Why did ASU Law create a legal master’s in health care now?

Health care is entering a period of profound operational change. Organizations must respond to evolving federal and state regulations, new technologies, workforce shortages and rising expectations from patients and communities. Each change carries legal, financial and administrative consequences.

My career has spanned business, technology, higher education and law. I earned my JD as a working professional, so I understand the value of education that connects directly to professional responsibility. ASU Law created the Master of Legal Studies in Health Care Compliance and Administration because health care needs leaders who can translate complex rules into sound decisions.

Why are legal, administrative and compliance skills increasingly important in health care?

Health care administrators must navigate rules governing privacy, reimbursement, licensing, risk, fraud prevention and organizational accountability. These requirements continue to change at the federal and state levels.

Clinicians are also managing years of workplace strain. CDC research found that 46% of health workers reported often feeling burned out in 2022. Administrative, compliance and leadership roles can provide doctors, nurses and other clinicians with new pathways to apply their experience while remaining connected to their purpose.

What does the health care workforce data tell us?

The labor market points to sustained demand:

Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034, with about 62,100 openings each year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 33,300 compliance officer openings annually during the same period.
Employment of health information technologists and medical registrars is projected to grow 15% as health systems increasingly depend on secure, accurate data.

These figures reflect a need for professionals who understand health care operations and the legal frameworks governing them.

How does the MLS Health address this need?

The 30-credit ASU Law online legal master’s program prepares working professionals to interpret regulations, identify legal risks and support effective health care organizations. Offered through an ABA-accredited law school, the curriculum covers health care law, industry compliance, administrative regulation, data privacy, risk management and ethics.

The program creates pathways for clinicians seeking administrative or compliance roles and for professionals already working in hospitals, health systems, insurance organizations, government agencies and related industries.

How is ASU Law advancing workforce-focused higher education?

In 2026, ASU Law marks 20 years since developing the nation’s first legal master’s degree for non-JD students. Today, ASU Law is No. 1 in the U.S. for legal master’s graduates, based on NCES data from 2019-2024. Our health care law program ranks No. 16 nationally in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

That record reflects the broader culture of a university ranked No. 1 in innovation for 11 consecutive years. We design programs around employment outcomes, economic mobility and public value.

How can this degree strengthen communities?

Strong health systems depend on people who can lead responsibly through change. By developing that talent, we can support career mobility, strengthen institutions and preserve the expertise of professionals who have devoted their careers to health care.

The MLS Health is a strategic investment in the people and organizations our communities depend on. That is why this degree matters now.

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