M.S.L. in Corporate Compliance Curriculum

Students seeking the MSL in Corporate Compliance gain a deep understanding of the role of the corporate compliance office and learn how to design and implement a corporate compliance program. They also learn about the legal and regulatory framework governing corporations in a variety of sectors, including banking and financial services. 

Key topics are explored from a legal perspective, including the following:

  • Risk assessment
  • Antimoney laundering laws
  • Anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Federal securities laws
  • Crisis management
  • Building a culture of compliance
  • Understanding statutes and regulations
  • The impact of the corporate shift emphasizing Environmental, Social, and Government (ESG).

Overall, students in the MSL program Corporate Compliance develop skills that are essential for any compliance professional, such as setting up a compliance office; building and implementing compliance training and communication programs; designing appropriate incentive frameworks and implementing robust investigations and speak-up programs; and setting up auditing, monitoring, and reporting systems.

  • Each student is required to complete a minimum of 30 credits of approved courses. Full-time students may take 12-18 credits per semester, 14-17 is recommended; part-time students may take 2-11 credits per semester.

  • The 30-credit minimum must include the following required courses:

    • U.S. Law and Legal Institutions (3 credits)*
    • Global Corporate Compliance (3 credits)*
    • Compliance Risk Assessment (2 or 3 credits)
    • Legislation and Regulation for Non-JD Students (3 credits)**
    • International Financial Crime (2 credits) or Anti-Money Laundering (2 credits)
    • Compliance Seminar: Building Effective Ethics and Compliance Programs (2 credits)+
    • Compliance Capstone: Building Effective Ethics and Compliance Programs (1 credit)+

    * Students in this program must register for these course during their first semester of study (part-time students may take Global Corporate Compliance in the second semester). 

    ** This course is generally only offered in the spring semester.

    +Taken concurrently. Students should register for both courses. 

  • Students can earn their elective credits by selecting from a broad array of courses coded as MSLC. These include, for example, courses on privacy, cybersecurity, employment law, crisis management, money laundering, and blockchain. Courses for a specific term can be viewed on the class schedule(s) posted on the Registrar's webpage. Students may take a non-MSLC coded course with the permission of the Senior Director, Compliance Programs.