Admission Requirements

This program is expected to appeal primarily to MDs at the fellow and faculty levels as well as other clinicians who have not had previous formal training in clinical research. The rapid pace of the curriculum assumes a working knowledge of clinical medicine and excellent scholastic aptitude.
All applicants are required to be engaged in or preparing to conduct clinical research and meet one of the following two types (a or b) of academic criteria:

a) Advanced degree in health-related field:
(1) M.D. or D.O.
(2) Ph.D. in a related field
(3) D.D.S. or D.M.D.
(4) R.Ph. or Pharm.D.

b) Bachelor’s or master’s degree and experience in a health-related field with a G.P.A. of > 3.0 and previous work experience in a health-related field, such as nursing, psychology, dietetics, etc.

Application and Admission Procedures

Completed applications, including letters of reference and transcripts, must be received by:
June 15 for fall semester
Oct. 15 for spring semester

Applications should be submitted online to the Office of the Registrar (http://registrar.uth.tmc.edu/Admissions/appformslist.htm). The following are required:

a) A completed application form with a curriculum vitae. Each applicant will be required to summarize his/her career goals, describe how the Master’s Program will support these goals, and propose a timeline for completion of the program.

b) Letters of reference from at least two individuals who are qualified to evaluate the applicant’s academic or professional performance, as well as ability and motivation to complete the program. If an applicant will be employed or in a training program while enrolled in the program, a letter of support/recommendation will be required from the applicant’s supervisor to verify the supervisor’s commitment to provide the applicant with adequate “protected” time to complete the program. Letters should be on official letterhead.

c) Official transcripts covering all periods of post secondary enrollment in accredited institutions of higher education. Applicants should request the institution to send official (original) transcripts directly to the Office of the Registrar. Graduates of Texas colleges and universities should request that transcripts be sent in electronic format. Copies of official transcripts sent by the applicant are not considered official. Transcripts must include both grades and credit hours.

d) Applicants who are nationals of countries where English is not the parent language are required to submit scores from the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL). See application form for current requirements and exceptions.

e) A $30 non-refundable application fee.

Direct telephone inquiries about the program to:
Center for Clinical Research and Evidence-Based Medicine
The University of Texas Houston Medical School
713-500-6708

Address application inquiries to:
Office of the Registrar
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
P.O. Box 20036
Houston, Texas 77225-0036
713-500-3361

Once an application has been submitted, the applicant will receive a PIN number from the Office of the Registrar. Once the PIN number is received, the status of the application, transcripts, and letters of reference can be checked online at http://utlink.uth.tmc.edu.

Factors Considered in
Admissions Decisions

The Admissions Committee of the MS in Clinical Research Degree Program will review all completed applications. The committee considers the following factors in evaluating applicants for admission:

• Previous research experience and accomplishments, enrollment in laboratory and research-based courses, and involvement in research projects and publications;

• Expressed commitment to a career involving biomedical research;

• Grade point average;

• Career goals;

• Previous graduate-level study;

• Work experience in a health-related field;

• Honors and awards for academic achievement;

Other factors that may be considered by the Admissions Committee include:

• Success in overcoming socio-economic and educational disadvantages;

• Multilingual proficiency;

• Non-academic responsibilities, such as employment and child-rearing;

• Involvement in community activities; and;

• Race and ethnicity

Preference will be given to candidates who have regularly attended the Clinical

Research Curriculum and have an established committed departmental mentor. Plans for departmental mentoring must be established prior to enrollment to the program. Candidates from institutions outside of UT will be considered for admission if arrangements can be made for appropriate departmental and methodologic mentorship from the applicant’s own clinical/academic institution.

Enrollment Status

A student is considered officially enrolled if tuition and fees are paid by the due date listed on the schedule of classes.

• Program Student: a student admitted to an academic program who is following a set curriculum and pursuing a degree without an interruption of more than one year in enrollment.

• Non-degree Student: a student who is admitted to the school for one or more courses but not admitted to a degree program.

Enrollment as a non-degree student does not in any way entitle a student to admission to a degree program. A non-degree student is allowed to register only with the permission of the course instructor.

  UTHSC-H General .pdf