Compliance and Risk Management

A person in a suit with financial numbers and graphs superimposed over the top

Master of Arts

About the Program

As businesses and government agencies face an increasing need for compliance and risk management services, professionals in this field are in high demand. Position yourself as a competitive candidate by earning your Master of Compliance and Risk Management from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

The first master's degree of its kind in Ohio, our program prepares lawyers and non-lawyers to work in—and lead—organizations' compliance and/or risk management departments competently, effectively and ethically. Our curriculum can be completed full or part time and is designed to equip you with an understanding of the state, federal and international laws and regulations in your chosen field of specialization.

What to Expect

Over the last several decades, the sheer volume of laws, regulations, standards and guidelines that govern businesses has increased dramatically. When a business fails to comply, it can open itself up to lawsuits and serious financial and criminal liability. This is where you’ll come in as a compliance and risk management officer.

The expertise you build in our master’s program will open up new career opportunities, especially if you choose to pursue one of our two specialized tracks: healthcare or business finance.

In our healthcare track, you can prepare for work at hospitals, pharmaceutical or device manufacturers, or eldercare businesses, or opt for a career in government at agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission or Department of Justice.

Or, if you choose our business finance specialization, you’ll have opportunities for careers at law firms, banks, investment management firms and other financial firms, as well as government agencies such as the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Financial Protection Bureau and others.

You can complete your master’s in as little as one year if studying full time and two years if studying part time.

Don’t have time for a master’s program? Consider our Certificate in Compliance and Risk Management.

Compliance-related jobs are one of the hottest growth areas in the U.S., with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting an estimated 30,700 jobs opening for compliance officers and 91,300 jobs opening for compliance managers over the next 10 years.

Request Information

Beyond the Classroom

An added advantage of our program is our location in the Greater Cleveland area. Our region, including Akron and Canton, is home to a heavy concentration of highly regulated industries, including the biomedical, healthcare, food processing and banking industries.

As a graduate of Case Western Reserve, you’ll join a network of passionate, successful alumni—and be well-positioned to connect with job opportunities across fields.

By the Numbers

credit hours

1-2

years to complete program

#51

university in the country, U.S. News & World Report

specializations

Law students walking outside of the Law school

Visit the program website

Discover the School of Law

See our sample schedules

Program FAQs

Admission Requirements

You should have a bachelor’s degree and a demonstrated interest in studying regulatory compliance and risk management to apply for our master’s program.

In exceptional circumstances, if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, but have extensive professional experience in the regulatory compliance and risk management fields, you may be admitted to the program. Our program does not require the GRE or the LSAT—and significant scholarships are available while this program is starting up.

Ready to apply? View the application instructions.