Inside Stetson Law's M.J. Program

Whether you are pursuing a new career path in business or are a newly minted college graduate looking to break into your dream career in a multinational corporation, you will likely consider graduate school as a way to reach your goal. 

Congratulations on your college graduation! That is a significant accomplishment. So, what’s next? 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, life expectancy for Americans is now 78.6 years. Seniors, those 65 and older, make up a growing part of the American and world population. In fact, by 2050, seniors are expected to account for 22 percent of the world’s population.

If you are like many early- or mid-career professionals, you have contemplated earning an advanced degree. The Master of Jurisprudence (MJ), also known as a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) or Juris Master (JM), is an increasingly popular option and will provide you with the working knowledge of the law that you need to progress in your career and industry. If your long-term goal does not include becoming an attorney but does require you to get a master’s degree, this is a fantastic option.

Compliance officers play a crucial role in ensuring organizational compliance with all federal, state and local laws that apply to their business. They assess their organization’s operations to make sure that they are following internal policies and industry guidelines. They work to minimize risk and develop training programs for staff, all the way up to the board of directors. Many compliance officers lead accreditation and quality management initiatives.

Healthcare companies invest significant resources into compliance training because it is imperative to stay on top of the evolving landscape of regulations and laws affecting healthcare companies.

If you are like most healthcare professionals, you plan to advance in your career.  Perhaps you wish to become a VP of Risk and Compliance or a Chief Compliance Officer, but lack the advanced understanding of healthcare laws and compliance issues.  The healthcare industry is growing at a rapid pace and employers will need to meet the regulatory demands that come with a growth industry. As a result, they will need well-educated employees who possess graduate degrees in relevant fields, such as the Master of Jurisprudence in Healthcare Compliance (M.J.). 

While a Master of Jurisprudence or M.J. will not allow you to take a bar examination and become a lawyer, the M.J. does have significant benefits, especially for those who work with lawyers, legal issues, deal with contracts and government compliance. This is an advanced degree for non-lawyers, although sometimes lawyers pursue the degree for career enhancement or to become a specialist.

Aging Boomers. Rapidly advancing medical technology. Increased demand for regulatory, corporate and privacy compliance. The healthcare profession is soaring and is expected to continue to be one of the most in-demand fields for a long time.

It is crazy to think that someone would spend three or four years in law school and even think about getting another degree, or is it? Lawyers go back for the LL.M., the M.B.A. and other graduate degrees and certificates all of the time. Knowledge and skills quickly grow stagnant in today’s dynamic environment and few people stay in one job or field more than a couple of years at best, especially new professionals.