Certificate in Applied Health Outcomes Research
Program Overview
What is Applied Health Outcomes Research?
Health outcomes research is used to develop patient-centered best practices, practice guidelines, and cost-effective therapeutic and behavioral interventions, improve healthcare system performance, and inform policy. It is not restricted to just medicine or health services but encompasses a broad range of health measurements. It requires scientific knowledge and data-driven insights for informed decision making.
The Certificate in Applied Health Outcomes Research may be completed 100% online in one year. The program provides an opportunity to learn:
- Fundamental elements of outcomes research with real‐world data and evidence.
- Basic knowledge and understanding of evidence-based decision making, including:
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- Assessment of clinical and patient‐reported outcomes and patient satisfaction
- The impact of non‐clinical patient‐level factors on patient health
- The role of economic evaluation methods in assessing the cost effectiveness of pharmacological and non‐pharmacological treatments
- The intended and unintended consequences of health policy decisions
AHOR Certificate – Recorded Information Session
Hear from HSC College of Pharmacy faculty to learn more about applied health outcomes, coursework offered, and admissions requirements.
Assessment Plan
Learn about the AHOR program’s criteria of achievement and how it is measured through students’ course-completion rates, satisfaction with the program and career pathways after graduation.
Testimonials
For student pharmacist Rachel Clark, becoming more skilled in outcomes research helped her land a highly competitive fellowship in pharmacoepidemiology with Daiichi Sankyo/Rutgers, which begins this summer after walking across the stage to receive her Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
“The AHOR program provided invaluable tools and prepared me for a successful fellowship. It allowed me to showcase my capstone project at a national conference. I’m excited to apply my education to optimize patient outcomes and promote medication safety in my new role.” – Rachel Clark
Career Opportunities in Outcomes Research
- Clinical Outcomes Manager
- Healthcare Administrators
- Health Outcomes Program Manager
- Pharmacoeconomist
- Practitioners
- Policymakers
- Research Analyst
- Other decision-makers charged with improving health outcomes for the individual, the population, and society
What skills will I gain upon completion?
- Students can evaluate findings related to healthcare access, quality, utilization, treatments, and health outcomes in real-world settings.
- Students can conduct AOR projects.
- Students can drive healthcare policy decisions by applying evidence and data-driven practices.
Who should apply?
- Students and working professionals interested in becoming more specialized in this field or pursuing graduate programs.
- International students LEARN MORE
Certificate Program Roadmap
The 12 credit hours (5 courses) online program can be completed in one year.
Fall 2025- 5 Credit Hours
PHAR 7335 – Economic Evaluation and Policy*
PHAR 7237 – Pharmacoepidemiology**
Spring 2025- 7 Credit Hours
PHAR 7345 – Evidence-Based Healthcare*
PHAR 7236 – Patient Reported Outcomes**
PHAR 7235 – Applied Health Outcomes Capstone***
*Required courses for current PharmD students.
**Electives available to current PharmD students.
***Available as a PharmD elective if enrolled in the certificate program
Academic Requirements
- Proficiency in English
- Bachelor’s degree with minimum GPA 2.8, OR
- Professional students (example: PharmD students) without a conferred degree and overall GPA of 2.8 prior to their enrollment in a professional degree program
- Statistics or equivalent training (3 semester credit hours)
How to Apply
Application requires the following:
- One-page personal statement of interest in the program (maximum 400 words)
- 1 – 2 letters of recommendation from mentors, teachers or supervisors.
- Resume or CV
- Optional submission, published articles.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- A course-by-course WES International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) is required from any international institutions attended. Choose “University of North Texas – Fort Worth TX” when selecting the recipient(s).
- International Applicants will be required to submit an official TOEFL Language Exam Score; use code 6909 to have your scores sent to HSC.
- $50 application processing fee required
Applications will not be reviewed or receive decisions until all items, documents, and fees are received.
NOTE: If you are a current HSC PharmD student who wants to add the Certificate in Applied Health Outcomes Research to your program of study, the process is different; please contact Dr. Tina Machu at Tina.Machu@unthsc.edu.
Program Contacts
For questions about the admissions process, contact the Admissions Office at admissions@unthsc.edu. (Current HSC PharmD students should contact Dr. Tina Machu at Tina.Machu@unthsc.edu.)
For questions about the program, contact: Rafia S. Rasu, PhD, Professor of Pharmacotherapy, UNTHSC College of Pharmacy at Rafia.Rasu@unthsc.edu.
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