Intelligent has ranked St. Cloud State’s Applied Clinical Research program No. 5 in the nation in its Best Master’s in Clinical Research Degree Programs category, a list of chosen programs that lead to a master’s of science degree in Clinical Research, Clinical Nursing Research, Biomedical Laboratory Management, or another similar title that leads to certification as a clinical researcher. The programs range from 30 to 74 credits and generally take between one and two years of full-time study.
Of the 66 colleges and universities assessed and 113 education programs compared against each other, the Applied Clinical Research program received an Intelligent Score of 92.5 while being awarded “Best Public University” under the Best Master’s in Clinical Research Degree category.
Intelligent’s research to compile this list of top programs in the nation includes program evaluation on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost and reputation. According to Intelligent’s ranking methodology, it then calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale of 0 to 100.
Applied Clinical Research was just one of 19 St. Cloud State University programs recognized by Intelligent as some of the top programs in the country in 2022.
Applied Clinical Research Program
Housed within the College of Science and Engineering, the Applied Clinical Research program provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to design, conduct and evaluate human clinical trials of medical devices. Students learn how medical device products affect the human body, how new products are developed and brought to market, and how to design and conduct ethical and scientifically sound clinical research.
Upon completion of the program which is offered at St. Cloud State at Plymouth, students gain the knowledge and competencies industry executives identify as essential to a successful clinical research leader, including the science of medical research, medical product regulations, research ethics, study management and operations, and risk management as well as effective communication and leadership.
“St. Cloud State’s graduate program in Applied Clinical Research has helped experienced clinical research professionals advance their careers and facilitated others in pivoting their careers towards clinical research,” said Will Collis-Prather, Director of Applied Clinical Research. “The comprehensive curriculum provides opportunities for growth at any point in a student’s educational journey.”
All courses within the Applied Clinical Research program are taught by industry experts with practical and leadership experience using real-world examples and projects. The program is available as both a full-time and part-time program, and graduate certificate options are also available. Courses are available in both in-person and online methods and are offered on weekday evenings and on weekends to accommodate the working professional.
The Applied Clinical Research program is the only clinical research program in the United States focused on medical devices and is a recognized STEM graduate program. Graduates have gone on to work at public and private medical device companies, contract research organizations and hospital systems upon completion of the program.
“St. Cloud State’s graduate program in Applied Clinical Research is unique in its focus on medical devices,” Collis-Prather said. “Nowhere else in the country can a student learn face-to-face from experts in the discipline about planning and executing clinical research on medical devices.”
The program is one of three master’s programs offered by St. Cloud State that prepares students for Minnesota’s medical device industry along with programs in Medical Technology Quality and Regulatory Affairs and Services.
