Curriculum

Candidates are required to complete a 10-credit core of required 500-level courses and five elective credits at the 500 level. Courses must be selected from the detailed curriculum below, or by permission from the certificate director.

Courses included with the certificate (10 credits):

• PHS 520: Principles of Biostatistics (3 credits) or STAT 500: Applied Statistics (3 credits) or STAT 501: Regression Methods (3 credits)
• PHS 550: Principles of Epidemiology (3 credits) or HPA 540: Epidemiological Applications in Health Services Research (3 credits) or STAT 507: Epidemiologic Research Methods (3 credits)
• PHS 580: Clinical Trials Design & Analysis (3 credits) or STAT 503: Design of Experiments (3 credits) or STAT 509: Design & Analysis of Clinical Trials (3 credits)
• PHS 500: Research Ethics (1 credit) or MCIBS 591: Ethics in the Life Sciences (1 credit) or BMS 591: Biomedical Research Ethics (1 credit)

In addition to the 10 required credits, students must select at least 5 credits from the following:

• BB H 505: Behavioral Health Research Strategies (3 credits)
• BIOL 555, Statistical Analysis of Genomics Data (3 credits)
• BMMB 852, Applied Bioinformatics (2 credits)
• BMS 801: Writing Grant Proposals for Biomedical Research (1 credit)
• CTS 590: Clinical and Translational Science Colloquium (1 credit)
• HD FS 503: Human Development Intervention: Analysis of Theories & Approaches (3 credits)
• HD FS 516: Methods of Research in Human Development (3 credits)
• HPA 528: Health Data Analysis for Research (3 credits)
• HPA 564: Research Methods in Health Services Research (3 credits)
• KINES 588: Scientific Writing in Kinesiology (3 credits)
• MCIBS 555, Statistical Analysis of Genomics Data (3 credits)
• NUTR 540, Research Methods (3 credits)
• PHS 518: Scientific Communication (2 credits)
• PHS 519: Patient Centered Research (3 credits)
• PHS 521: Applied Biostatistics (3 credits)
• PHS 536: Health Survey Research Methods (3 credits)
• PHS 540: Decision Analysis (1 credit)
• STAT 555: Statistical Analysis of Genomics Data (3 credits)

See full course descriptions in the Penn State Graduate Bulletin.

Non-Degree Student Status

All certificate candidates are considered non-degree students. Up to 15 Penn State course credits acquired as a non-degree certificate candidate may be applied toward fulfillment of graduate degree requirements.

Please see details about requirements and access for non-degree students.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the certificate program, an applicant must hold either:

• a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution; or
• a postsecondary degree that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution.

International Applicants

International applicants must have a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree.

This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

Additionally, all international applicants must meet the Graduate School’s English proficiency requirements.

How to Apply

Complete the application and submit materials online to the Translational Science graduate credit certificate via the The Graduate School at Penn State.

In addition to the application, you must submit:

• One official transcript from all colleges/universities who granted a degree
• One letter of recommendation

Do not send transcripts directly to the program.

Key Dates

Applications will be accepted throughout the year. Admission may be approved for the following semester.

Contact Us

If you have questions concerning the Translational Science graduate credit certificate program, please contact Gail Thomas at gdt114@psu.edu.