|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Explore... Admissions... Our Program... • Getting Started |
CORE COURSES
OPTIONAL COURSES
CVR 7200 Clinical Research Ethics (3 quarter credit hours) This course introduces the theories, principles, concepts, and facts of ethics as they pertain to conducting ethical and responsible clinical research. You will apply your newly acquired knowledge through analysis of ethics case studies, group discussions, and interrogatories. Specifically, you will explore the history of ethics from the Tuskegee syphilis experiments, to the Nuremberg Code and subsequent Declaration of Helsinki, to the Belmont Report of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. You will discuss the language of ethics, ethical theories, norms of scientific behavior, and ethical principles including respect, beneficence, and justice as well as their applications to informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, assessment of risks and benefits, and selection of subjects. Also, you will apply the process of ethical reasoning and analysis to resolving ethical dilemmas, especially regarding conflict of interest. You will consider the ethics of research management including authorship, intellectual property, use of data, peer review, privileged information, publication practices, and the responsible transfer of technology. Also, you will learn to avoid misconduct including plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and fraud. You will reflect on the ethics of research and experimentation as it relates to vulnerable populations. You will familiarize yourself with the function of research ethics committees and the role of institutional review boards. Finally, you will consider the role of the scientist as a mentor to students, residents, and colleagues. CVR 7300 Fundamentals of Biostatistics (3 quarter credit hours) We are frequently reminded of the fact that we are living in the information age. Appropriately, then, this course is about information--how it is obtained, how it is analyzed, and how it is interpreted. Selection of topics in the course was guided by three considerations: (1) What are the most useful statistical methods?; (2) Which statistical methods are the most widely used in journals in the behavioral and health sciences?; and (3) Which statistical methods are fundamental to further study? This course requires few mathematical prerequisites. Only reasonable proficiency in algebra is required for an understanding of the concepts and methods underlying the calculations. The emphasis continues to be on an intuitive understanding of principles rather than an understanding based on mathematical sophistication. Because the course is designed for persons preparing for or already pursuing a career in the health field, the examples and exercises reflect the problems and activities that these persons are likely to encounter in the performance of their duties. CVR 7310 Principles of Statistical Inference (3 quarter credit hours) The aim of this course is to enable students to appreciate the richness of statistical science and to invite them to the concept of probabilistic thinking. Statistics is the science of the future. Any technique that they are going to learn will help them to understand the unknown better, and in turn it will increase their success in other courses and in future professional careers. Principles of statistical inference build upon the course Fundamentals of Biostatistics. As such, a prerequisite for enrolling in this course is satisfactory completion of Fundamentals of Biostatistics. The goals of this course are threefold: (1) introduce the basic concepts of probability as well as methods for calculating the probability of an event, (2) assist students in developing an understanding of probability theory and sampling distributions, and (3) familiarize students about inferences involving one or two populations, ANOVA, regression analysis, and chi-square tests. CVR 7400 Clinical Research Design (3 quarter credit hours) Clinical Research Design prepares the student to evaluate clinical procedures and practices from a scientific viewpoint. Students will learn to identify issues requiring additional investigation, and design research that efficiently and effectively addresses those issues. By the end of the course, the student will prepare a first draft of a research (thesis) proposal. Topics include the underlying theory and philosophical principles of research; the conceptualization of a research problem from speculation to hypothesis generation to theory testing; the development of an appropriate question for scientific inquiry; identification of populations for study, including control groups; the development of valid and reliable measurement techniques; identification and control of experimental variables; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; differences between qualitative and quantitative research; and specific types of clinical research (including surveys, clinical trials, evaluations and comparisons, etc.). CVR 7500 Information Science for Clinical Research (3 quarter credit hours) This course introduces the student to the concept of a literature review as it relates to the development of a research proposal. Students will specify a research problem and provide an appropriate review of the literature. This literature review will identify and discuss related research that sets their proposed project within a conceptual and theoretical context. Students will learn to use reference sources (both electronic and "hardcopy") available in most public and academic libraries and/or via the Internet to locate and evaluate literature pertinent to clinical and basic vision science and basic research in related medical sciences. Use of evidence-based medicine as a research tool will be covered. Students will be expected to identify and effectively utilize all relevant information resources in their geographical area essential to the preparation of a thorough, high quality literature review. CVR 7600 An Introduction to Research Funding
and Proposal Development This course enables students to gain an in-depth understanding of the essential components of a well-written research proposal which addresses an identified scientific problem and the process for submitting the proposal to an agency/organization requesting funding support to study the problem. Students will become familiar with a number of funding sources that support vision research projects and learn to use a variety of resources to target potential funding sources. They will become familiar with various grant-related terminology, as well as guidelines and rules and regulations of awarding agencies. Students will be expected to come prepared to explore and discuss potential research areas they would like to study and focus on ideas about a project to address their interests. They will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the essential components of a well-written proposal through class handouts, virtual discussions, and appropriate class activities related to the required readings. CVR 7700 Presentation, Evaluation, & Publication of Clinical Vision Research (3 quarter credit hours) This course prepares the student to effectively ask an appropriate question, organize and design a presentation, critically analyze and disseminate clinical or basic research information. The course is composed of on-line lectures, discussions, and independent practice. Initially, emphasis is placed on the factors necessary to make scientific presentations on topics within vision science. Appropriate scientific publications are reviewed and critiqued. Students develop the ability to convey scientific information in a manner suitable for publication. CVR 7800 Ethical and Legal Issues in Human Subjects Research This course introduces the ethical and regulatory aspects involved in human subjects research. You will gain understanding of the history that has shaped the rules that today govern research with human subjects, as well as be introduced to issues that researchers in the 21 st Century face. You will become familiar with U.S. regulations that govern human subjects research and the protection systems that are created as a part of those regulations. Issues related to research with a variety of vulnerable populations will also be discussed. You will be expected to come prepared to explore and discuss the variety of issues researchers face when they hope to conduct human subjects research. You will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the key elements of informed consent documents, including statements required by United States regulations. You will also have the opportunity to discuss some of the critical issues surrounding human subjects research. Class activities related to the readings and CITI modules will permit you to gain an understanding of these topics while also completing the NSU required CITI program.CVR 8210 Visual Health and International Development (3 quarter semester credit hours) Introduction to international cooperation in the vision care field. World inequalities. Definition of Sustainable Development. Contextualization of visual health importance in the economic, political and social world while pioneering a type of cooperation and a view toward the need for public health research that acts as a tool against current injustices, subsequently strengthening our responsibility for collaborating in this development as health care providers and researchers. CVR 8220 Epidemiology (3 quarter credit hours) "A basic definition for Epidemiology is "the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in populations and the application of this study to a control of health problems." This course will introduce the student to the basic calculations required to determine the frequency, projection, and distribution of diseases or conditions in a given population. Introduction will be made to utilizing epidemiology in eye diseases, visual conditions, and particularly visual screening and research." |
