The program helped me to hit the ground running when I accepted my current position. There’s almost no responsibility I have now that I didn't first encounter in the MSRC program.”
Brynnan Foster '11, clinical research specialist at Fresenius Kabi
Master's in Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory compliance is increasingly visible in healthcare, life science and clinical research arenas. As a result, career opportunities in regulatory compliance are multiplying for those with the kind of training students receive in the Master of Science in Regulatory Compliance (MSRC) program. An interdisciplinary professional program, Northwestern University’s part-time MSRC program addresses core areas of compliance, including risk management, quality science, practices and enforcement, as well as leadership and communication skills. The MSRC curriculum focuses on these core competencies while also stressing practical applications within the program’s three tracks: healthcare compliance, clinical research, and quality and regulatory science. MSRC graduates are prepared to assume leadership positions in healthcare compliance, clinical research compliance, and in quality and regulatory industries, including pharmaceutical, life sciences, food, and medical device industries. Even PhDs can significantly enhance their skill sets and find new professional opportunities in this increasingly important and sensitive field.
The program offers a thorough grounding in the interdisciplinary core competencies of regulatory compliance, including risk management, quality and regulatory science, leadership and communication skills. MSRC places a strong emphasis on practical application: courses are taught by industry experts with extensive experience navigating regulatory compliance challenges. MSRC’s partnership with Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern's Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NUCATS) is another benefit, enhancing the program with the latest insights on clinical research issues.
All courses are fully accredited. The MSRC program can be completed part time and is entirely online, allowing students anywhere to participate in the program while maintaining their personal and professional commitments. SPS online courses marry the best aspects of online technology with the interactivity of the classroom. Find out more about online learning at SPS.
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My work can make an immediate impact on patients. I feel I'm part of the chain that contributes to that.”
Bensheng Liu '22, global regulatory science manager at Pfizer
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE AWARD RECOGNITIONThe MSRC program was presented at the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Consortium Steering Committee (CCSC) in December, 2013. The MSRC degree program abstract, Training the Clinical and Translational Workforce of Tomorrow, was selected from abstracts submitted by all sixty CTSAs nationally as one of eleven to be orally presented at the 2013 national meeting held in Washington, DC. The MSRC program successfully meeting one of the primary goals of the CTSA, to increase the skills of the clinical and translational research workforce and provide them with career pathways to retain them in industry and academia. |
About the MS in Regulatory Compliance
- Master's in Regulatory Compliance Program Goals
- Regulatory Compliance Curriculum & Program Tracks
- MS in Regulatory Compliance Courses
- Master's in Regulatory Compliance Admission
- Regulatory Compliance Tuition and Financial Aid
- Registration Information for Regulatory Compliance
- Mentorship, Internships & Careers in Regulatory Compliance
- Regulatory Compliance Faculty
Master's in Regulatory Compliance Program Goals
An interdisciplinary professional program, MSRC graduates will possess the knowledge, skills and aptitude to:
- Utilize regulatory, risk management and quality systems to assure compliant healthcare, clinical research and pharmaceutical environments.
- Interpret regulatory requirements and apply them to various roles in healthcare, clinical research and pharmaceutical industries.
- Create systems and processes to assure compliant quality outcomes.
Regulatory Compliance Curriculum & Program Tracks
The Regulatory Compliance Curriculum requires completion of 11 courses—four core courses, four track (elective) courses, one cross-elective track course, a leadership course and a capstone (498) or thesis (590) project.
Upon admission to the program, students choose one of the following Regulatory Compliance Program Tracks, designed to effectively develop industry expertise in these areas:
- Clinical Research
- Quality Systems
- Healthcare Compliance
MS in Regulatory Compliance Courses
Explore MS in Regulatory Compliance Courses. You can narrow your course search by day, location or instructor.
Master's in Regulatory Compliance Admission
A variety of factors are considered when your application is reviewed. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or its foreign equivalent. A competitive undergraduate record that indicates strong academic ability is required. Work or research experience in a related field is highly desirable but not a requirement for admission. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required, but strong scores bolster chances for admission. For a complete list of requirements, see the Admission page for SPS graduate programs.
Regulatory Compliance Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the Master's in Regulatory Compliance program at Northwestern is comparable to similar US programs. Financial aid opportunities exist for students at Northwestern. Complete details can be found on the Regulatory Compliance Tuition and Financial Aid page.
Registration Information for Regulatory Compliance
Already accepted into the Master's in Regulatory Compliance program? Get ahead and register for your classes as soon as possible to ensure maximum efficiency in your trajectory.
Mentorship, Internships & Careers in Regulatory Compliance
MSRC students can access industry and healthcare system mentors who support and guide their professional development, as well as professional internships in regulatory compliance, healthcare compliance, quality systems, and clinical research that enhance their career and academic goals. Find out more about Mentorship, Internships & Careers in Regulatory Compliance.
I chose the Master's in Regulatory Compliance program because it had a clinical research track... I think my career will be impacted very positively. ”
MSRC students can access industry and healthcare system mentors who support and guide their professional development, as well as professional internships in regulatory compliance, healthcare compliance, quality systems, and clinical research that enhance their career and academic goals. Find out more about Mentorship, Internships & Careers in Regulatory Compliance.
Regulatory Compliance Faculty
Instructors in the Master's in Regulatory Compliance program at Northwestern are leaders in the field. They bring practical real-world experiences to the online classroom and engage with students on an interpersonal level. Get to know the instructors on the Regulatory Compliance Faculty page.