Law and public service - Regulatory law

This MLS program examines the legal and regulatory structure behind the federal government’s annual contract spending, which totals hundreds of billions of dollars. Emphasis courses cover contract formation and termination, compliance, anti-corruption measures, risk management and ethical responsibilities.

Due to the complexity of this area of law and the limited number of experts, the ability to reduce legal risk and strengthen contract performance can give you a competitive edge after graduation. These skills are in demand across industries that work with federal agencies, including defense, health care, technology and construction.

The skills you’ll develop

This advanced legal degree helps you understand the law and apply it to your career without becoming a lawyer. You’ll build a foundation in legal principles, including reasoning, analysis and communication. Federal contracting law courses also build your experience in:

• Addressing cybersecurity and data protection requirements.
• Challenging contract awards and resolving disputes.
• Examining small business programs and certifications.
• Navigating cost rules and audit requirements.
• Studying the federal acquisition process.
• Understanding procurement procedures and contract types.

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

A degree program’s emphasis is similar to a concentration, but there are key differences.

• A concentration is a formalized selection of courses within a major. It requires a minimum of 15 credit hours, with at least nine upper-division credit hours. Your concentration appears on both your ASU diploma and transcripts.
• An emphasis is a selected topic area within the major. It’s typically 9–12 credit hours and doesn’t need to be officially declared. The emphasis will not appear on your diploma or transcripts.

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.

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 offers a broad overview of how companies operate in the legal landscape today. You’ll explore legal issues related to formation, contracts, compliance and more — equipping you to support organizations in strategic decision-making.

Courses cover general business topics alongside laws relevant to entrepreneurship and corporate obligations. Whether you’re interested in traditional business law or legal challenges facing startups, you can tailor your coursework to match your career goals.

A business law emphasis is valuable across industries but is especially useful if you’re pursuing roles in startups as a founder, funder or employee.

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.

The law touches everyone, especially businesses. A primary example is effective contracts, which are foundational for most organizations. If you’re seeking a better understanding of business and government contracts, the master’s in legal studies with an emphasis in contract management may be a great fit for you. This program is an excellent option for legal studies students exploring emphases in business, compliance or HR.

Taught by experienced faculty and professionals, the contract management degree emphasis provides you with a background in legal principles and analysis. This background lays the foundation for effectively drafting, reviewing and analyzing contracts. Throughout the degree program, you'll also learn contract lifecycle and management techniques.

What is contract management?

Contract management is the administration of legally binding mutual agreements that are enforceable by law. This area of legal studies helps ensure agreements between two or more parties are legal and clear. A mastery of contract law allows professionals to effectively create, revise and enforce agreements. These relationships are common with customers, vendors, partners and employers.

Master contract law basics

A legal studies degree can help you understand the relationship between the law and a wide variety of fields. As such, you’ll gain legal knowledge and a variety of skills that can help you advance in your current career or prepare you to pursue a new career option:

• Apply legal analysis to move ideas and projects forward.
• Evaluate legal issues, including pros and cons, objectively.
• Perform legal research.
• Remove biases from influencing thought.

In addition to the skills listed above, the contract management emphasis can help you hone specific areas that prepare you to read and revise business and government contracts. These skills will equip you with the ability to:

• Define duties and obligations in contracts.
• Determine consequences for contract breaches.
• Draft contract provisions.
• Effectively read contracts.
• Recognize the implications of contract breaches.
• Successfully enter and legally exit contracts.
• Understand goals focused on contract management.

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

A degree program’s emphasis is similar to a concentration, but there are key differences.

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

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.