The Master of Science program in Health Sciences provides an advanced, broad-based graduate field of study which positions students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree to elevate and accelerate their careers in a health-related field. Offered in a flexible format and convenient environment, the M.S. in Health Sciences is well-suited to working professional as all courses are offered 100% online. The program is 36-credits, may be completed in 4 years and includes coursework in healthcare administration, healthcare leadership, population health and research. Students also have the option of selecting the Clinical Research Administration (CRA) concentration and/or enrolling in the Dual Degree Track (M.S. to D.H.Sc.)
Students have the option of selecting the Clinical Research Administration (CRA) concentration and/or enrolling in the Dual Degree Track (M.S. in Health Sciences to D.H.Sc.)
Students graduating with this concentration will be eligible to sit for a certification exam as a Clinical Research Associate. This concentration substitutes five specific HSCR course for electives.
What is the Health Sciences Clinical Research Administration (HSCR) concentration?
This concentration substitutes five specific HSCR course for electives. The first HSCR course will be taken in the Fall. By taking CRA courses as your electives, you will be working towards meeting the eligibility criteria and preparing for the SOCRA and ACRP Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and the Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) certification exams
Society for Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) https://www.socra.org/
Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) https://acrpnet.org/
What is a Clinical Research Associate and Clinical Research Coordinator, and why would I want to become one?
The role of a CRA or CRC is to coordinate the collection, distribution and storage of data obtained during clinical trials. Responsibilities include development of clinical trial protocols, forms and templates for data collection; coordination with ethics committees to ensure trials are conducted in an ethical manner; setting up trial sites to ensure trials are conducted as per procedures and regulations; education of patients, doctors and other personnel about the trial; active monitoring of the conduct of trials at various sites and review of data for regulatory submissions; and preparation of reports, presentations and manuscripts for publications.
CRAs and CRCs often find jobs with clinical research organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and in hospital systems. Average salaries range from $46,000 to $120,000+ a year and there is a 10-14% projected growth of the occupation by 2026.
So, how many credits is the M.S. in Health Sciences with the Clinical Research Administration (HSCR) concentration?
Regardless of concentration, the M.S. in Health Sciences is 36 credits. When concentrating in HSCR, you simply take HSCR courses as your electives.
What are the HSCR courses?
How can I learn more?
Contact:
Rebecca McIntyre, DHA, MSHA, CCRP
Assistant Professor and Clinical Research Administration Coordinator
rmcintyre1@radford.edu
If you are aspiring to get your doctoral degree, consider our M.S. in Health Sciences to D.H.Sc. Dual Degree track. Enrolling in this track may allow you to complete both the M.S. and D.H.Sc. programs in as little as 8 semesters. For students who choose this track, 12 credits (4 courses) completed in the M.S. in Health Sciences degree program are counted toward the D.H.Sc. program, thus reducing the number of credits for the D.H.Sc. program to 66 credit hours and reducing the time of degree completion by two semesters.
This accelerated track is geared toward highly motivated individuals who aspire to quickly advance in the areas of higher education, community and public health, or healthcare administration. By successfully completing this track, students will graduate with two degrees in less than three years.
Students will select to pursue one of three 12-credit (4 courses) concentrations designed to build students' knowledge, skills and abilities within that content area:
There are two pathways by which students may enter this track:
Admission Requirements
Students currently enrolled in the M.S. in Health Sciences program will need to apply for the M.S. in Health Sciences to D.H.Sc. Dual track before the end of the second semester in the M.S. in Health Sciences program. Applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
The followed will be required as part of the application and admission process:
For more information, please email Kim Baskette, Ph.D., CHES®, Graduate Program Director.
She will be happy to schedule a time to personally meet with you to discuss the program
and answer any questions you may have.
The mission of the Master of Science in Health Sciences program is to provide an advanced interdisciplinary education in the health sciences and to enhance skills and opportunities leading to professional advancement in academic, clinical, community, or administrative settings.
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Health Sciences program, graduates will be able to:
Upon completion of the Clinical Research Administration concentration, graduates will
be able to:
We are honored that you are considering the Master of Science in Health Sciences online program. Applications for the program are reviewed and accepted on a rolling admission beginning in the Fall of each year and each applicants’ skills, experiences, passions and overall preparation for the program are evaluated holistically by a faculty panel. The following will be required as part of the application and admission process:
The Master of Science in Health Sciences program is a 36-credit fully online degree program which can be completed over 4 sequential semesters, taking 9 credits (3 courses) per semester. Students may select to pursue the Clinical Research Administration concentration when applying to the program.
View the M.S. in Health Sciences course details in the academic catalog.
Upon graduation, the Master of Science in Health Sciences degree positions students to advance within their current field or move to a new position in healthcare. There is a broad range of salaries, dependent on your experience and area of interest. Some of the career fields our graduates pursue include:
Students who complete the Clinical Research Administration concentration will be prepared to sit for the SOCRA and ACRP Clinical Research Associate (CRA) and the Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) certification exams. Students completing the CRA concentration may find jobs with clinical research organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and in hospital systems. Average salaries range from $46,000 to $120,000+ a year and there is a 10-14% projected growth of the occupation by 2026.
Careers for students pursuing the Clinical Research Administration track include:
Can students begin the semester in any semester?
While new student cohorts begin in fall semester of each year, students not pursuing
the Clinical Research Administration concentration may begin the program in the spring.
What is the application deadline?
Student applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis beginning in the
fall semester of each academic year. The earlier you submit the application, the sooner
you will know your acceptance status.
What is the program tuition costs and fees?
View the tuition and fees for Radford University at Carilion.
Are transfer credits for courses completed at other universities accepted into the
program?
Up to 12 credits may be transferred into the program; however, there are a number
of conditions that must be met for the courses a student would like to transfer in:
Is the GRE required for admission to the program?
No, the GRE is not required to be accepted to the program.
Are students required to take any courses on campus, or can all courses be completed
online?
Although we do have students come on campus and meet with faculty in person, students
are not required to take any in-person classes and all courses in the degree program
can be completed 100% online.
What is the final “culminating experience in Health Sciences” project like?
For the culminating experience, students can choose from a practicum experience where
they work and apply what they've learned in the field, OR a scholarly research project
where the student works under the mentorship of a faculty member. The practicum is
well suited to those who plan to work in an industry such as health care while the
scholarly project is well suited to those who are interested in working in research
or academia, or in pursuing a future doctoral degree.
Is there a deadline for completion of the program?
Yes; the program must be completed in eight years from the date the first course is
taken.
What if a students’ cumulative GPA is lower than 3.0? Can they still apply?
As part of the initial screening process, your application materials will be reviewed
by panel in order to better understand your past grades and determine if an interview
is to be granted. If your application is accepted for admittance following the interview
process, you will be admitted on a conditional basis and your grades evaluated after
completion of the first semester of courses.
Are there any opportunities for graduate assistantships in the M.S. in Health Sciences
program?
Our department currently has one Graduate Assistantship at the master’s level. However,
other opportunities for assistantships may arise through grants and other funding
sources.
In the event of family, work, and/or financial constraints, are students allowed to
take less than 9 credits per semester?
Students are not required to take three courses per semester; however, note that courses
are generally offered once per year and always in the same semester. That is, a fall
class is offered fall only, and not fall and spring. Therefore, if a course is missed
in any given semester, students will need to wait until the following year to take
the course. Most students, with good planning with their academic advisor, have not
found this to be an issue.
How can I learn more about the program?
Please email Kim Baskette, Ph.D., CHES®, Graduate Program Director.
She will be happy to schedule a time to personally meet with you to discuss the program
and answer any questions you may have.
Radford University at Carilion is authorized by the State Council of Higher Education
for Virginia (SCHEV) to offer postsecondary education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Radford University at Carilion is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters and
Doctorate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur,
Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Radford
University at Carilion.
Kim Baskette, PhD, CHES®
Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director
Department of Public Health & Healthcare Leadership
Waldron College of Health and Human Services
101 Elm Ave SE
Roanoke VA 24013
28% of all new jobs in the coming years will be in the healthcare industry
28% of all new jobs
in the coming years will be in the healthcare industry
(The Bureau of Labor and Statistics)
100% online option for completion
100%
online option for completion
“I've had the best experience earning the M.S. in Health Sciences degree. There are times when having homework right after work seems impossible, but in the end, it is definitely worth the effort. I’m pleased and surprised with how many doors opened for me even before I graduated.”
Anna Kate Draper, M.S. '22
We want to get to know you better and we are excited that you are ready to take your next step and learn more about us. We are here to help you and look forward to working with you during your college search process.