
Make an Impact on Patient and Community Health
The George Washington University’s online graduate certificate in Clinical and Translational Research quickly prepares you for a role as the primary clinical trial investigator on multi-site projects. By completing the Clinical and Translational Research Graduate Certificate, you explore clinical trials management and learn to improve patient and community health as you understand how science and clinical research methods move from the bench to the bedside.
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QUICK FACTS:
21
Total Credits
100%
Online
20 months
Average Duration
Accreditation and Rankings
- GWU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- #62 Best National University*
* The U.S. News & World Report – 2023 Rankings

Program Highlights
- 100% online, no visits to campus required
- The program requires 21 total credits and can be finished in one year
- All 21 credits can be transferred into the MSHS in Clinical and Translational Research master’s program
Program Outcomes
In as little as one year, you will complete 21 credit hours and learn to:
- Compose competitive grant proposals to fund clinical trials
- Apply basic, community health, health services, and clinical research methods to improve patient outcomes
- Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams in diverse research settings
- Apply expert clinical trials design skills for multi-site projects
Who Is the Ideal Student for This Program?
This graduate certificate in Clinical and Translational Research is ideal if you are looking to broaden your skills and serve as a principal clinical trial investigator. This clinical trial certification program also serves as a stepping-stone for those who want to pursue the full graduate degree in Clinical and Translational Research at a later time.
To apply for this clinical trial certification program, you must have previously completed graduate-level courses in Biostatistics and Epidemiology with a B or higher to qualify for admission.
Clinical and Translational Research Career Outlook
Graduates of the clinical research certification program can enjoy rewarding careers with employers across a wide range of health care and research organizations, including:
- Academic medical centers and research institutions
- Biomedical organizations
- Biotech companies
- Consumer products companies
- Contract research organizations
- Defense companies
- Diagnostics companies
- Generics companies
- Government agencies like FDA and NIH
- Hospitals, medical centers, and other health care settings
- Medical device companies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Private research laboratories
- Clinical trials management companies
- Clinical trials design companies
Admission Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- Completed application
- 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
- A bachelor’s degree
- Resume/CV
- Personal statement: Please include a 250–500 word essay describing your reasons for undertaking study at the George Washington University, your academic objectives, career goals, and related qualifications including collegiate, professional, and community activities relevant to your program of interest. Include any substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form.
- Two letters of recommendation
Tuition Details
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical and The Graduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Research program at GW consists of 21 credit hours. Please find the cost per credit hour and total estimated program costs here.
Note: Tuition rates are subject to change and additional fees may vary by program.
Meet the Program Director
GW’s experienced faculty provide you with the rich, practical knowledge and support needed for you to succeed in the program and in your career.
Samar Nasser
Associate Professor, Clinical Research & Leadership
Director, Clinical and Translational Research
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Dr. Nasser is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at the George Washington University. For about 10 years, Dr. Nasser practiced as a physician assistant (PA) in the Hypertension and Vascular Disease Clinic, and assistant medical director of the Recruitment and Clinical Measures Core on a National Institutes of Health Center Grant in Detroit, MI.
During her tenure as a PA, she cared for patients in the out-patient and in-patient settings, as well as those participants in several clinical research trials. While functioning as a PA, she attended the University of Michigan, School of Public Health and obtained her Master’s of Public Health Degree with a specialization in Epidemiology. She then pursued a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in 2011 with a concentration in Physiology, as she also has a passion to teach others and a deep appreciation for how the human body maintains homeostasis and understanding human physiologic functions as they relate to preventative health measures, public health, and the translational research field.
Dr. Nasser has co-authored numerous journal articles and several book chapters focusing on cardiovascular disease/hypertension and ethnic disparities. Her expertise is focused upon evaluating the factors impacting racial disparities, specifically cardiovascular, and translating evidence-based methods to curb these effects.