Program Overview

Master of Science in Law Program Overview

The Master of Science in Law (MSL) program at Northwestern University is designed for STEM professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of law and business. The program focuses on the intersection of law, business, and technology, with specific focus areas in business law and entrepreneurship, intellectual property and patent design, and regulatory analysis and strategy.

Program Structure

The MSL program is offered in two formats: residential and online. The residential format is full-time and can be completed in nine months, while the online format is part-time and can be completed in two to four years.

Degree Requirements

To graduate, students must complete at least 28 credits, including a set of required, foundational classes and a rich collection of electives. The required courses provide students with a foundational understanding of the legal system, the basic structure of business, and the regulatory process.

Required Core Courses

• BUSCOM 901-0: Business Formation & Structure
• BUSCOM 906-0: Contract Law
• INTPROP 901-0: Intellectual Property Fundamentals
• REGLAW 901-0: Legal & Regulatory Process
• LAWSTUDY 910-0: Ethics and Law in STEM-Related Fields
• LAWSTUDY 950-0: Research in Law, Business & Technology
• LAWSTUDY 956-0: Effective Professional Communication

Elective Course Categories

The MSL program offers a variety of elective courses in three subject areas:

• Intellectual Property and Patent Design (INTPROP)
• Business Law and Entrepreneurship (BUSCOM and LAWSTUDY)
• Regulatory Analysis and Strategy (REGLAW)

MSL Residential Format

The MSL full-time residential format can be completed in nine months at Northwestern Law’s downtown Chicago campus. Classes are scheduled Monday through Friday, in both daytime and evening timeslots, with occasional weekend classes.

MSL Online Format

The MSL online format is designed for STEM professionals around the world who wish to advance their careers by deepening their understanding of law and business. The online MSL is part-time; it can be completed in two to four years. Online students may begin in either the Fall or the Spring and will be required to complete a 2-week online orientation program before the start of their first term.

MSL Courses

The MSL program offers a wide range of courses, including:

• Intellectual Property Fundamentals
• Patent Law
• Patent Preparation & Prosecution Workshop
• Regulatory Strategy & Communication
• Business Strategy & Frameworks
• Quantitative Reasoning in the Law
• Entrepreneurial Finance and Venture Capital
• Introduction to IP Licensing
• IP Strategy & Management
• IP Valuation
• International & Comparative IP
• Technology Standards: Strategic & Antitrust Considerations
• Employment Law
• Entrepreneurship Lab: Part I
• Entrepreneurship Lab: Part II
• Business Combinations
• Ethics and Law in STEM-Related Fields
• Medical Devices: Regulation & Compliance
• Intellectual Property Internship
• Business Internship
• Regulatory Internship
• The Deal: Working with Contracts and Contract Language
• Entrepreneurship Law
• Introduction to Accounting and Financial Statements
• Cases in New Venture Strategies
• Data Security Regulation: Data Breaches and Beyond
• IP Licensing: Contracts & Strategies
• Research in Law, Business & Technology
• Federal Income Taxation
• Business Torts
• International Team Project-MSL
• Privacy Law and Regulation
• Food Policy and Regulation
• Regulatory Compliance: Drug Approval & Life Cycle Issues
• Public Persuasion Skills and Strategies
• Dynamics of the Cannabis Industry: Past, Present & Future
• Strategic Decision Analysis: Gaining Competitive Advantage in an Uncertain World
• Legal Operations
• Forensic Science
• Effective Professional Communication
• Visual Communication for Systemic Change
• Introduction to Marketing Analytics
• Climate Change: Law & Policy
• Advanced Healthcare Law & Regulation
• Patent Preparation & Prosecution Workshop II: Advanced Topics
• Advanced Contracts: Practical Aspects
• Data in Society
• Data Science, Business, and Responsibility
• Assessing AI & Computational Technologies
• Introduction to Securities Regulation
• Transforming Healthcare: Digital Health & AI
• Presentation Design & Visual Storytelling
• Patenting Software Inventions
• Contract Drafting
• Regulatory Policy
• Health Law
• RegTech: Transforming the Interaction of Regulators, Regulated Enterprises, and Markets
• Project Management for Regulated Industries
• Applied AI in HealthTech
• Contract Law
• U.S. Regulation: Design, Implementation, and Enforcement
• Federal Income Taxation
• Business & Corporate Strategy in Action
• Global Transactions & Compliance
• Negotiating with Stoic Empathy
• Global Product Development
• Privacy in Practice
• Fintech Law & Regulation
• Along the Regulatory Frontier: New Issues and Emerging Technologies
• Emerging Issues in Biotech & Food
• Environmental Law
• Legal & Policy Issues in College Athletics
• Product Management: Building & Scaling Intelligent Products
• Clinical Trials Regulation & Ethics
• The Evolution of AI: Practical, Ethical & Legal Issues
• Regulatory Compliance for Consumer Packaged Goods
• Ethics, Whistleblowing, & Corporate Compliance
• Change Management & Corporate Compliance
• Ethical Foundations of Criminal Justice
• Medical Ethics and the Law

Conclusion

The Master of Science in Law program at Northwestern University is a unique and innovative program that provides STEM professionals with a deep understanding of law and business. The program offers a wide range of courses and a flexible format, making it an ideal choice for professionals who wish to advance their careers in the fields of law, business, and technology.