The Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences is offered in the School’s Clinical Research, Epidemiology and Statistics Training (CREST) Program.

The Certificate in Clinical Investigation Sciences provides individuals with skills required for a career in a clinical research setting. The CREST curriculum integrates biostatistical and epidemiologic methods in a problem-based learning format with additional instruction in health services and outcomes research and social and behavioral science.

Admission

Applicants should have a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and, in most cases, should have completed a professional doctoral degree (e.g., DMD, D.O., M.D.) or academic degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent. Other applicants with research experience may be considered (e.g., research coordinator).

The following are additional requirements for admission:

1. Graduate application (see http://graduate.louisville.edu/apply) submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS).
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. At least two letters of recommendation written within past twelve months (can be submitted with form at http://graduate.louisville.edu/apply)
4. Curriculum vitae/resume
5. All postsecondary transcripts (may require foreign credential evaluation if not from accredited U.S. institution).
6. Statement of goals submitted to the department office (must include desired academic and degree program). Personal statement, a one-page essay that discusses the student’s background and his or her long-term goals in clinical research
7. Foreign credential evaluation is required for each degree not from an accredited U.S. institution. This requirement may be waived, with approval by the dean, for degrees not considered to be relevant to evaluation of the applicant or whose transcript requires no foreign credential evaluation.
8. A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution is required for admission.
9. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 is required for unconditional admission.
10. International students for whom English is not their primary language must show English language proficiency by one of:

• (Award of a degree from an accredited U.S. institution
• Official TOEFL score of 100 or higher (iBT, or Internet-Based Test), 250 or higher (CBT, or Computer-Based Test), or 600 or higher (PBT, or Paper-Based Test)
• Official documentation of passing the exit examination for the advanced level of the Intensive English as a Second Language Program at the University of Louisville

The typical progression through the Certificate curriculum is:

• Program of Study (Year 1)
• Complete research paper (Summer, Year 1)

Advisor/Program of Study

Upon matriculation in the program, each student will meet with the CREST Program Coordinator and develop a program of study based on the selection of the Certificate program curriculum. The program of study may be modified as the student’s needs change or course availability is altered.

Certificate Requirements
Coursework
17 total credit hours of required coursework
    5 credit hours of epidemiology coursework
    5 credit hours of coursework in research design and statistics
    3 credit hours of coursework in outcomes and ethics
    1 credit hours of mentored research
    3 credit hours of electives

Each student in the Certificate Program is required to prepare a research paper as part of the mentored research course.  The research paper can be a literature review or a research project. Data collection is not required. The paper is to be submitted in completed form to the program coordinator at least two weeks before the end of the semester in which the candidate expects to graduate.

Elective

The choice of the elective course in Fall I must be approved by the faculty advisor and program director.