Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE)

Become an independent clinical investigator through rigorous research training, personalized mentorship, and a publishable thesis at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) is an intensive program for accomplished medical professionals who seek to further their skills as academic investigators. Applicants who possess an advanced degree in medicine, nursing or another health field learn to design controlled epidemiological studies and acquire biostatistical skills that relate directly to their research interests. With close guidance from a mentorship team, students will gain the ability to hone precise research questions and pursue reliable, complex answers. 

The MSCE is one of the nation’s top offerings in clinical research training with more than 150 active faculty members. The program launched in 1981 and currently has over 750 alumni reaching all corners of the world. The program is designed to prepare students to: 

• Design, implement, and analyze an original research project. 
• Master the elements of various research designs—randomized clinical trials, cohort and case-control studies, surveys, and quasi-experiments.
• Learn the concepts of health measurement as they apply to epidemiologic research.
• Apply a sophisticated critical perspective in appraising medical literature.
• Understand the principles of biostatistics, especially as they apply to epidemiologic research.
• Use and interpret various statistical programs for analyzing a data set.

Through the program's dedicated faculty mentorship, comprehensive curriculum, study protocol, and thesis development, students are poised for academic research careers across a broad range of disciplines.

MSCE alumni have gone on to become NIH-funded investigators, clinical trial leaders, department chairs, and faculty members at leading academic medical centers worldwide.