Clinical Research Coordination

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Clinical Research Coordination requires coursework which covers research investigation site management, study coordinator related activities, subject participation coordination, and regulatory documentation and administration. The program focus is on the achievement of behavioral competencies and technical skills for Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC) including essential documentation identification and preparation; subject screening, enrollment, recruitment, and follow-up visits; maintenance, dispensing and documentation of investigational product; completion of case report forms and ancillary regulatory documents; and the adherence to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.

Details

Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Clinical Research Coordination (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3901
Total credits required
60-75
Catalog Year
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
Admission criteria

None

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Students are encouraged to speak with an Academic Advisor or Program Director before starting the program.

What You'll Learn
  • Design a clinical trial (identify the components of a clinical trial protocol).
  • Differentiate among the five major regulatory bodies governing human subject research.
  • Describe the role and process for monitoring of the study.
  • Identify ethical issues of using vulnerable populations in research.
  • Explain the Institutional Review Board (IRB) review criteria for expedited, minimal risk, and exempt studies.
  • Differentiate the types and identification process of adverse events (AEs) which occur during clinical trials and the reporting requirements to IRBs, Ethics Committees, other regulatory authorities, and sponsors.
  • Apply management concepts and effective training methods to manage risk and improve quality in the conduct of a clinical research study.
  • Identify required research protocol components.
  • Explain the evolution of the requirement for informed consent from research participants and the principles and content of the key document which ensure the protection of human participants in clinical research.
  • Describe the ethical issues involved when dealing with vulnerable populations and the need for additional safeguards.
  • Prepare a sample study budget for a clinical trial.
  • Practice moral reasoning in scientific research.
  • Summarize at least three confidentiality issues with genetic research.
  • Summarize the legislative and regulatory framework which supports the development and registration of medicines, devices and biological and ensures their safety, efficacy and quality.
  • Prepare basic quality assurance procedures for a research site.
  • Differentiate responsibilities of the IRB, the principal investigator, and the sponsor in the conduct of an investigational device study.
  • Define significant risk (SR) and non-significant risk (NSR) and explain the role of the IRB, the FDA and the sponsor in determining this status.
  • Compare and contrast the routes to market for device manufacturers, including premarket approval (PMA), substantial equivalence, exemption from 510k, extension of a product line, reclassification and humanitarian use.
  • Differentiate at least four legal issues facing IRBs.
  • Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Statistics

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Clinical Research Coordinators
$133,350

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the locations, partners, and available tracks of the award.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BPC110 or
CIS105		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems CS or CS 3
CRC101 Introduction to Clinical Research Gateway course 4
CRC102 Clinical Research Regulations 4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology SB 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication Required for Specialization:2 SB or SB or L or SB 3
CRC103 Research Design and Data Management 4
CRC151 Introduction to Medical Devices in Clinical Evaluation 2
HCC145 or
HCC146		 Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals or Common Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals OR Permission of Program Director 0–3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
BIO160 or
BIO201		 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I If BIO201 is selected, BIO202 will need to be completed SQ or SG 4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRC152 Research Ethics 3
CIS114DE Excel Spreadsheet 3
HES210 Cultural Aspects of Health and Illness C, G 3
HU Humanities, Arts and Design Any approved general education course in the Humanities, Arts and Design area. 3
MA Mathematics Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area
Recommend MAT14+ or MAT15+ for students seeking university transfer 		MA 3–6
BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II If BIO201 is selected, BIO202 will need to be completed SG 0–4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRC153 Institutional Review Board in Clinical Research 3
CRC160 Clinical Research Site Management 4
PHY101 or
PHY111		 Introduction to Physics or General Physics I SQ or SQ 4
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Specialization Specialization Option 0–3
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=186783).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.