2025-2026 Academic Catalog

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Clinical Science (PhD)

Please visit the CLSC PhD website for current admission information: https://cctsi.cuanschutz.edu/training/clsc#phd

Admissions Requirements

All completed application materials for the PhD Program must be submitted by February 1st of each year to be considered for admission. There is only one application submission and review process per year. CLSC accepted applicants may start in the summer or fall term. Specific course offerings can be previewed at our Course Books and Schedules section of this page under Resources.

Minimum Criteria for Admission

Meeting the criteria does not guarantee admission.

  • An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
  • A masters, graduate or professional doctoral degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  • A graduate degree that required course completion in study design and analytics/biostatistics.
  • An acceptable and verifiable GRE, MCAT or PCAT score. This requirement can be waived by an earned MS/MPH or PhD from an accredited US School
  • Previous clinical and translational research experience that involved working in clinical settings and/or with clinicians.  Those without this clinical translational experience are encouraged to contact Dr. Lisa Cicutto to discuss the appropriateness and fit of the program.

You are encouraged to speak with CLSC staff and/or faculty before applying to the program.

Please note that the Clinical Science Program does not provide stipends to assist with tuition and/or room and board expenses. In addition, we currently do not have any research or teaching assistantships to support the educational costs of international students. 

International Applicant Additional Admission Criteria
In addition to the general admission requirements listed above, international applicants must meet additional requirements dictated by the University. For additional information about these requirements, please review the International Student Requirements for Graduate School admissions.

Please visit the CLSC PhD website for current admission information: https://cctsi.cuanschutz.edu/training/clsc#phd

Degree Requirements

Clinical Investigation Track

BIOS 6601Applied Biostatistics I3
BIOS 6602Applied Biostatistics II3
Choose 1 from the following:
Design and Conduct of Clinical Research
Research Methods in Epidemiology
Advanced Data Analysis
CLSC 6210Research Seminars in Clinical Science1
CLSC 6270Critical Appraisal Seminars in Clinical Science1
CLSC 7101Grant Writing I1
CLSC 7150Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research1
or CLSC 7152 Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Digital Age
CLSC 7202Clinical Outcomes and Applications2
CLSC 7300Scientific Grant Review Process: CCTSI Proposals1
EPID 6630Epidemiology3
EPID 6631Analytical Epidemiology3
CLSC 8990Doctoral Thesis1-10
  • 22 Required Clinical Investigation Course Credits
  • 8 Elective Course Credits
  • Total required course hours for degree: 30

Health Information Technology Track

BIOS 6601Applied Biostatistics I3
BIOS 6602Applied Biostatistics II3
Choose 1 from the following:
Design and Conduct of Clinical Research
Research Methods in Epidemiology
Advanced Data Analysis
Analytical Epidemiology
CLSC 6210Research Seminars in Clinical Science1
CLSC 6270Critical Appraisal Seminars in Clinical Science1
HLTH 6071Introduction To Health Information Technology3
or NURS 6286 Foundations Informatics
NURS 6290Information Systems Life Cycle4
CLSC 7101Grant Writing I1
CLSC 7150Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research1
or CLSC 7152 Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Digital Age
CLSC 7202Clinical Outcomes and Applications2
EPID 6630Epidemiology3
NURS 6293Database Mgmt Systems3
or ISMG 6080 Database Management Systems
CLSC 8990Doctoral Thesis1-10
  • 28 required Health Information Technology course credits
  • 2 elective course credits
  • Total required course hours for degree: 30

Learning Objectives

  • Adhere to legal, ethical, and regulatory principles related to clinical research
  • Critically appraise existing literature and sources of information
  • Apply evidence-based practice principals
  • Accurately select, use and interpret commonly used statistics
  • Apply and use appropriate study designs and methods to address research questions/hypotheses
  • Identify and measure clinically relevant and meaningful outcomes
  • Design and conduct clinical and patient-oriented research studies
  • Publish research manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals
  • Prepare and submit grant proposals
  • Provide constructive reviews and feedback to colleagues
  • Demonstrate effective communication and leadership skills
  • Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration

Courses

Please visit the CLSC PhD website for course information: https://cctsi.cuanschutz.edu/training/clsc#phd

CLSC 7150 -  Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research  (1 Credit)  
Course provides overview of the field of ethics in clinical research. Topics include historical background, current regulations, IRB requirements on human subjects protection issues. Students will learn how to develop approaches to conduct ethical human subjects research in an optimal manner.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
CLSC 7152 -  Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in the Digital Age  (1 Credit)  
This course will provide an overview of the evolving ethical issues in clinical, translational and public health research involving digital data and technologies.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Typically Offered: Spring.
CLSC 6270 -  Critical Appraisal Seminars in Clinical Science  (1 Credit)  
This course provides an overview of the approaches for critically appraising common study designs published in the clinical and translational sciences literature, as well as other sources of information.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall.
CLSC 7202 -  Clinical Outcomes and Applications  (2 Credits)  
This course focuses on research methodologies in the areas of clinical care, costs, health systems, policy, and health outcomes. This course provides content of major issues in clinical outcomes research. Outcomes research uses a wide variety of research designs to expand understanding of how to measure outcomes of health care. The course is designed to provide students with both theory and application through case studies. Prerequisites: BIOS 6601 and BIOS 6602 or BIOS 6611 and EPID 6630.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall.
CLSC 7300 -  Scientific Grant Review Process: CCTSI Proposals  (1 Credit)  
Students will understand and participate in the process of scientific review of human subject research protocols submitted to the University of Colorado Denver Clinical Translational Research Centers at University Hospital and the Children's Hospital. Prereq: BIOS 6601 BIOS 6602 or BIOS 6611 and BIOS 6612.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
CLSC 6210 -  Research Seminars in Clinical Science  (1 Credit)  
This course provides an overview of the types of clinical translational studies being conducted by senior CLSC doctoral students. The interactive seminar series structure allows for interdisciplinary scientific dialogue among students at various stages of training, mentors and faculty.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
CLSC 7101 -  Grant Writing I  (1 Credit)  
The purpose of this course is to develop and improve your skills in writing successful grant applications and participating in the critique and review process of grants. Prerequisites: BIOS 6601 and EPID 6630. Course Restrictions: CLSC students, unless written approval of Course Director.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Typically Offered: Spring.
CLSC 8990 -  Doctoral Thesis  (1-10 Credits)  
This course involves the student working with his/her research mentor and research project committee develop, design and execute a clinical science doctoral study as well as to write up the project as a thesis. Prerequesite: Program consent. BIOS 6601 or BIOS 6611, BIOS 6602 or BIOS 6680 and HSMP 6617, CLSC 7150, EPID 6630, BIOS 6648 or EPID 6626 or HSMP 6670. Restrictions: Only CLSC PhD students or collaborative CLSC and CSPH Health Services Research Students.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Repeatable. Max Credits: 99.
A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.
Additional Information: Report as Full Time.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

Policies

Please refer to the Graduate School Policies page.

Contact US

Please visit the CLSC PhD website for contact information: https://cctsi.cuanschutz.edu/training/clsc#phd

Galit Mankin, MSW
Program Administrator
Galit.Mankin@cuanschutz.edu
303-724-1214

Amanda Whiting
Program Assistant
Amanda.G.Whiting@cuanschutz.edu