Northeastern University

Overview

The Real World Evidence in Healthcare and Life Sciences course at Northeastern University equips students with the skills to analyze and interpret real-world healthcare data. By focusing on electronic health records and claims data, this program enables participants to generate credible evidence for research, policy formulation, and product development. Students will develop practical capabilities in observational study methods, data standardization, and research ethics, preparing them for impactful careers in the healthcare sector.

What you'll study

Core curriculum:

• Real-World Evidence — Explore the foundations of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE), evidence generation workflows, and their application in healthcare and life sciences.
• Data Models — Learn to structure healthcare and life sciences data for analysis, focusing on key concepts in modeling and data representation.
• Methods for Observational Research — Understand study design and analytical approaches for situations where randomization is not feasible.
• Standardization of Real-World Data — Gain insights into harmonizing diverse datasets to enhance comparability and the quality of evidence.
• Data Model Transformation — Master the skills to transform and map data across different formats and models to facilitate consistent analysis.
• Research Skills and Ethics — Develop responsible research practices and ethical considerations, alongside professional skills for effective evidence communication.

Capstone / applied work: Participants may complete an applied project or capstone assessment that showcases their ability to design and evaluate an RWE approach using real-world data.

Note: Module titles, sequencing, and assessment formats may vary—check for the latest curriculum details.

Entry requirements

While GRE/GMAT scores and specific GPA cut-offs are not specified for this program, admission is generally determined by your academic background and the overall strength of your application.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Real World Evidence in Healthcare and Life Sciences program can pursue a variety of career paths within the healthcare industry. Opportunities may include roles in research organizations, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare consulting firms, and regulatory agencies, where they can apply their expertise in data analysis and evidence generation to improve healthcare outcomes and influence policy decisions.