Pitt Law’s Master of Studies in Law Curriculum
The Online MSL core curriculum consists of nine courses offered sequentially, with courses between 3 to 8 weeks in length. Upon completion of the core curriculum, MSL students will move on to the coursework in their chosen specialization. The core MSL curriculum provides a solid foundation in a wide range of legal topics that are crucial to developing a successful career in a variety of professional fields.
Download Program Brochure

Are you considering a master’s degree in law or a graduate certificate to take your career to the next level? Our Master of Studies in Law online program is designed for professionals seeking to enhance their careers with a versatile alternative to the traditional three-year JD. The certificate programs are ideal for those who are not currently looking to pursue a master’s degree.
Complete the form to get a program brochure for Pitt Law’s Online MSL plus your chosen specialization, or your chosen certificate program, delivered to your inbox.
Online MSL Curriculum
(Core courses, 15 credits)
American Legal System (2.5 credits)
Private Law I: Contracts (1.25 credits)
Private Law II: Torts (1.25 credits)
Private Law III: Property (1.25 credits)
Public Law I: Constitutional Law (1.25 credits)
Public Law II: Criminal Law (1.25 credits)
Public Law III: Legislation and Regulation (1.25 credits)
Business and Tax Law (2.5 credits)
Commercial and Tech Law (2.5 credits)
“hot topics” and focuses them specifically for MSL students. The commercial law portion of the course includes exercises in contract drafting, and includes an introduction to employment law and trade regulation (including consumer protection law, consumer financial law, and antitrust law). The technology law part of the course surveys the law of intellectual property (copyright law, the right to identity, trademark law, trade secrets, and patent law) and considers the rapidly developing law intended to harness and incentivize emerging computer-based technologies (privacy and data protection law, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and block chain).
Select Your MSL Specialization or Graduate Certificate Program
The MSL specializations and standalone graduate certificate programs draw from the same courses. Choose from Corporate Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Law, International Business Law and Dispute Resolution. Explore the curriculum for each below.
Corporate Compliance (15 credits)
Introduction to Corporate Compliance (3 credits)
Topics covered in this course will include:
- Importance of a compliance program
- Importance of ethics, organizational culture (vision and values), and a code of conduct
- Understanding the key issues of an organization’s compliance policies and procedures
- Understanding which policies and procedures should be covered in a compliance program
- Incorporating compliance and ethics standards in contractual arrangements
Ethics and Compliance Programs (3 credits)
Topics covered will include:
- Framework: U.S. Department of Justice Sentencing Guidelines and Guidance on corporate compliance programs
- How to create an effective ethics and compliance program
- Conducting a risk assessment to determine the greatest risk facing an organization, including understanding its path to market (agents, distributors, licensees, and other intermediaries)
- Creating a culture of integrity
- Effective drafting of compliance policies and procedures
- Effective drafting of a code of conduct
- Drafting a gifts and entertainment policy
- Integrating the ethics and compliance program into the organization
Designing, Measuring Effectiveness, and Auditing Compliance Programs (3 credits)
Topics covered will include:
- Administering an effective compliance program, such that the goals and objectives are achieved
- Defining the authority and role of ethics and compliance professionals, including reporting lines and access to an organization’s board of directors or audit committee
- Creating an annual ethics and compliance work plan
- Ensuring that the organization has processes in place to assess key areas of risk, including intermediary review and assessment
- Compliance lines and other telephone or online reporting mechanisms
- Communication, education and training of a compliance risk program
- Monitoring for organizational misconducts
- Monitoring ethics and compliance related activities and risks
- Conducting a risk-based assessment of the compliance program
Conducting Investigations and Risk Assessments (3 credits)
Topics covered will include:
- Representing the company, not the interviewee
- Purpose of the interview
- Legal and ethical considerations of internal investigations in foreign jurisdictions, i.e., preserving attorney client privilege where it exists
- Responding to governmental inquiries and investigations and voluntary disclosures to regulatory agencies
- EU Dawn Raids and other unannounced governmental investigations
- Conducting periodic risk assessments
- Use and development of risk assessment methodology
Special Topics in Compliance Seminar (3 credits)
This includes topics such as:
- Securities Compliance, including SEC Disclosures
- Antitrust Compliance
- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
- UK Antibribery Act
- Joint Ventures
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Financial Compliance
- International Trade and Export Compliance
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Compliance
Health Care Compliance
(15 credits)
Introduction to the Legal System for Health Care and Compliance (3 credits)
Legal Aspects of Health Care Compliance (3 credits)
Effective Compliance Program Development and Skills (3 credits)
Professional Judgment and Ethics, the Canvas of Compliance (3 credits)
Selected Applications in Compliance (3 credits)
- Hospitals and Providers
- Advanced Hospitals and Providers
- Privacy
- Advanced Privacy
- Health Care Quality
- Risk Assessments
- Compliance in Research
- Life Sciences
- Compliance for Insurers
In addition, each student will work individually with their instructor to complete a capstone paper in their area of professional interest. View the specifics of the seminars here.