Legal Studies MLS

Major: Legal Studies
Degree Awarded: Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
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.

This program is offered fully online with no in-person or on-campus requirements.

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

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  

Required Core Curriculum Courses
LSTU 550Introduction to the Legal System4.0
LSTU 551Compliance Skills: Auditing, Investigation & Reporting4.0
LSTU 552Ethics and Professional Standards4.0
LSTU 553Legal Research and Analysis4.0
LSTU 554Risk Assessment and Management4.0
LSTU 560MLS Masters Capstone I3.0
LSTU 561MLS Masters Capstone II2.0
Electives/Concentration *20.0
Total Credits45.0
*

Students must obtain 20.0 elective credits. If a student chooses a concentration, the student must complete at least three courses from their selected concentration. The remaining electives may be LSTU courses outside of the core courses. Non-concentrators may select LSTU courses outside of the core requirements as electives.

Students may also elect to enroll in a graduate minor from another College or School within Drexel University.  Enrollment will require advisor approval. Courses taken as part of a graduate minor may also be applied to the elective course requirements for the Master of Legal Studies program.

Health Care Compliance Concentration
Required Courses
LSTU 600Health Care Rules and Regulations4.0
LSTU 601Health Care Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management4.0
LSTU 602Patients and Privacy: HIPAA and Related Regulations4.0
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
NCAA Compliance and Sports Law Concentration
Required Courses
LSTU 610NCAA Governance I: Division I 4.0
LSTU 611NCAA Governance II- Division II and III4.0
LSTU 612NCAA Infractions and Enforcement Processes 4.0
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
Human Resources Compliance Concentration
Required Courses
LSTU 620Legal Issues in Employee Hiring and Termination4.0
LSTU 621Human Resources Compliance: Managing the Employer/Employee Relationship4.0
LSTU 622Human Resources in Practice: Negotiation, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution4.0
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
Criminal Law Concentration
Required Courses
LSTU 630Corrections Law4.0
LSTU 631Criminal Law4.0
LSTU 632Criminal Procedure: Investigations4.0
Select LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
Higher Education Compliance Concentration
Required Courses
LSTU 640Legal Landscape of Student Rights and Campus Safety4.0
LSTU 641Institutional Compliance: Aid and Accreditation4.0
LSTU 642Higher Education Institutions: Financial Rules and Regulations4.0
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
Entrepreneurship and Law Concentration
Select four courses from the list below:12.0
Entrepreneurship Practice & Mindset
Pitch It!
Social Entrepreneurship
Approaches to Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship in Education
Social and Sustainable Innovation
Innovation in Established Companies
Life After Launch
The Startup Way: How to Drive Innovation in Entrepreneurial Companies
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
Financial Regulatory Compliance
Choose three courses from the list below:12.0
Foundations of Financial Regulation
Legal Regulation of Global Financial Crimes
Legal Regulation of Investment Advisers
Legal Regulation of Investment Companies
Broker/Dealer Regulation
Banking Law
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance
Required Courses
LSTU 660Information Privacy Law4.0
LSTU 661The Law and Strategies Surrounding Cybersecurity4.0
LSTU 662European Union Data Privacy and Protection 4.0
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0
Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Regulatory Compliance Concentration
Choose three courses from the list below:12.0
Compliance Communications
Health Care Fraud: Regulation, Investigation, and Enforcement
Legal Issues for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Patients and Privacy: HIPAA and Related Regulations
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
Information Privacy Law
The Law and Strategies Surrounding Cybersecurity
European Union Data Privacy and Protection
Select two LSTU elective courses8.0
Total Credits20.0

Sample Plan of Study  

First Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits
LSTU 5504.0LSTU 5514.0LSTU 5524.0
Elective4.0Elective4.0Elective4.0
 8 8 8
Second Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits
LSTU 5534.0LSTU 5544.0LSTU 5612.0
Elective4.0LSTU 5603.0Elective 4.0
 8 7 6
Total Credits 45

Program Level Outcomes

  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the United States legal system and structure
  • Evaluate compliance systems including auditing and monitoring processes
  • Recognize and analyze ethical dilemmas in professional practice
  • Design a comprehensive risk management program
  • Develop strategies to ensure compliance and ethical behavior within organizations

Legal Studies (Law School) Faculty

John Cannan, JD (University of Maryland School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Legal research and analysis; Masters Capstone.
Michael Crabtree, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Ethics and Professional Standards.
Edward Cramp, JD (Chicago-Kent College of Law). Adjunct Professor. Higher Education
Tracye Edwards, JD (Duke University) Director of the JD/Master of Public Health Program. Professor. Human Resources Compliance.
Daniel Faigus, CAIA, CRCP (Georgetown University Law Center). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance.
Alex Feldman, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Global Financial Crimes
Veronica Finkelstein, JD (Emory University). Adjunct Professor. Criminal law.
Edward J. Finn, JD (William and Mary Law School). Adjunct Professor. The Law and Strategies Surrounding Cybersecurity.
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.
Cate Galea, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Health Care Compliance.
Leeza Garber, JD (University of Pennsylvania Law School). Adjunct Professor. Cybersecurity and Information Privacy Compliance
David Haendler, JD (University of Chicago). Adjunct Professor. Legal Research and Analysis
Jeffrey Hiller, JD (American University, Washington College of Law). Adjunct Professor. Foundations of Financial Regulations.
David R. Hoffman, JD (University of Pittsburgh School of Law). Practice Professor of Law. Health care regulations; patient safety; health care fraud.
Chelsea Hooks, JD (Florida Coastal School of Law). Adjunct Professor. NCAA Compliance.
Beau Howard, JD, MBA (Rutgers Law School, Monmouth University). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance
Aaron Hurley, LLM, JD (University of Washington, Gonzaga University). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance
Darshan Kulkarni, JD (Temple University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Food and Drug Law; Legal Regulation of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Sales and Marketing.
Laurel Lichty, LLB, LLM (City University London; George Washington University). Adjunct Professor. Introduction to the US Legal Systems.
Kelly Loughery, LLB (City St. George's, University of London). Adjunct Professor. Compliance Skills; Compliance Communications.
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
Jacqueline B. Penrod, JD (Temple University Beasley School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Health Care Compliance.
Rebecca Rakoski, JD (Widener University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. US Legal Systems, Risk Assessment
Rebecca Rich, JD (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Boston College Law School) Assistant Dean for the Law Library and Technology Services. . Assistant Professor. Disability law; law and technology; administrative law; bioethics.
Mara Smith, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Risk Assessment and Management.
Cerys St. John Richter, JD (Temple University Beasley School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Difference, Compliance, and Law.
Mark Stanisz, JD (Harvard Law School). Adjunct Professor. Higher Education Compliance
Lindsay Steussy, JD (Hamline University School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Legal Research and Analysis; MLS Capstone.
Rickeisha Suite, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Introduction to the Legal System.
Lindsey Tice, JD (Drexel University). Adjunct Professor. Information Privacy Law
Mischa Wheat, JD (Drexel University) Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Online Learning. Introduction to the Legal System; Legal Research and Analysis.
Neal Wiley, JD (Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Thesis Writing
Terrell A. Williams, JD (Western Michigan University Cooley Law School). Adjunct Professor. Corrections Law.
Allison Wirth, JD (University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Williams S. Boyd School of Law). Adjunct Professor. Financial Regulatory Compliance