Health and nursing - Health care coordination or compliance

Clinical research and regulatory oversight form the foundation of medical product discovery,  development, quality assurance and approval. This program will equip you to provide direction in bringing new medical products to market including drugs, biologics, vaccines, devices and more. As a key stakeholder in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, you’ll have the opportunity to generate new research ideas, products and solutions that improve health outcomes.

Through this interdisciplinary doctoral program, you’ll become a principled, innovative leader who’s eager to meet evolving needs in health care. Your enhanced skills and knowledge will allow you to navigate the complex global framework of regulated medical products. You’ll graduate prepared to facilitate the discovery, evaluation and approval of medical products that improve public health.

What you’ll learn in this first-of-its-kind program

In the first doctoral program to combine regulatory science with clinical research management, you’ll learn about a leader’s role in developing new medical products efficiently. In your courses, you’ll hone your interpersonal, analytical, ethical and cultural competencies. You’ll also build a knowledge base related to regulatory and clinical research management, including:

• Clinical research leadership.
• Clinical trial design and management.
• Data management and analysis.
• Ethical and legal issues in clinical research.
• Quality assurance and compliance.

Who’s a good candidate for this online doctoral program?

Ideal candidates for this doctoral program have a passion for research in health care and improving lives. Successful applicants will also have strong academic and career backgrounds in biomedical sciences, regulatory affairs, data analysis or clinical research management. Relevant work experience might include serving as a clinical research coordinator, clinical trial manager, regulatory affairs specialist, principal investigator and more.

Additionally, applicants must have a master’s degree in clinical research management, regulatory affairs or a related field. A graduate-level foundation in the sciences including biology, chemistry and pharmacology is also key to success in the program.

Are you interested in learning more about this program and other graduate health programs offered by the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation? Register now for an upcoming live, virtual information session.

Health care simulation education centers around using patient care manikins (or patient simulators), models and standardized patients (or simulated participants) to replicate real interactions. This enables health care providers to enhance their skills while maintaining patient safety. By learning how to use simulation technology strategically, you’ll graduate prepared to play a vital role in improving health outcomes.

In your courses, you’ll gain the abilities needed to design, develop and conduct evidence-based health care simulations. You’ll also expand your knowledge about scenario design, systems thinking, student/participant assessment methodologies, debriefing strategies, project development, operations management and more. Additionally, you’ll learn how to evaluate and iterate on health care simulations, providing you with comprehensive knowledge in the field.

Who’s a good candidate for this master’s program?

Ideal candidates will have a background in education, simulation and/or health care. While experience in two or more of these areas is helpful, any of the three can serve as a foundation for success. Completing this program can advance your career whether you’re a clinical professional who facilitates simulations, a simulation technologist or work in a related field.

There’s a demand for leaders who can provide realistic and safe learning experiences in health care. As a graduate, you’ll be empowered to create innovative learning strategies and drive decisions in health care education. You’ll also have a refined professional identity, as well as skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking and patient safety.

Are you interested in learning more about this program and other graduate health programs offered by the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation? Register now for an upcoming live, virtual information session.

This program provides you with the insights and skills needed to guide organizations through current and emerging legal challenges. You’ll learn about patient privacy regulations, end-of-life care decisions, organizational risk management and health care facility compliance. Key focus areas include:

• Compliance and regulations: Understand and apply health care laws like HIPAA, billing standards and quality measures to ensure legal compliance.
• Health information management: Protect patient data and meet privacy and security requirements across health care systems.
• Medical ethics and malpractice: Navigate ethical dilemmas in patient care and reduce legal risks tied to malpractice claims.
• Patient rights and advocacy: Support patient access, informed consent and grievance processes within health care organizations.
• Policy and insurance law: Interpret health care policies and insurance regulations to guide operations and advocate for organizational needs.
• Risk and facility management: Address legal risks and oversee licensing, certification and compliance standards for health care facilities.

Designed for health care practitioners and administrators who do not intend to practice law, this program teaches you the legal frameworks that shape health care systems and the people they serve. You’ll gain specialized knowledge in health care law, strengthening your role in a growing industry. With the health care sector projected to expand significantly over the next decade, there is increasing demand for educated professionals who can translate laws and regulations that improve patient outcomes and organizational success.

What is a degree emphasis? Is it the same as a concentration?

While an emphasis and concentration are similar, there are key differences.

• A concentration is a formalized selection of courses within a major requiring a minimum of 15 credit hours; at least nine must be upper division. The concentration appears on your ASU diploma and transcripts.
• An emphasis is a selected topic area defined within the major that’s typically 9–12 credit hours and doesn’t need to be officially declared.

This program is designed for professionals who want to advance public health through science-driven food safety regulations. You’ll prepare for regulatory roles in sectors such as retail, manufacturing, distribution and public health, where protecting the food supply is critical.

By gaining expertise in both general regulatory science and specialized food safety practices, you'll be positioned to improve oversight, reduce risks and help ensure the safety of consumers and communities.

If you're more interested in regulatory roles for pharmaceuticals, biologics or medical devices, consider ASU’s online Master of Science in regulatory science. This general track program offers comprehensive training in FDA regulations, quality systems and product safety across medical industries.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop

In this food safety master’s, you’ll explore how regulatory science applies to food safety systems and public health protections. The coursework is grounded in real-world applications and aligned with the standards of agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Topics you’ll study include:

• Contamination response and emergency food handling
• Ethical and legal frameworks in food regulation
• Food safety hazards and risk analysis
• Inspection and auditing techniques
• Local, state and federal food safety policies

This concentration also reflects the content of the Certified Professional – Food Safety exam offered by the National Environmental Health Association. While the program doesn’t result in certification, it can help prepare you to pursue this credential.

This program focuses on maintaining compliance regulations in developing, approving and marketing medical products. You’ll learn how to apply regulations throughout the life cycle of medical products and pharmaceuticals with an emphasis on safety, quality and performance. Coursework in the online regulatory science degree covers:

• Clinical research.
• Ethics.
• Global regulatory affairs.
• Legal concerns.
• Quality systems.

Additionally, you can collaborate with peers studying clinical research management in certain courses to gain exposure to this related field and build relevant interpersonal abilities.

What do regulatory scientists do?

Regulatory scientists, regulatory affairs professionals and those in similar roles build careers focused on ensuring the safety and effectiveness of products.

Regulatory professionals are responsible for ensuring compliance with the high standards put in place by the Food and Drug Administration and similar agencies. While the efficacy and safety of medical end products are important, so is the alignment with rules related to development, testing, distribution and advertising.

Regulatory scientists build careers in many industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical research and medical devices. By obtaining a regulatory science master’s, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this industry and advance your career.

Who's a good candidate for this program?

This regulatory science master’s is a great fit for professionals who are interested in the regulation of medical products from discovery to market approval to post-market. This includes the regulation of new drugs, biologics, gene therapy, cell therapy and related medical research or devices.

The ideal candidate for this program has a background in pharmaceuticals, health science, health compliance, nursing or research. However, past regulatory science experience isn’t a strict requirement. Instead, a desire to support the health and safety of others is a key passion for students in this program and professionals in the field.

Are you interested in learning more about this program and other graduate health programs offered by the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation? Register now for an upcoming live, virtual information session.