Program: Clinical and Translational Science (PhD) - University of Pittsburgh

Admissions

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements before filling out an online application.

Candidates must have completed one of the following degrees: MD, DDS, DMD, DO, ND, OD, PharmD, PhD, DNS in nursing, PhD with clinical responsibilities, or other professional degree as deemed appropriate by the selection committee.
Candidates must have a high level of interest and potential for the pursuit of innovative clinical research as a major focus of their career plan.
Candidates from departments who ensure 50%-75% of protected time during their pursuit of the degree.
A minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores (when applicable)
MCAT or GRE scores are not accepted

Timeline

The PhD Program in Clinical and Translational Science accepts applications from September 1 through January 31 each year. In order to guarantee that you are considered for admission, we must receive your application and all component parts by January 31. Students will be notified via email of admission decisions approximately 1-2 months following the close of the application cycle.

Financial Assistance

The Institute for Clinical Research Education does not provide financial aid. Unless students have other funding sources, they are responsible for covering the tuition costs, taxes, and fees associated with their course enrollment.

Degree Requirements

The PhD in Clinical and Translational Science curriculum is organized into 4 categories of coursework: Core, Advanced Selectives, Research Specialization, and Dissertation Research. While students advance through the program they will also complete the Preliminary Evaluation, Comprehensive Exam, and Dissertation Milestone.

To view the curriculum in detail, please visit this page.

Non-credit Requirements/Milestones

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Requirement

PhD in CTS students are required to attend eight 1-hour CTSI Responsible Conduct in Research workshops or enroll in the ICRE course CLRES 2050: Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research. At the time of graduation, students must have at least 8 hours of RCR training through CTSI or have successfully completed CLRES 2050 in order to be eligible to graduate.

Comprehensive Examination

PhD in CTS students are required to complete a Comprehensive exam. This exam consists of a written examination in the form of an NIH R01-style proposal (including, at a minimum, specific research aims, background and significance, and research methods) and an oral defense of the written portion.

Doctoral Prospectus and Dissertation

PhD in CTS students must complete both a Doctoral Prospectus and successfully complete and defend a Doctoral Dissertation.

Individuals must prepare a dissertation proposal for presentation to a doctoral dissertation committee at a formal dissertation overview meeting. At this meeting, the dissertation committee members will provide guidance in shaping the conceptualization and methodology for the individual’s Doctoral Dissertation.
The proposal, writing, and defense of a culminating research project. The written work must conform to the University of Pittsburgh style manual. The Final Oral Defense is a public defense of the Doctoral Dissertation.

More information:

Please view the PhD in CTS Program Handbook for complete program details.

Clinical and Translational Science (PhD)

Contact Information