Online Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law

Address the increasing complexity of healthcare law

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

By submitting this form, I consent to the University of Oklahoma (OU) and its agents contacting me about educational opportunities via automated calls, text messages, and/or email at the number and email provided. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not required to attend the OU or to receive information by other means. For details on how OU collects and protects your information, review the Privacy Policy.

At a Glance

Earn your online MLS in Healthcare Law in as little as 15 months as a full-time student and build a powerful foundation in legal, regulatory, and business frameworks that shape the healthcare industry.

OU Law’s online programs feature small class sizes that foster a close-knit, collaborative learning environment. Learn from expert OU faculty who bring real-world experience into every course and challenge you to think critically about how healthcare law impacts your profession and your future.

100% Online

Time to Complete:

15+ Months

Credit Hours:

Time Commitment:

10 to 20 Hours Weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring, & Summer

cost

Oklahoma residents: $612.65 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

Non-residents: $1,111.90 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

By submitting this form, l consent to the University of Oklahoma (OU) and its agents contacting me about educational opportunities via automated calls, text messages, and/or email at the number and email provided. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not required to attend the OU or to receive information by other means. For details on how OU collects and protects your information, review the Privacy Policy.

About the Online MLS in Healthcare Law

The online MLS in Healthcare Law is a 32-credit-hour program designed for professionals whose work intersects with healthcare delivery, access, quality, liability, operations, organization, or finance. This degree equips non-lawyers with essential knowledge of the complex and rapidly evolving civil, criminal, and administrative laws that shape the healthcare landscape.

If you already hold a law degree or are a practicing attorney, you may be interested in the Online Master of Laws in Healthcare Law program.

Created for healthcare professionals seeking a deeper understanding of legal and policy frameworks, this program empowers graduates to navigate regulations and compliance challenges with confidence. You will learn to integrate laws and regulations into operational policies and procedures, supporting best practice compliance across healthcare provider settings.

The curriculum is delivered in seven- or eight-week modules, with two modules per semester. Students typically take two courses at a time.

The Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (the “Council”) does not accredit or approve non-J.D. degrees or certificates. In its review of non-J.D. degree program applications, the Council determines whether the proposed degree program will interfere with the ability of the law school to operate in compliance with the Standards and to carry out its program of legal education. Acquiescence in a degree other than the J.D. degree is not an approval of the degree itself, and, therefore, the law school may not announce that the degree is approved by the Council. The accreditation of non-J.D. degree programs are subject to the oversight of the law school’s or its university’s national accreditor.

What Can I Do with the Degree?

Earning your online Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law positions you for a high-impact career with organizations that are shaping the future of global healthcare and driving economic growth. Accelerate your career in the following areas:

Healthcare Compliance Officer
Healthcare Policy Analyst
Healthcare Risk Manager
Healthcare Contracts Manager
Healthcare Consultant

Health Information Privacy Officer
Medical Staff Coordinator
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Medical Malpractice Claims Analyst
Healthcare Accreditation Specialist

Program Outcomes: What You’ll Learn

OU College of Law’s MLS in Healthcare Law program delivers a comprehensive legal foundation across the most pressing issues facing healthcare organizations today. You will:

Analyze key federal and state statutes, regulations, government advisory opinions, judicial decisions, and health policy initiatives
Explore the evolution of healthcare regulations related to access, cost, quality, liability, organization, and finance
Identify behaviors and practices by individual and institutional providers, as well as public and private payers, that may result in civil, administrative, or criminal penalties
Conduct legal research on federal and state laws and policies that impact patients, insured individuals, and human research subjects in the United States
Examine the intersection of individual and public health, including legal challenges highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic

Course Details

The Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law provides a deep dive into the legal complexities of the healthcare industry. You will explore critical topics such as the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid billing codes, quality control standards, private health insurance regulation, antitrust concerns, medical contracts, Stark Law, and both federal laws like HIPAA and ACA, as well as key state regulations.

Introduction to the American Legal System

Credit Hours: 2
Examines the United States court system, the role of the Constitution, and other foundations in US law and their relation to the healthcare system. Introduces students to fundamental principles in US law. Explains how law functions with our society and how it plays a role in conﬂict resolution, civil liberties, equality, in contracts, and interacts with the U.S. healthcare system.

Structure of Health Care Enterprises: Legal Forms, Governance, and Relationships

Credit Hours: 2
The course will cover the different legal forms a healthcare enterprise can take, including Non-proﬁts, physician-owned, government-owned, and Hospital systems. This course will also familiarize students with the contents and role of organizational documents, Governance issues, ﬁduciary duties, issues for tax-exempt organizations, and relationships between Physicians and tax-exempt entities.

Regulation of Private Health Insurance, Managed Care

Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite: Admission to the Master of Legal Studies and/or Master of Laws Programs. This course will cover the regulation of health insurance companies with a focus on changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Students will become familiar with managed care concepts and analyze key components of healthcare plans.

Fraud and Abuse Claims

Credit Hours: 3
Will cover the federal physician self-referral law, fraud, and abuse law. Students will learn the statutes, regulations, and advisory opinions that deﬁne the parameters of physician referrals and anti-kickback laws, analyzing case studies for those issues. Students will familiarize themselves with the False Claims Act and other laws, regulations, and government regulatory actions designed to combat false claims and fraudulent activities.

Anti-Trust Issues in Healthcare Delivery

Credit Hours: 2
Focuses on antitrust issues relevant to health care providers: hospital and physician mergers, virtual mergers and joint ventures; exclusive contracts and other medical staff exclusion issues; covenants not to compete; managed care plans; antitrust defenses such as state action, nonproﬁt, learned profession, efficiencies, failing business, etc.; and federal and state healthcare antitrust regulatory efforts, including healthcare collaborative guidelines.

Health Care Transactions and Contracts

Credit Hours: 2
This course covers the business, regulatory, and legal issues that arise in healthcare business transactions: asset sales, mergers, joint ventures, procurement contracts, and the application of tax laws to transactions. In addition, this course will cover the fundamental principles of contract law and the role of valuations in healthcare transactions.

Sources and Types of Liability of Healthcare Institutions and Professionals

Credit Hours: 2
Will discuss how the healthcare providers and institutions can be held liable as well as the consequences of agency and contractor status. In addition, this course will cover the elements of negligence in cases involving healthcare professionals.

Quality Control: Licensing, Accreditation, and Quality Regulation

Credit Hours: 2
Designed to introduce students to the laws, agencies, and other bodies that license, regulate and discipline physicians. Topics covered will include licensing proceedings and hearings and health care entity policies addressing these issues.

Overview of Public Health Care Programs

Credit Hours: 3
Will cover public health insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, government hospitals, and other government-ﬁnanced health programs). In addition, this course will cover what treatment is required of anyone coming into an Emergency department by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

Coding and Billing

Credit Hours: 2
Provides students with working knowledge of the business side of medicine: medical record documentation, coding and billing. This course will provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the legal role of the medical record, speciﬁcally in the context of obligations for the organization of the medical record and its support for reimbursement of services.

Health Information Management

Credit Hours: 2
Will cover health information law and policy as it pertains to data security and privacy of electronic health records in the United States. Students will examine how individual health information is collected, maintained, and transferred in this electronic information age, and the ramiﬁcations when such information is improperly protected, stolen, and misused.

HIPAA/Patient Privacy

Credit Hours: 2
Explores the federal regulatory scheme designed to protect the privacy and security of health information. Topics covered include; Entities and information to which the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 HIPAA) applies, HIPAA compliance and enforcement, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health

Professional Relationships in Health Care Enterprises

Credit Hours: 2
Covers professional relationships between and among healthcare enterprises and the differences and between direct employment and independent practitioners with privileges when looking at; credentialing, disciplinary issues, and the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act.

Experiencing a Simulated Investigation

Credit Hours: 3
Prepares students for experiencing an investigation including how to prepare for potential investigation and how to respond to and cooperate with an investigation. A portion of the course will involve live simulation exercises.

Why Choose OU for Healthcare Law

The OU College of Law offers a Juris Doctor program consistently ranked among the nation’s best for value. That same commitment to excellence and innovation makes OU Law a standout choice for earning your Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law.

Faculty Expertise

Faculty members are carefully selected for their expertise in healthcare law. You’ll learn from a mix of attorneys, compliance officers, and medical professionals who will challenge and encourage you to think deeply about how law impacts the healthcare industry and your own role moving forward.

Robust Student Support

OU Online and the OU College of Law offer robust student support services, including academic support, online tutoring, mental health counseling, and an online career development center. The program accommodates the needs of working professionals, allowing you to expand your healthcare legal expertise while maintaining full-time employment.

Global Alumni Network

With over 250,000 alumni worldwide, joining the OU Online community means gaining access to a global network of legal and business professionals. As a Sooner, you’ll be part of a powerful community of leaders working in multinational corporations, law firms, government agencies, and NGOs, helping you expand your healthcare law career.

Flexible Format

The Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law is delivered in a fully online, flexible format built for working professionals around the world. Earn your degree in as little as 15 months while maintaining full-time employment and personal commitments. Study from anywhere and gain specialized legal expertise that opens doors to a wide range of healthcare law careers.

Tailored Experience

Move through the program with a small, focused cohort of professionals who share your passion for healthcare law. Courses are asynchronous for maximum flexibility, yet designed to be highly interactive. Stay connected through engaging discussions, optional live lectures, personalized support, and collaborative online activities—all while learning at your own pace.

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your Master’s in Healthcare Law from OU Online is a smart investment in a growing and dynamic field. We’re committed to making that investment as transparent and accessible as possible—so you can focus on advancing your career.

Oklahoma residents: $612.65 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

Non-residents: $1,111.90 per credit hour, plus additional fees of $201.30 per credit hour and $117.50 per semester.

Additional fees and a semester fee may apply.

To help reduce your out-of-pocket costs, financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance may be available. Our dedicated financial services team is here to support you every step of the way.

For questions about financial aid, contact the OU Online Financial Aid Office at onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.

A nonrefundable deposit of $350 is required upon admission to secure your place in the program. This deposit guarantees your spot in your first semester of courses and will be applied toward your first semester’s tuition.

* Please be aware that tuition and fees may change, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Take the Next Step

Each application for the online MLS in Healthcare Law is carefully evaluated to select a cohort in which students can each be successful in the program and contribute to the learning experience. Candidates are considered holistically, with consideration given to factors beyond scores, GPAs, and other numerical performance indicators. Minimum qualifications for admission to the MLS program include the following:

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university.
For graduates of a college or university outside the United States, the College of Law will follow OU Norman campus determinations of equivalency.
An undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or higher (adjusted as required for courses in which grades were provided under a different standard).

Application Timeline

The admissions committee reviews applications on a rolling basis*, with decisions typically issued within two weeks of receiving a completed application. While admissions may remain open until two weeks before classes begin, some programs may set earlier deadlines. Apply early to secure your spot and stay ahead in your academic planning. *This program typically has an earlier application deadline than the standard 14 days prior to intended start. Please check directly with the program to ensure your application is received in time.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Complete the online application.

Step 3

Provide supplemental materials, including a resume, personal statement, and undergraduate transcripts.