 sessions, 1 cr) - continued

Year Two Core Course Sequence
Fall Term:

HIP 514 Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Disease (7 wks, 2 cr)
HIP 516 Protection of Human Subjects (4 wks, 1 cr)

Winter Term:

HIP 517 Scientific Writing (6 wks, 1.5 cr)
HIP 507A Evidence-based Medicine (8 wks, 2 cr)

Mentored capstone project (6 credits)

Provides an intensive, practical and supportive training leading to an academic product to be completed by the end of the 2nd year.
Choice of doing either a clinical research study designed, implemented, and analyzed by the student resulting in a publishable manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal; OR writing a NIH-compatible grant application.
Planned with the candidate's mentor and the approval of the program directors.
Total of 6 academic credits typically divided between two or three terms in Year Two, but the expectation is that trainees are working on this throughout the two years in the HIP Program.

Choice of electives (at least 22.5 credits)

HIP 512A Biostatistics Lab (1 cr) - tuition-free
HIP 520 Medical Informatics (2 cr)
HIP 522 Fundamentals of RCTs (1.5 cr) - tuition-free
HIP 523 Computerized Data Management (1.5 cr) - tuition-free
HIP 527 Systematic Reviews (2 cr)
HIP 528 Applied Biostatistics I (3 cr)
HIP 529 Applied Biostatistics II (3 cr)
HIP 530 Leadership Skills In Team Science (2 cr)
HIP 531 Project Management (2 cr)
HIP 532 Understanding and Managing Academic Organizations (2 cr)
HIP 533 Community Based Research (2 cr)
HIP 534 Health Disparities Research (1 cr)
HIP 535 Patient-Centered Outcomes and Comparative Effectiveness Research Principles (2 cr)
HIP 509 Systematic Review Practicum (1-6 cr)
Or courses from Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Biomedical Informatics, or Basic Science curricula or other approved graduate level courses.

Learn more about registration, course descriptions, schedules and tuition

Typical Course Plan

Year One	Year Two	Year Three
Fall Term:	Fall Term:	Fall Term:
HIP Orientation (half-day seminar) HIP 510 Intro to Clinical Research (online, 1 cr) HIP 511 Clinical Research Design I (9 wks, 2 cr) HIP 511A Proposal Development (2 wks, 1 cr)	HIP 514 Molecular & Cellular Approaches to Disease (7 wks, 2 cr) HIP 516 Protection of Human Subjects (4 wks, 1 cr) Elective Choice (1-4cr)	Choice of Electives (1-4cr)
Winter Term:	Winter Term:	Winter Term:
HIP 512 Clinical Research Design II (9 wks, 2 cr) HIP 511A Proposal Development (2 wks, 1 cr)	HIP 517 Scientific Writing (6 wks, 1.5 cr) HIP 507A Evidence-based Medicine (8 wks, 2 cr)	Recommended Elective HIP 528 Applied Biostatistics I (11 wks, 3 cr)
Spring Term:	Spring Term:	Spring Term:
HIP 513 Clinical Research Design III (9 wks, 2 cr) HIP 511A Proposal Development (2 wks, 1 cr)	Elective Choices (1-4 cr)	Recommended Elective HIP 529 Applied Biostatistics II (11 wks, 3 cr)
Mentored capstone project (6 cr): Provides an intensive, practical and supportive training leading to an academic product to be completed by the end of the 2nd year. Choice of doing either a clinical research study designed, implemented, and analyzed by the student resulting in a publishable manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal; OR writing a NIH-compatible grant application. Planned with the candidate's mentor and the approval of the program directors. Total of 6 academic credits typically divided between two or three terms in Year Two, but the expectation is that trainees are working on this throughout the two years in the HIP Program.

Note about schedules: Required core courses are generally scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 PM and follow each other sequentially, one evening each week during the academic year. For the convenience of 2-year certificate track students, classes are scheduled on the same day for both the first and second year. In general, if you are admitted in an even year, classes are scheduled on Tuesday evenings over the two years. If admitted in an odd year classes are scheduled on Wednesday evenings over the two years. See Course Information for details.

Time Commitment: MCR degree candidates will typically take 3 years to complete degree requirements as most are full-time working professionals and will generally take one class per term. Accelerated curriculum may be an option for some individuals. Candidates are allowed 5 years to complete the program. While the HIP curriculum is scheduled one evening each week, courses offered through other graduate programs are not necessarily scheduled at convenient times and are not offered every term. This track will take advanced planning and will require some flexibility in clinic schedules. It is expected that the MCR capstone project will be more intensive than for a Certificate track candidate. Please schedule a meeting with the Education Program Coordinator to plan a course of study.