College of Nursing and Health Innovation announces new master's degree in regulatory science

The College of Nursing and Health Innovation is launching a new master’s degree in regulatory science beginning with the fall 2018 semester. This program is a hybrid, meaning students will receive both online and in-classroom work and instruction.

Director of Clinical Research Management Programs, JoAnn Pfeiffer says the new program is in response to student and industry demand. With the growth in this industry, employers, now more than ever, are seeking individuals who are educated and have the skills necessary to meet the needs and to be leaders in the field.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from people that want to really look at the regulatory side of medical products and delve deeper into the regulations and application of regulations in practice,” she said adding, “so we created this degree to meet that need.”

Specifically, this program will prepare students to enter the regulatory affairs field, which focuses on ensuring companies are in compliance with applicable rules and regulations and best practices governing medical products.

Qualified regulatory affairs specialists are in-demand. In this role, individuals provide oversight for pharmaceutical drugs, biologics, vaccines and medical devices through their lifecycle from discovery, through development and approval, to consumer use.

These positions can often be found at clinical trial sites, academic institutions, clinical research organizations, pharmaceutical and medical device companies and product manufacturers.

Pfeiffer says while specific regulatory experience is not required to enroll, you do need a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 and of course, an interest in the field.

“You have to be dedicated, you have to be willing to work and learn. You’re never going to learn all the regulations but you have to be resourceful and know where to find them, know how to read them and know how to apply them.”