Descriptions for courses offered in Master of Research Administration 
 
RA-700. Introduction to Research Design. This course provides students with an introduction to basic, clinical, and translational research. Including an indroduction to laboratory experimentation, clinical trials, and quantitative and qualitative research methodologies that are used in clinical and health services research.  The course enables students to understand the importance of research design in the process of producing new knowledge.  Students will become familiar with the key elements of a research proposal and study, and will begin to understand the process that researchers use to frame a researchable problem, formulating a research question or query, and designing a methodological approach. 
 
RA-701. Advanced Research Methods. This course builds on the introductory research methods course for students in the Masters in Research Administration.  The student will develop in-depth knowledge of current topics and research methods of great interest in the field of focus. Including NIH, AHRQ, CDC, foundation or other funding agencies' strategic plans related to laboratory experimentation, clinical trials, and quantitative and qualitative research studies.  The course will help students become familiar with the main mechanisms for soliciting research proposals.  It will allow personalized in-depth study of the design and analytical approaches and key elements/expectations for the research process used in the field of interest.  In addition, the course will enhance student's critical thinking skills in understanding problems in project management.

RA-702. Fundamentals of Research Administration. This course will concentrate on the five major participants in the research enterprise.  The infrastructure for research administration, pre-award financial requirements, responsible conduct of research, and technology transfer will be covered.  The management, cost and audit principles will be reviewed.  Opportunities for decision making will be provided through case studies.

RA-703. The Clinical Research Industry. This course will focus on analysis and comparison of the different kinds of sites for performance of clinical research.  Examination of the impact of productivity standards, quality assurance programs and budget issues to clinical research sites will also be covered.  Federal regulations that impact funding and business practices of clinical research will be evaluated.  The trends in clinical research funding will be examined and the various funding sources that presently support clinical research will be reviewed.

RA-704. Human Trials. Principles, policies and practices in the process of merging basic science research to human trials are explored.  Topics to be covered include analysis and assessment of regulatory issues, ethical challenges in human trials, societal pressures on development of products, fiscal issues that contribute to successes and controversies in human trials, the recruitment and retention of human subjects and informed consent.

RA-705. Research Administration Practicum Preparation. In conjunction with the course instructor, the student will develop a comprehensive plan for the completion of a practicum project.  The purpose, rationale goal(s), objectives, outcomes measurements, methods, timeline, needed resources will be developed and submitted for approval.

RA-706. Research Administration Practicum. This course will be a practical experience individualized for each student based on his or her career interest and experience.  Assignments may include case studies, projects, internships, or other types of efforts that result in a capstone experience for the student.

RA-707. Fundamentals of Compliance. This course covers the study of the federal bodies and regulations that govern research.  Topics include, but are not limited to the rules and regulations surrounding HIPPA and how it affects research on human subjects, the history and current role of the FDA, IACUC, IRB, and the many other regulatory requirements within the research arena.  The ethical issues surrounding the conduct of research will be examined.

RA-708. Independent Study in Research Administration. This course provides the student with the opportunity to engage in a mentored, individualized, in-depth study/experience in a focused area of research administration.

RA-709. Special Topics in Research Administration. This course provides the student with the opportunity to explore a specialized area of interest in research administration.

RA-710. Fundamentals of Research Administration II. This course is a continuation of RA-702 covering Pre- and Post-award admininstration and financial requirements. Specific topics will include fundamentals of sponsored programs, proposals, budgeting, contracting, reporting, audits, and cost-sharing.

RA-711. Fundamentals of Research Administration III. This course is a continuation of RA-710 covering additional research administration topics such as technology transfer, responsible conduct of research, intellectual property, conflict of interest and other aspects of research administration.

HAP-721. Health Care Delivery Systems. This course is a systematic approach to understanding the origin and evolution of the U.S. health care delivery system. Topics include the history of medical care in the U.S., descriptions of the variety of health personnel and facilities that comprise the system, including an investigation of selected contemporary health policy issues, public health, mental health and alternative systems. 3 s.h.

HAP-722. Health Behavior and Epidemiology. An introduction to health behavior and the principles, strategies, and perspectives of epidemiology. Examples are drawn from selected diseases, health relevant behaviors, and health service problems. The course provides a general understanding of health states of populations, prevention efforts and the basic conceptual tools for translating epidemiological findings. 3 s.h.

HAP-726. Health Care Accounting. This course introduces the student to selected financial accounting topics such as principles of health care accounting, financial statement preparation, governance and internal control, financial statement analysis, capital structure and leverage, working capital management, stock and bond valuations. 3 s.h.

HAP-740. Human Resources Management. This course addresses the traditional personnel functions in health service organizations such as recruitment, selection, job analysis, performance appraisal, compensation/benefits, employee health and safety, grievance, collective bargaining, employee discipline, and discharge. Additionally, current social, behavioral, and legal issues are discussed from a human resource planning and management perspective. The student will not only gain a better understanding of human resource processes, procedures, and issues, but will also acquire skills important to the effective management of people in organization.  3 s.h.