Certificate in Advanced Training in Clinical Research

Courses

ATCR Certificate students are required to complete 28 units of coursework. In addition, students are encouraged to take one or more electives according to their interests.

Sample Course Schedule

* EPI 201 can be taken in fall or spring.  
**ATCR Certificate students may opt out of EPI 204. Students who opt out of EPI 204 must take the equivalent of 3 units in another elective(s).

Highly Recommended Electives:
EPI 205 — Clinical Trials (2)
Electives can be taken during any quarter

General 2024-2025 Schedule

Research Products

In the TICR Program Seminar (EPI 220/230), scholars will present their research-in-progress several times during the year.

In Biostatistical Methods III (BIOSTAT 209) in the spring quarter, scholars conduct a statistical analysis of their data and give an oral presentation at the end of the term.

Professional Goals

The following activities are target accomplishments for all ATCR Certificate scholars during the year. Although the program does not formally monitor these activities, it provides encouragement and methodologic guidance to help students meet these objectives.

Interaction with Mentor and Career Development

Mentoring is an essential element of the program. Faculty provide methodologic guidance, and students are encouratged to meet regularly with a research mentor in their chosen subject area who reviews their progress and offers scholarly guidance.

• We encourage students to meet with a mentor at least monthly to discuss research project specifics and career issues.
• Consider getting involved in more than one project (e.g., if one involves primary data collection, the other could be secondary data analysis, meta-analysis, decision analysis or cost-effectiveness analysis).
• Begin to attend regional, national and international conferences in the chosen research area.
• Develop a five-year career plan.

Written Products

• Review of a manuscript submitted to a journal (serve as co-referee with mentor).
• Letter to an editor on a topic involving the chosen research area.
• A systematic review of the selected research topic.
• Abstract for a poster or oral presentation at a national conference.
• Application for a small grant (e.g., UCSF intramural).
• Manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal, ideally as first author.

Promotion of Best Practices in Clinical Research

• Serve as an agent in local research and teaching environments to introduce perspectives and techniques learned in the ATCR Certificate program.

• Select in-person required components with online access to all lectures and assignments
• Optional in-person labs

November 3, 2025: Application opens

May 11, 2026: Application deadline

July 13, 2026: Program begins with orientation

June 11, 2027: Program ends

General 2024-2025 schedule

The ATCR Certificate program requires enrollment for at least four quarters (summer, fall, winter, spring).

Fees for the 2025-2026 academic year are:

*Fees do not include health insurance, books, supplies or software.

** Selected applicants will be eligible for a fee offset through a Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Scholarship. Applicants who meet the following requirements will be eligible for the offset:

1. Demonstrated excellence in academic work performance based on prior transcripts, publications and letters of recommendation. This criterion will be evaluated by the Master's Degree Program Admissions Committee; and
2. Concurrent enrollment in a University of California–sponsored residency or postdoctoral fellowship program that the Office of Graduate Medical Education recognizes; or being a registered student in one of the professional schools or graduate programs at the University of California (in a program other than the TICR Program); or holding a full-time salaried University of California faculty, academic or staff position. Individuals will be asked to provide proof of University of California status.

Financial Assistance

Students enrolled in the Credit-Bearing ATCR Certificate program may be eligible for financial assistance. Prospective students should contact the UCSF Graduate Division financial support office.

Admissions Criteria

The following qualifications are required:

• An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (equal to a letter grade of B).
• Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated knowledge or experience in some aspect of a health-related field (e.g., clinical practice, public health, health promotion) by virtue of a graduate or professional degree (MD, DDS, PharmD, PhD or international equivalent), being currently enrolled in such a program or relevant work experience. Although not required, this prior knowledge or experience is preferred because program scholars will be required to perform original research in an area of their choice to fulfill graduation requirements. Prior substantive knowledge or experience in a health-related field can be beneficial in identifying a research area of interest and maintain motivation for the work.
• For scholar who are primarily based in other training programs at UCSF, we require a supervisor's assurance that at least 70 percent of their time will be available from August through May to divide between the classroom activities of this program and the conduct of the trainee's clinical research projects.
• Affirmation of the Professional Conduct Statement (signed during orientation)

How to Apply

Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are now open.  Deadline: May 11, 2026.

The following are required:

• Complete the UCSF Graduate Division application.
• 1 letter of reference.  Details of how to submit the letter are provided in the Graduate Division Application 
• Applicants will need to provide transcript copies only during the application review process.  Upon acceptance to our program, official transcripts from all institutions attended after high school should be submitted directly to the Program.  We do not accept transcripts submitted by the student.   The Program prefers official electronic transcripts (e-transcripts). Official e-transcripts can be sent directly to [email protected]. If only hardcopies are available,  official transcripts should be mailed to:

Admissions
Training in Clinical Research (TICR) Program 
University of California, San Francisco
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 
Mission Hall (UCSF Box 0560)
550 16th Street, 2nd floor
San Francisco, CA 94143 
(For FedEx only, use 94158)

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants are notified of admission decisions within six weeks of our receipt of complete applications. All application materials, including letters of recommendation and transcripts, must be received for the application to be considered complete. If any portion of the application is missing by the final due date, the application will be considered incomplete. It will not be further considered without petition, explanation and payment of a $150 late fee. Additional late fees may apply for exceptionally late transactions.

Early application is particularly encouraged for applicants originating outside of the San Francisco Bay Area who may require finding housing or visas.

UCSF does not sue race, gender, sex, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process.

International Applicants

The ATCR Certificate program welcomes applications from international scholars who meet the prerequisites, but the program does not directly provide any financial aid.

Applicants to the credit-bearing ATCR Certificate program: International applicants from non-English-speaking countries must demonstrate proficiency in English by completing one year of study with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at an accredited college or university in the United States or by obtaining the following minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS - International English Language Testing System (code 4840):

• Paper-based TOEFL – 550
• Computer based TOEFL – 213
• Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) – 80
• IELTS – 7

Transcripts

Transcript copies are accepted during the application process. Upon acceptance to the program, students are required to have their transcripts verified by a third-party company, such as Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., or World Education Services if the Graduate Division is unable to verify their degree. When possible students should request 3rd party verifications be sent electronically to the UCSF Graduate Division.  This expedites the transcript evaluation process.  

Once an international applicant has been accepted into the master's program, the scholar is expected to work with UCSF's International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to obtain the appropriate visa. Note that the program begins on July 13, 2026, so travel arrangements should be made to arrive in San Francisco by July 12, 2026.

If after reviewing this page you have questions, please contact Clair Dunne, Program Coordinator.