2024-2025 Law School Catalog

Master of Science in Law: Life Sciences, MSLL

Learning Outcomes

Suffolk Law School's MSLL will give graduates insight and working knowledge of the science, business, and legal aspects needed to support the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
 

Overview

MSLL students are required to complete 30 credits of course work. Each course is 3 credits with a total of 10 required courses to earn the degree. All courses are required unless a student can demonstrate prior coursework or relevant experience to permit a waiver.*

Requirements

A candidate must have satisfactorily completed at least 30 credits in the Suffolk University Law School (SULS) MSLL curriculum and have been a student at SULS for at least one academic year. MSLL students must satisfactorily complete all of the courses listed as required, unless exempted by the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

A candidate's complete MSLL Law School record must show a cumulative weighted average of at least 2.00 or its equivalent under these Rules & Regulations in order to receive the degree of Master of Science in Law: Life Sciences.

Degrees are awarded by the Trustees of Suffolk University on the recommendation of the Law Faculty. Recommendations may be withheld by the Faculty for good cause.

General Requirements:

A. Part-time MSLL students must enroll in a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 9 credits per semester. Full-time MSLL students must enroll in a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 credits per semester. With the approval of the Faculty Director up to 6 credits earned in summer school may be applied to reduce these semester requirements.

B. A Part-time MSLL student may not register for less than 6 credits or for more than 9 credits per semester without the prior approval of the Faculty Director. A Full-time MSLL student may not register for fewer than 12 credits per semester or for more than 15 credits in a semester without the prior approval of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

C. MSLL students who wish to transfer between the Part-time and Full-time Divisions must obtain the written approval of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean. Approval must be obtained prior to registration for the semester the transfer will take effect.

D. Full-time MSLL students are required to complete one MSLL Externship or Internship as approved by the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean. Part-time MSLL students are strongly encouraged to complete one MSLL Externship, unless the student is currently working in a professional capacity in the life sciences sector.

E. Transfer Credits and Waivers of Certain Requirements

    1. No more than 9 credits may be accepted as Transfer Credits from another similarly accredited MSLL Program or Summer School, a J.D. program, or an advanced degree program in one of the relevant scientific fields towards the MSLL at Suffolk University Law School. Such Transfer Credits must have been earned within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, and not already counted towards another program or degree. The award of Transfer Credits shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.
    2. MSLL students may petition for a waiver of up to and including 9 credits of required MSLL course work upon demonstration of completion of the required subject matter in an undergraduate program at an accredited institution in a relevant scientific field. Such study must have been completed within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, and not already counted towards another program or degree. The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.
    3. Full-time MSLL students may petition for a waiver from the required Externship or Internship in Section II. General Requirements and Rules, Subsection D.  The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.

F. Admission to the MSLL Program does not entail admission to any other Suffolk University degree program. Admission to any other Suffolk University degree program is a separate decision to be made by the relevant school.

Credit Requirements:

No more than 6 credits from any ungraded activities may be counted toward the MSLL degree. Ungraded activities include an MSLL Externship or Directed Study.

 

 

Courses

  1. All International MSLL students must satisfactorily complete a Required Course, "Introduction to U.S. Law, Legal Reasoning and Writing" in the first semester of the program.
  2. MSLL students may be required to complete additional courses or satisfy additional requirements at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean, taking into consideration the educational backgrounds and experience of the MSLL students.

Required Courses

LAW-2440Applied Genetics

3

LAW-2441Biotechnology Business and the Law

3

LAW-2433Clinical Research and the Law

3

LAW-2087Data Security

3

LAW-2216Intellectual Property Survey

3

LAW-2436Intro to Molecular Biology for Prof

3

LAW-2438Statistics

3

LAW-2297Therapies

3

LAW-2871Compliance Life Sciences Regulation and Recognition

3

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Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Policy, and Practice

Please note that course titles are subject to change. Elective courses may be added as they become available.

*Students may waive out of certain coursework based on prior work or educational experience. MSLL students may petition for a waiver of up to and including 9 credits of required MSLL course work upon demonstration of completion of the required subject matter in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited institution in a relevant scientific field. Such study must have been completed within a reasonable period of time before acceptance into the MSLL, and not already counted towards another program or degree.

The granting of waivers shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Director and an Associate Dean.