FAQs
UNCW – B.S. Clinical Research (CLR)
If you have additional questions, please email us at son@uncw.edu.
General Questions:
Am I a competitive student?
• We cannot guarantee your successful admission. However, successful students will typically have a
prerequisite science GPA of 2.5 or higher.
I was accepted to UNCW, does that mean I will get accepted to the Clinical Research program?
• No, acceptance to UNCW does not guarantee admittance to the Clinical Research Program.
What can I do with a Clinical Research Degree?
• Most graduates work for pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, clinical research
service providers or clinical sites enrolling clinical trial subjects. Graduates are employed in a variety of
roles. Generally, UNCW BS CLR graduates begin their careers in entry-level positions but move into
higher-level positions in 1 to 2 years. For those aspiring to a Clinical Research Associate (CRA), a
minimum of 2 years of industry experience is required. Helpful information can be found
here: Launching Your Career -- "How can I get started in the clinical research enterprise?".
How employable will I be?
• Most students (approx. 90%) are employed in a Clinical Research setting within 3 months after
graduation. Most Clinical Research professionals will earn $40,000-50,000 in their first year. Within
five years, some students will earn $70,000 or more, depending on their career path.
Once I am in the CLR program, can I take traditional courses instead of online courses?
• All courses with the CLR prefix are completely online except for CLR 498-1,2 (internship). Some of the
CLR electives are online and others are on-campus. MKT 340 and PAR 215/115 are also offered online
and on-campus. However, the online version of MKT 340 can be difficult to get into. The general
eduation requirements, called University Studies, are mainly on-campus.
Once I am in the CLR program, can I take CLR courses out of sequence?
• Courses with the CLR prefix must be taken in order and are only once per year in specific semesters
(with the exception for CLR 301 which is occasionally offered during the summer and fall). However,
MKT 340, PAR 215, and the CLR elective may be moved around within the first year of the program.
Once I am in the CLR program, can I take CLR courses in the summer?
• No, CLR courses are not offered in the summer (CLR 301 is occasionally offered in the summer).
However, you may take other Non-CLR courses during the summer.
Do I have to find my own internship for the senior year?
• No, CLR faculty place students in internships based on their preferences, skill set, and availability.
Some internship sites require an interview.
Do I have to move to Wilmington for my internship?
• No, but you must live within driving distance of UNCW internship sites. The Program bases overall
enrollment decisions on the geographical location of the student relative to geographic areas with
UNCW internship opportunities. Most of the internship sites are in Wilmington, NC and Research
Triangle Park, NC. The Program works with a much smaller number of sites in Charlotte, the Triad, and
Jacksonville; admissions may be restricted in these areas due to the availability of internship sponsors.
For out of state students, internship placement will require that the student discuss internship options in
their application. This also applies to students planning to relocate for their senior year. (Note: students
are required to provide their current address to UNCW; tuition increases as a result of moving out of
state may occur).
If I am working on a minor and have completed several CLR courses, can I take the internship?
• No, only students formally admitted to the program can take the internship. In addition, students must
complete all 300-level CLR courses prior to starting the internship.
• Students with the appropriate prerequisites, regardless of the number of CLR courses, are encouraged to
apply. Taking CLR courses as a non-major does not guarantee or increase the likelihood that you will
be admitted. Admission decisions are based on prior academic performance in pre-requisites, written
communication skills, and the student’s residential location for internship considerations (as described
above).
Do I get paid to attend the internship?
• No, the internships are unpaid.
How many hours per week is the internship?
• The internship is 14 hours per week. Some sites require students to attend certain days of the week. For
other sites, it is negotiated with the preceptor and the student. Some sites prefer that the student split the
14 hours over 2 days were week; other sites allow the hours to be split over 3 or 4 days.
How long does the internship last?
• The student is expected to complete his/her weekly internship hours for all weeks that UNCW is in
session. For the fall semester, the on-site component begins just after Labor Day and ends on the last
day of classes. For the spring semester, the on-site component begins during the first week of classes in
January and ends during the last week of classes. Students are not required to attend the internship on
university breaks or holidays or during the exam period. The internship includes an online course in
Blackboard which lasts the duration of the semester and includes one or more of the following:
assignments, discussions, exams, projects.
I have a paid job in the Clinical Research industry. Do I need to quit my paid clinical research job to
attend the unpaid internship?
• No, please discuss this with your advisor. It is often possible to undertake an alternate internship during
the CLR 498 course that involves a project and a preceptor from your job (or from UNCW).
Is the internship offered in the summer?
• No, the internship is not offered in the summer. Students successfully obtaining a summer internship
should view it as additional valuable experience, important for networking, and useful for resume
building; it is a good use of your time. However, for administrative reasons, it cannot count for CLR
498 credit.
If I have a part-time clinical research job and would like to also take an internship at another company,
may I do both?
• No, unless there is no opportunity for conflict of interest, and all parties agree.
Transfer Student Questions:
I am transferring courses into UNCW. How do I know what will transfer?
•
You may take classes at another institution. However, verify with the UNCW Registrar to ensure that
each course will transfer in as one of our prerequisites. Transfer credit equivalents can be found
at www.uncw.edu/reg/transfercredit.htm.
I am transferring into UNCW. Am I required to take courses at UNCW in order to apply to the Clinical
Research Program?
• No. However, you must be an active student, which will also mean being accepted to UNCW and paying
your enrollment deposit, prior to applying to the Clinical Research Program. With the CLR Program
deadline being March 30th, you should apply to UNCW prior to January 1st to give yourself the best
chance of being accepted in time.
Can I transfer into UNCW for the Spring semester?
• UNCW does not always take transfer students for the Spring semester. This is generally decided in
September. Our advice is to plan on transferring to UNCW in the Fall semester.
I have taken BIO 240, 241, and 246, but I have not taken BIO 201. Do I have to go back and take BIO
201?
• Yes, you are required to complete BIO 201.
Application/Admissions Questions:
What are the prerequisites for admission?
• Please see the Program of Study.
What courses must I have completed in order to start the CLR program?
• Prior to starting the CLR program, you must complete PSY 105, MAT 111/112/115/151/161, CHM 101,
SOC 105 (or ECN 125 or ECN 221 or ANT 105), PSY 223, BIO 246, BIO 240 (or EXS 216), BIO 241
(or EXS 217), and STT 210/215/PSY 225/QMM 280. In order to apply, you do not need all courses
completed. Consult your Advisor for more information.
If I have taken a course, can I retake that course to get a better grade?
• The UNCW policy is that you may only repeat courses that you received a C- or below. However the
university allows you to audit courses for a better grade, or you can take them at another institution. The
CLR Program will evaluate the highest grade achieved.
Will my AP courses be evaluated?
• No, we do not use AP scores in our evaluation. You will get credit for the course, but your score will not
affect your standing.
I took classes a long time ago. Will they be evaluated?
• Science prerequisite courses (CHM 101, BIO 201, BIO 240, BIO 241, and BIO 246) and Math
prerequisite courses (MAT 111, 112, 115, 151, 152, 161, 162, and STT 210, STT 215, QMM 280 and
PSY 225) must have been completed at least 10 years prior to your application. If they are older than 10
years, you must retake/audit those courses. If you have been actively working in a clinical, scientific,
basic research, or clinical research position OR if you have a relevant advanced degree, ask your advisor
about a possible waiver on the 10 year rule. Non Math/Science courses older than 10 years may be
retaken/audited – check with your advisor for approval.
Do I need a criminal background check to enter the program?
•
No, but you will need to authorize and pay for a criminal background check prior to the senior
internship. You will be asked about criminal charges on the CLR application. Internship sites may do an
independent background check as well prior to bringing students on board.
Is there a required lab component for BIO 246?
• The UNCW SON does not require a lab component for BIO 246. However, if you are applying to other
programs, some of them may require it.
May I apply to the CLR Program while under consideration for the Nursing or other degree program?
• Yes, but please disclose this on your Clinical Research Application