Health Care Compliance and Administration, MLS
Compliance, Compliance Analyst, Compliance Specialist, Health Care, Health Care Compliance, Health Care Professional, Healthcare, Healthcare Leadership, Healthcare Management, healthcare administration
Gain a practical understanding of U.S. health care law and regulation. Designed for non-lawyers, this 30-credit hour program helps you build skills in legal analysis and compliance so you can make informed decisions in health care administration and regulatory settings.
The Master of Legal Studies program in health care compliance and administration is designed for both entry-level and experienced non-lawyer professionals working in health care compliance and administration. This 30-credit hour, one-year program provides legal knowledge applicable to health care practitioners and administrators who seek professional roles without intending to practice law. The target audience includes physicians; residency chiefs; medical residents; nurse practitioners; physician assistants; nurses and medical school faculty; medical practice, clinic and hospital administrators; chief medical or nursing officers; vice presidents of medical operations; compliance officers; privacy officers; and regulatory or quality managers.
The program provides a comprehensive understanding of the legal and regulatory framework governing health care organizations and related fields. Students develop the ability to identify legal issues and analyze and address complex compliance and health care administration challenges. Emphasis is placed on compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations, as well as legal structures and legal reasoning relevant to informed decision-making in health care settings.
GI Bill® benefits
This new program is not yet approved for use with GI Bill® benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
- College/school:
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
- Location: Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Required Core (9 credit hours) Other Requirements (12 credit hours) Electives (6 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Elective coursework should also be selected in consultation with the program advisor. Students pursuing Compliance Certification Board certification must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') to sit for their exams, even though ASU Law's graduation requirement is lower.
SDO 501 U.S. Law and Legal Analysis: Master's (3)
SDO 534 Health Industry Compliance: Master's (3)
SDO 581 Health Care Administration Law: Master's (3)
SDO 511 Administrative Agencies and Regulation: Master's (3)
SDO 512 Compliance and Ethics: Master's (3)
SDO 528 Data Privacy and Protection: Master's (3)
SDO 530 Risk Assessment and Management: Master's (3)
SDO 532 Conducting Fact Investigations: Master's (3)
SDO 533 Fraud Investigation: Master's (3)
SDO 598 Topic: Medical Malpractice: Master's (3)
SDO 682 Health Care Compliance and Administration Capstone: Master's (3)
Students select four courses in the other requirements list for a total of 12 credit hours. Each course is completed for three credit hours, and selected in consultation with the program advisor.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in health care from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in an applicable master's degree program.
Applicants are required to submit:
- graduate admissions application and application fee
- personal statement
- professional resume
- two letters of recommendation
- written statement
- official transcripts
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Curriculum Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency by scoring at least 4.5 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)®, or a score of 80 if taken before January 21, 2026 in a testing center; 7 on the IELTS; or 115 on the Duolingo English test. Exceptional candidates with relevant experience and background who have scores slightly below the thresholds above will also be considered.
Students may qualify for an exemption to the English proficiency requirement through successful completion of ASU's Global Launch Intensive English Program or the English for Graduate Admissions and Achievement course. Competitive applicants have a program cumulative GPA of at least 3.33 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') with no courses grade below a letter grade of "B".
Master of Legal Studies applicants with foreign education credentials must have all transcripts evaluated by the Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute Inc. ACEI independently evaluates all academic documents issued in countries other than the United States. Students should contact ACEI through that organization's website to obtain an application for an evaluation. Applicants must request a course-by-course evaluation and order an official copy to be sent directly to:
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Arizona State University
Beus Center for Law and Society
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Mail Code: 9520
111 E Taylor St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Applicants who have received their bachelor's or master's degree in the U.S. can apply through the MLS FastApp application process, which streamlines the application process and may allow for an offer of conditional admission to the Master of Legal Studies program while the applicant continues to submit any additional requested documentation.
If a decision cannot be made from the FastApp, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law admission team may request additional information from the applicant, including any or all of the following:
- explanations to affirmative answers to application questions pertaining to conduct
- two letters of recommendation
- writing sample
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling |
Graduates of the MLS program in health care compliance and administration are prepared for leadership and advancement in health care compliance, risk management and administration roles across hospitals, health systems, clinics and medical practices.
Target jobs may include:
- health care administrator
- health care compliance officer
- health information compliance manager
- hospital or health system administrator
- medical operations leader
- patient safety director
- regulatory affairs manager
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
There is no professional licensure required for this program. However, the law school plans to pursue Corporate Compliance Board certification for the new degree program. This certification provides students who graduate from the program eligibility for various CCB certification exams (Certified in Healthcare Compliance, Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance, Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance, Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional, or Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional-International) or Corporate Compliance Board continuing education credit within 2 years of graduation.
College of Law Dean's Office
|
BCLS 120
mlsasu@asu.edu
480-965-1474
Admission deadlines
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
