Clinical Research MS - How to Apply
How Do I Apply to the Clinical Research MS Program?
Penn State College of Medicine’s Master of Science in Clinical Research program follows the application process for The Graduate School at Penn State.
All students must submit an application through The Graduate School.
Before applying, please review the Graduate School’s admissions requirements.
What is Required?
Graduate School applications must include the following items to be eligible for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Completed online application
- Resume or CV
- Copies of transcripts Copies of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended; applicants must have completed (or expect to complete in the current academic year) a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher, and must have completed at least one college-level course in algebra, calculus or statistics.
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official TOEFL or IELTS scores - International applicants only; see details below for possible waiver
Key Dates
Formal applications to the program for all applicants must be completed no later than February 15 for consideration for matriculation in August.
Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health residents/fellows must submit their completed applications no later than June 1 for consideration for fall admission.
Interested applicants who miss the application deadlines may start as non-degree students and formally apply to the MS program the following year.
Admission to this program is for fall semester only.
GPA Requirement
The requirement of a 3.0 GPA may be relaxed if the student has professional experience, a post-baccalaureate degree in a related field, satisfactory GRE, GMAT, MCAT or LSAT score, or other strong evidence suggesting likely success in the program.
TOEFL or IELTS Scores
Send TOEFL scores by selecting code 2660.
Minimum Penn State acceptable test scores and exemptions for TOEFL and IELTS are available through The Graduate School.
Transfer Credits
In selected cases, a transfer of a maximum of nine credits from an external institution or up to 15 credits of non-degree work from Penn State, if the credits contribute to the required core and the electives. Transfer credits require approval by the program director.
See Penn State transfer credit policies.
Evaluation of Applications
Admission is based on evaluation by the Graduate Application Review Committee of the Department of Public Health Sciences of the submitted transcript, written responses and two letters of recommendation. Research experience of the applicant is also a significant component of the evaluation process.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Clinical Research MS Program or Clinical Research Graduate Certificate, please contact Shannon Tuininga at stuininga@psu.edu.