Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI)

The Master's Degree Program in Clinical Investigation is sponsored by a consortium of Medical School departments and coordinated by the Departments of Medicine and Preventive Medicine. It offers a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) degree to students seeking to acquire the fundamental skills needed for a successful career in clinical investigation. The program complements the Master of Public Health Program in providing rigorous education in quantitative and ethically sound methods that are necessary for the design, implementation, analysis, and publication of clinical research studies. Students take required courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, ethics, and medical writing. They are offered elective courses in clinical trials, drug development, molecular epidemiology, and cardiovascular disease epidemiology among others to further enhance their skills in patient-oriented translational or clinical epidemiology research. The culmination of the degree experience is the completion of a mentored research project. This program is part-time and consists of evening courses primarily for medical residents, fellows and junior faculty members who wish to receive formal training in clinical research.  It also offers graduate students in other life sciences the opportunity to explore the application of basic science concepts to medicine. Students can enter the program at the beginning of any of the four quarters.  They are expected to obtain the degree in two to three years.