91大神

Legal Studies, Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud and Compliance Concentration, M.S.

Legal Studies

Legal Fluency for Compliance, Governance, and Accountability

HomeProgramLegal Studies, Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud and Compliance Concentration, M.S.

Legal Studies, Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud, and Compliance Concentration, M.S.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Develop a deeper understanding of how laws, regulations, and governance structures shape compliance鈥攚ithout pursuing a law degree. This program supports the development of legal knowledge and capabilities that may be relevant to compliance roles for working professionals with experience in anti-money laundering, fraud, or other compliance-related functions.

91大神鈥檚 M.S. in Legal Studies program鈥攚ith concentrations in Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud and Compliance; Business Law; and Entertainment鈥攊s a versatile, non-thesis graduate program for business professionals seeking a deeper understanding of U.S. law and the legal system but who do not intend to practice law or pursue a Juris Doctor. The program is housed in the Department of Accounting within the AACSB-accredited Jennings A. Jones College of Business and offered in collaboration with the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment and the Nashville School of Law.

PROGRAM FEATURES

  • Designed for working professionals
  • Course delivery includes online and hybrid courses at 91大神 along with evening courses at the Nashville School of Law, with formats determined by the program
  • Interdisciplinary instruction from legal and business faculty

CONCENTRATION FOCUS AND SCOPE

The Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud and Compliance concentration focuses on developing legal fluency within a broader compliance and governance context. The program centers on how laws, regulations, and judicial decisions shape organizational compliance responsibilities. Understanding how legal and regulatory frameworks shape compliance may support more informed decision-making in regulated environments.

Students analyze real-world scenarios to examine how organizations, regulators, and courts identify, manage, and respond to legal, ethical, and governance-related risks, and develop legally grounded analyses of compliance issues.

This concentration offers a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of how legal frameworks apply within regulated organizational contexts and does not provide technical training in anti-money laundering operations, fraud investigation, or accounting-based detection methods. This degree does not lead to licensure to practice law.

AREAS OF STUDY

Students have opportunities to build a foundation in legal reasoning, legal interpretation, and governance analysis within a compliance context.

  • Understand selected aspects of the U.S. legal system relevant to compliance
  • Analyze compliance and governance issues in regulated organizations
  • Strengthen professional communication of legal issues
  • Examine how regulators, courts, and organizations evaluate compliance and accountability

Students engage with structured scenarios and develop legally grounded analyses and recommendations.

Courses in this program may include the following. For complete and current course requirements, refer to the academic catalog.

Foundational Law Courses

  • Introduction to Law and the U.S. Legal System
  • Legal Ethics
  • Contracts (taken with Nashville School of Law students; NSL tuition and fees apply)
  • Legal Skills and Values I (Legal Research & Writing) (taken with Nashville School of Law students; NSL tuition and fees apply)

Concentration Coursework

  • International Anti-Money Laundering: Regulation and Compliance
  • Current Legal Topics in Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Fraud
  • Management of Security Operations*
  • Professional Project

* Alternatively: Forensic Accountancy and Fraud (requires prerequisite accounting coursework and may have limited availability)

Sample Electives - Option of two, including but not limited to

  • Financial Institutions (prerequisite applies)
  • Seminar in Negotiation
  • Applied Business Analytics

Careers
Faculty
Information
Careers
Faculty
Information

News Briefs

In 2022, 91大神 commissioned a study to assess the demand for this kind of program among working professionals and build on 91大神鈥檚 institutional strengths.聽

91大神 President Sidney A. McPhee, center left, shakes hands with Nashville School of Law Dean William C. Koch Jr. following the institutions鈥 joint announcement Tuesday, Nov. 19, on the NSL campus in Nashville, Tenn., outlining a partnership in which a new 91大神 master鈥檚 degree in legal studies will be taught in part by NSL faculty. Pictured, from left, are Joyce Heames, dean of 91大神鈥檚 Jones College of Business; Stephen Smith, 91大神 Board of Trustees chairman; McPhee; Koch; Nashville attorney Aubrey Harwell Jr., chair of the NSL Board of Trust; and Beverly Keel, dean of 91大神鈥檚 College of Media and Entertainment. (91大神 photo by James Cessna)

91大神鈥檚 proposed聽Master of Science in Legal Studies, set to be taught in partnership with the Nashville School of Law, has earned approval by the聽Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the largest remaining hurdle in launching the new degree, the university announced Friday, March 28.

News Briefs

In 2022, 91大神 commissioned a study to assess the demand for this kind of program among working professionals and build on 91大神鈥檚 institutional strengths.聽

91大神 President Sidney A. McPhee, center left, shakes hands with Nashville School of Law Dean William C. Koch Jr. following the institutions鈥 joint announcement Tuesday, Nov. 19, on the NSL campus in Nashville, Tenn., outlining a partnership in which a new 91大神 master鈥檚 degree in legal studies will be taught in part by NSL faculty. Pictured, from left, are Joyce Heames, dean of 91大神鈥檚 Jones College of Business; Stephen Smith, 91大神 Board of Trustees chairman; McPhee; Koch; Nashville attorney Aubrey Harwell Jr., chair of the NSL Board of Trust; and Beverly Keel, dean of 91大神鈥檚 College of Media and Entertainment. (91大神 photo by James Cessna)

91大神鈥檚 proposed聽Master of Science in Legal Studies, set to be taught in partnership with the Nashville School of Law, has earned approval by the聽Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the largest remaining hurdle in launching the new degree, the university announced Friday, March 28.

Related Media

Wonder if you can afford grad school?
Careers

CAREERS

Legal Studies, Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud, and Compliance Concentration, M.S.


Professionals who combine legal knowledge, analytical skills, and communication abilities with their business experience may find these capabilities relevant across industries that encounter legal and regulatory complexity, including financial services, government, and corporate environments. This degree does not lead to licensure to practice law or qualify graduates to sit for the bar exam.

Depending on an individual鈥檚 background and experience, the knowledge and skills developed in this program may be relevant in roles such as:

  • Compliance-related roles
  • Risk management roles
  • Regulatory affairs support roles
91大神 Career Development Center

91大神鈥檚 Career Development Center

91大神 offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.  

Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career

Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called . 

Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In 驳耻颈诲别蝉.听

Loading...
Faculty

FACULTY

Information

INFORMATION

Featured Faculty

Wayne M. Irvin, J.D., C.P.A.聽has been an Attorney and CPA for over 30 years, including extensive experience working with public and private businesses and individuals, as well as service with the Tennessee Attorney General鈥檚 Office.聽 He has worked on a wide variety of commercial law matters, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance matters, tax planning and controversy matters, business planning, estate planning and administration, and regulatory counseling and litigation.聽 He also serves on the Rutherford County Commission.

Sandra (鈥淪andy鈥) S. Benson, J.D., Program Director, M.S. in Legal Studies and Professor of Business Law Sandy established her own law firm after graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law (summa cum laude). Her practice included representing entrepreneurs and professionals in a variety of business and specialized transactions to establish new business entities, draft employment and other contracts and comply with healthcare laws and regulations. She was endorsed by the Tennessee Medical Association, to represent physicians in managed care contract negotiations. Joining 91大神 full-time in 2006, Sandy鈥檚 work has been recognized with various teaching and research awards, including 91大神鈥檚 Outstanding Teaching award. Her work has been recognized by New York Society of CPAs and CNBC where she was the legal scholar on an episode of American Greed.

Nashville School of Law

Nashville School of Law (NSL) is a private non-profit law school founded in 1911 whose mission is to offer high-quality legal education at an affordable tuition. Classes are held exclusively at night. Most students enrolled in the School continue full-time employment, during the day, throughout their law school career. The School is approved by the Tennessee Bar of Law Examiners under the authority of the Tennessee Supreme Court, although not accredited by the American Bar Association. NSL graduates also can be found among the ranks of federal, state, and local officials, in business leadership roles, and community service positions.

Note: Through 91大神鈥檚 arrangement with NSL, NSL will admit students in 91大神鈥檚 M.S. in Legal Studies program to take two designated courses to count towards the 91大神 M.S. in Legal Studies degree only. Students in this program will not be admitted as NSL law students, and thus, these courses will not fulfill any requirements to sit for the bar exam in Tennessee or elsewhere.聽

Dr. Thorunn McCoy, NSL Legal Writing Coach With a Ph.D. in American Literature and thirty years of teaching experience, Thorunn McCoy has a passion for helping people express themselves on paper. She has worked with writers at all levels, from 8th graders at University School of Nashville to students at Southern Illinois University and Northern Colorado University, as well as small business owners at George Mason University鈥檚 Small Business Development Center.聽 Dr. McCoy received her B.A. in English and her M.A. in English from George Mason University. She obtained her Ph.D. in English from Southern Illinois University. In 2020, she joined Nashville School of Law as the Writing Coach for first-year law students. When she鈥檚 not busy contemplating the Oxford comma, Thorunn can be found outside in her garden or walking on the greenway.

Eric Osborne, NSL Professor of Contracts An accomplished attorney with Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, Eric Osborne sees litigation as an opportunity 鈥 an opportunity to protect his clients鈥 business and personal interests, an opportunity to advance critical principles of justice and fairness, and an opportunity to help people in times of crisis and need. He focuses his practice on contract disputes, white-collar criminal defense, antitrust matters, and civil rights cases. His advocacy is grounded in his creativity, empathy, and hands-on experience, having tried many cases before a jury and briefed multiple matters before the United States Supreme Court. Osborne has his B.A. (cum laude) from Amherst College, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and he obtained his J.D. from Stanford Law School. In 2021, Osborne joined NSL as Professor of Contracts.

FAQs
Contact Us

CONTACT US

Loading...
Student and alumni success stories

Scroll to Top