Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Compliance and Risk Management (MCRM) program at Case Western Reserve University School of Law is designed to meet the increasing demand for experts in state, federal, and international laws and regulations relevant to business operations. This program joins a select few concentrated graduate courses of study in the country focusing on governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC), and it is the only such program in Ohio.

Program Requirements

The MCRM program provides lawyers and non-lawyers with the knowledge and analytical skills needed to work in an organization's compliance and/or risk management department competently, effectively, and ethically. Students will acquire essential legal skills, including how to read and interpret statutes, regulations, and case law, how to identify, assess, and address legal risks and opportunities, and how to design and implement compliance and risk management programs.

Course List

• Required Courses:
  • LAWS 5501: Risk Management (4 credit hours)
  • LAWS 4561: Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (3 credit hours)
  • LAWS 4570: Compliance & Risk Management Skills: Planning, Auditing, Investigating, and Reporting (3 credit hours)
  • LAWS 7511: Thesis M.A. (4 credit hours)
• Electives: 16 credit hours
• Total Credit Hours: 30

Specializations

Masters of Compliance & Risk Management students have the option to study advanced topics in specialty areas. If a student chooses to earn a specialty concentration, this will require completion of specific required courses and specialization electives, in addition to the general requirements for the degree.

Specialization Options

• Environmental Regulation & Policy Specialization
  • Required Courses:
    • LAWS 5727: Environmental Law (3 credit hours)
  • Electives: 13 credit hours (including at least two environmental regulation electives approved by the Program Director)
  • General Electives: 3 credit hours (approved by advisor)
• Intellectual Property & Policy Specialization Fusion Concentration
  • Required Courses:
    • LAWS 4302: Patent Law (3 credit hours)
    • LAWS 4303: Trademark Law (3 credit hours) or LAWS 4301: Copyright Law
    • LAWS 5341: Commercialization and Intellectual Property Management (3 credit hours)
  • Electives: 7 credit hours (including at least two fusion concentration electives as approved by the Program Director)
  • General Electives: 3 credit hours (approved by advisor)
• Patent Law Concentration
  • Required Courses:
    • LAWS 4302: Patent Law (3 credit hours)
    • LAWS 4311: Patent Preparation and Prosecution I (3 credit hours)
    • LAWS 4312: Patent Preparation and Prosecution II (2 credit hours)
  • Electives: 8 credit hours (including at least two patent law concentration electives as approved by the Program Director)
  • General Electives: 3 credit hours (approved by advisor)
• Law & the Arts Concentration
  • Required Courses:
    • LAWS 4301: Copyright Law (3 credit hours)
    • LAWS 4303: Trademark Law (3 credit hours)
    • LAWS 5332: Sports Law (1 credit hour)
  • Electives: 9 credit hours (including at least two law and the arts concentration electives as approved by the Program Director)
  • General Electives: 3 credit hours (approved by advisor)
• Healthcare Specialization
  • Required Courses:
    • LAWS 4201: Health Law (3 credit hours)
    • LAWS 5218: Health Care Organizations, Finance, and Regulation (3 credit hours)
  • Electives: 6-8 credit hours (including at least two healthcare electives as approved by the Program Director)
• Business Finance Specialization
  • Required Courses:
    • LAWS 4401: Business Associations (4 credit hours)
    • LAWS 5431: Securities Regulation (3 credit hours)
  • Electives: 6-8 credit hours (including at least two business finance electives as approved by the Program Director)

Sample Plans of Study

Sample plans of study are provided for each specialization, outlining the required and elective courses for each semester.

Master of Compliance and Risk Management with a Specialization in Environmental Regulation Plan of Study

• First Year Fall: LAWS 5501 Risk Management (4 credit hours), LAWS 5727 Environmental Law (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours), Elective (2 credit hours)
• First Year Spring: LAWS 4561 Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (3 credit hours), LAWS 7511 Thesis M.A. (4 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Summer: LAWS 4570 Compliance & Risk Management Skills: Planning, Auditing, Investigating, and Reporting (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 30

Master of Compliance and Risk Management with a Specialization in Intellectual Property & Policy Fusion Concentration Plan of Study

• First Year Fall: LAWS 5501 Risk Management (4 credit hours), LAWS 4302 Patent Law (3 credit hours), LAWS 5341 Commercialization and Intellectual Property Management (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Spring: LAWS 4561 Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (3 credit hours), LAWS 4303 or LAWS 4301 Trademark Law or Copyright Law (3 credit hours), LAWS 7511 Thesis M.A. (4 credit hours), Elective (2 credit hours), Elective (2 credit hours)
• First Year Summer: LAWS 4570 Compliance & Risk Management Skills: Planning, Auditing, Investigating, and Reporting (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 30

Patent Law Concentration Plan of Study

• First Year Fall: LAWS 5501 Risk Management (4 credit hours), LAWS 4302 Patent Law (3 credit hours), LAWS 4311 Patent Preparation and Prosecution I (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours), Elective (2 credit hours)
• First Year Spring: LAWS 4561 Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (3 credit hours), LAWS 4312 Patent Preparation and Prosecution II (2 credit hours), LAWS 7511 Thesis M.A. (4 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Summer: LAWS 4570 Compliance & Risk Management Skills: Planning, Auditing, Investigating, and Reporting (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 30

Law & the Arts Concentration Plan of Study

• First Year Fall: LAWS 5501 Risk Management (4 credit hours), LAWS 5332 Sports Law (1 credit hour), LAWS 4301 Copyright Law (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Spring: LAWS 4561 Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (3 credit hours), LAWS 4303 Trademark Law (3 credit hours), LAWS 7511 Thesis M.A. (4 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Summer: LAWS 4570 Compliance & Risk Management Skills: Planning, Auditing, Investigating, and Reporting (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 30

Master of Compliance and Risk Management with a Specialization in Healthcare Plan of Study

• First Year Fall: LAWS 4201 Health Law (3 credit hours), LAWS 5501 Risk Management (4 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Spring: LAWS 4561 Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (3 credit hours), LAWS 5218 Health Care Organizations, Finance, and Regulation (3 credit hours), LAWS 7511 Thesis M.A. (4 credit hours), Elective (4 credit hours)
• First Year Summer: LAWS 4570 Compliance & Risk Management Skills: Planning, Auditing, Investigating, and Reporting (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 30

Master of Compliance and Risk Management with a Specialization in Business Finance Plan of Study

• First Year Fall: LAWS 4401 Business Associations (4 credit hours), LAWS 5501 Risk Management (4 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Spring: LAWS 4561 Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (3 credit hours), LAWS 5431 Securities Regulation (3 credit hours), LAWS 7511 Thesis M.A. (4 credit hours), Elective (3 credit hours)
• First Year Summer: LAWS 4570 Compliance & Risk Management Skills: Planning, Auditing, Investigating, and Reporting (3 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hours: 30