Legal Studies MLS

Major: Legal Studies
Degree Awarded: Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Calendar Type: Semester
Total Credit Hours: 30.0
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 22.0203
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code:
23-1011

About the Program

As society becomes increasingly regulated, job candidates with advanced skills in legal and regulatory analysis, as well as regulatory compliance, have become highly appealing to many employers. Although many employers do not want to hire additional attorneys, they require employees with sophisticated and narrowly focused exposure to law and legal regulation.

The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program is a post-baccalaureate degree designed for individuals to develop and improve career-related skills through the study of the legal system, legal writing, law, regulation, and policy. Ideal candidates include individuals in other disciplines, professionals who would benefit from focused legal knowledge (such as those in the fields of health, college sports, education, human resources, finance, etc.), individuals seeking career changes, and those generally interested in the field of law. Upon completion of each degree program, graduates will understand how the law relates to and impacts their particular areas of interest although they will not be attorneys.

Currently, the following concentrations are offered (optional):

  • Criminal Law
  • Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance
  • Entrepreneurship and Law
  • Financial Regulatory Compliance
  • Health Care Compliance
  • Higher Education Compliance
  • Human Resources Compliance
  • NCAA Compliance
  • Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Regulatory Compliance

*Note: This program is now being offered on the quarter schedule only.  Please refer to the Legal Studies (MLS)- Quarter Calendar program.

Additional Information

For more information, visit the Online Master of Legal Studies website.

Admission Requirements

  • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • GPA of at least 3.0

If you don't meet this requirement you're still encouraged to apply and your file will be reviewed on an individual basis

Required Documents

With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our Completing Your Application Guide.

  • A completed application
  • Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended
  • One letter of recommendation (professional or academic)
    • Letter should speak to your performance and accomplishments, and attest to your ability to succeed within the program. The department may request a second letter of recommendation
  • Essay of approximately 500 words
    • Can be a personal statement outlining personal and/or professional goals you hope to achieve through the program, or on another topic that showcases your writing skills
  • Resume
    • Quality and quantity of professional experience will be evaluated.
  • Standardized test score reports (GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT) can be submitted, but are not required.
  • Additional requirements for international students
    • International students must have an earned Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or its equivalent. Admissions will be based on grades from prior institutions. No entry exam is required; however, those who have completed their first law degree program in a language other than English will be required to have a minimum score on the TOEFL or a comparable exam.

Degree Requirements

All students must complete the required core curriculum courses and additional electives or concentration courses, totaling 30.0 semester credits.

Within the program, the following optional concentrations are currently offered:

  • Criminal Law
  • Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance
  • Health Care Compliance
  • Human Resources Compliance
  • Financial Regulatory Compliance
  • NCAA Compliance
  • Higher Education Compliance
  • Entrepreneurship and Law*
  • Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Regulatory Compliance

*Note: The Entrepreneurship and Law concentration is not currently accepting applications.

Program Requirements

Required Core Curriculum Courses
LSTU 500SIntroduction to the Legal System3.0
LSTU 501SCompliance Skills: Auditing, Investigation & Reporting3.0
LSTU 502SEthics and Professional Standards3.0
LSTU 503SLegal Research and Analysis3.0
LSTU 507SRisk Assessment and Management3.0
LSTU 540SMLS Masters Capstone3.0-4.0
Electives or Concentration
Complete LSTU, LAW electives or any combination of electives & concentrations11.0-12.0
Total Credits30.0
Health Care Compliance Concentration *
Required Courses
LSTU 504SHealth Care Rules and Regulations3.0
LSTU 505SHealth Care Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management3.0
LSTU 506SPatients and Privacy: HIPAA and Related Regulations3.0
LSTU or LAW Elective3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

Students completing this concentration will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S MLS Capstone course section that is focused on compliance.

NCAA Compliance and Sports Law Concentration *
Required Courses
LSTU 510SNCAA Governance Process3.0
LSTU 511SNCAA Rules I and Infractions Cases3.0
LSTU 512SNCAA Rules II and Enforcement Process3.0
LSTU or LAW Elective3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

Students completing this concentration will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S MLS Capstone course section that is focused on compliance.

Human Resources Compliance Concentration *
Required Courses
LSTU 520SLegal Issues in Employee Hiring and Termination3.0
LSTU 521SHuman Resources Compliance: Managing the Employer/Employee Relationship3.0
LSTU 522SHuman Resources in Practice: Negotiation, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution3.0
LSTU or LAW Elective3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

Students completing this concentration will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S MLS Capstone course section that is focused on compliance.

Criminal Law Concentration *
Required Courses
LAW 558SCriminal Law3.0
LAW 670SCriminal Procedure: Investigations3.0
LSTU 530SCorrections Law3.0
LSTU or LAW Elective3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

Students completing this concentration will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S MLS Capstone Thesis section.

Higher Education Compliance Concentration *
Required Courses
LSED 532SLegal Landscape of Student Rights and Campus Safety3.0
LSED 533SInstitutional Compliance: Aid and Accreditation3.0
LSED 534SHigher Education Institutions: Financial Rules and Regulations3.0
LSTU or LAW Elective3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

Students completing this concentration will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S MLS Capstone course section that is focused on compliance.

Entrepreneurship and Law Concentration *
Required Courses
ENTP 501Entrepreneurship Practice & Mindset **3.0
ENTP 535Social Entrepreneurship **3.0
ENTP 540Approaches to Entrepreneurship **3.0
ENTP 641Innovation in Established Companies **3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

Students completing this concentration will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S MLS Capstone Thesis section.

**

ENTP courses are on the Quarter Schedule. Note that 3 quarter credits = 2 semester credits. Therefore 12 quarter credits = 8 semester credits.

Financial Regulatory Compliance *
Required Courses
LAW 700SBusiness Organizations3.0
Choose three from this list:9.0
Legal Regulation of Investment Advisers
Legal Regulation of Investment Companies
Broker/Dealer Regulation
Banking Law
Total Credits12.0
*

 Students completing this concentration will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S MLS Compliance Capstone section.

Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance*
LAW 770SEuropean Union Data Privacy and Protection3.0
LSTU 515SInformation Privacy Law3.0
LSTU 517SThe Law and Strategies Surrounding Cybersecurity3.0
LSTU or LAW Elective3.0
Total Credits12.0
*

Students concentrating in Cybersecurity and Information Privacy will be manually enrolled in the LSTU 540S Compliance Capstone.

Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Regulatory Compliance Concentration*
Choose four from the list below:12.0
European Union Data Privacy and Protection
Legal Regulation of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Research and Development
Legal Regulation of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Sales and Marketing Practices
Food and Drug Law
Patients and Privacy: HIPAA and Related Regulations
Information Privacy Law
The Law and Strategies Surrounding Cybersecurity
Compliance Communications

Legal Studies (Law School) Faculty

John Cannan, JD (University of Maryland School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Legal research and analysis; Masters Capstone.
James Castagnera, JD (Case Western Reserve Law School). Adjunct Professor. Human Resources Compliance.
Lisa Detwiler, JD (University of Pittsburgh School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Financial regulatory compliance.
Tracye Edwards, JD (Duke University). Assistant Professor. Human Resources Compliance.
Veronica Finkelstein, JD (Emory University). Adjunct Professor. Criminal law.
Jordan Fischer, JD (Drexel University School of Law) Director of the Center for Law and Transformational Technology. Assistant Teaching Professor. Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance
Paul Flanagan, JD (Creighton University School of Law) Director of the Privacy, Cybersecurity and Compliance Program. Assistant Professor. Compliance; privacy; legal issues in the health care industry.
Leeza Garber, JD (University of Pennsylvania Law School). Adjunct Professor. Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance
Micheal Gioffre, JD (Delaware Law School). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance
James Goepel, JD (George Mason University). Adjunct Professor. Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance
Sara Goldstein, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Health Care Compliance
David Haendler, JD (University of Chicago). Adjunct Professor. Legal Research and Analysis
David R. Hoffman, JD (University of Pittsburgh School of Law). Practice Professor of Law. Health care regulations; patient safety; health care fraud.
Beau Howard, JD, MBA (Rutgers Law School, Monmouth Univerity). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance
Aaron Hurley, LLM, JD (University of Washington, Gonzaga University). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance
Daniela Ivancikova, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Corrections Law, Risk Assessment and Management.
Laura Jacobus, JD (Santa Clara University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Compliance Skills, Risk Assessment and Management, Compliance Communications.
Aimée Kahan, JD (University of Pennsylvania School of Law) Director of Strategic Initiatives. Associate Professor. Health care quality, patient safety, and risk management
Bruce Levine, JD (New York University). Associate Clinical Professor. Educational policy, school law, public-private partnerships, intersection of business and education.
Lisa Lewis, JD (Duke University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Criminal Law
Laurel Lichty, LLB, LLM (City University London; George Washington University). Adjunct Professor. Introduction to the US Legal Systems.
Jane Massey Licata, PhD, JD (University of Hawaii, Rutgers-Camden School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Health Care and Pharmaceutical Compliance
Michele Mathes, JD (University of Pennsylvania). Adjunct Professor. Ethics and professional standards.
Jody Mooradian, JD (Delaware Law School of Widener University). Adjunct Professor. NCAA Compliance
David Oldham, JD (Drexel University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Higher Education Compliance
Pakapon Phinyowattanachip, JD (Washington and Lee University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Higher Education Compliance
Rebecca Rakoski, JD (Widener University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. US Legal Systems, Risk Assessment
Mark Stanisz, JD (Harvard Law School). Adjunct Professor. Higher Education Compliance
Tracy Tripp, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Criminal procedure.
Joel Trotter, JD (Temple University Beasley School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Law
Neal Wiley, JD (Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Thesis Writing
Allison Wirth, JD (University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Williams S. Boyd School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance
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