Human Resources and Employment Law Concentration: Master of legal Studies
Human resources professionals often contend with complex regulations and legal issues regarding hiring practices, benefits, employment discrimination and labor laws. An SMU M.L.S. with a concentration in human resources and employment law allows you to gain key legal knowledge so you can better serve your organization and its employees.
The online M.L.S. in human resources and employment law features coursework in labor and employment law, internal investigations, regulatory law and employment discrimination.
Who is this program for?
The ideal candidate for this master’s degree in employment law is a driven, experienced professional seeking legal fluency to navigate complex workplace issues and lead with integrity. Candidates often include:
- HR professionals working in talent management or employee relations
- Managers responsible for workplace compliance, employee policies or internal investigations
- Compliance officers seeking a deeper understanding of employment and labor law
- rofessionals in ethics or labor relations who want to strengthen their strategy with legal insight
Human resources and employment law concentration course structure
Students will choose either Business Associations or Negotiation and Effective Communication. If you’d like to take both courses, one may count toward your elective requirement.
- Business Associations
- Negotiation and Effective Communication
Students will choose either Business Associations or Negotiation and Effective Communication. If you’d like to take both courses, one may count toward your elective requirement.
- Business Associations
- Negotiation and Effective Communication
- Labor and Employment Law
- Employment Discrimination and Workers’ Rights
- White Collar Crime and Internal Investigations
Learn more about the course options for the human resources and employment law concentration.
Learning outcomes
After completing this concentration, students will be able to:
- Recognize key employment laws and regulations that impact their business, enabling effective management of workplace legal issues and both state and federal compliance.
- Create and implement comprehensive HR policies that align with legal standards and promote a fair and productive work environment.
- Conduct fair and comprehensive internal investigations of potential misconduct.
- Effectively resolve workplace disputes.
- Partner with in-house and external attorneys leading up to and during litigation.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Labor and employment law refers to the set of laws that regulate the relationship between employers, employees and unions. These laws ensure fair treatment in the workplace and protect both individual and collective rights.
Labor and employment law refers to the set of laws that regulate the relationship between employers, employees and unions. These laws ensure fair treatment in the workplace and protect both individual and collective rights.
While human resources and employment law share meaningful common ground with compliance law, the key difference is that HR and employment law is people-focused; compliance law is regulation-focused.
Human resources and employment law centers on the legal aspects of managing people in the workplace, including labor laws, hiring practices and internal investigations. This concentration is ideal for HR professionals and managers who handle employee relations and compliance with employment regulations
Compliance law centers on how organizations follow external regulations and internal policies, covering areas like corporate ethics, risk management and regulatory oversight. The compliance law concentration is designed for professionals in highly regulated industries or roles focused on organizational accountability.
While human resources and employment law share meaningful common ground with compliance law, the key difference is that HR and employment law is people-focused; compliance law is regulation-focused.
Human resources and employment law centers on the legal aspects of managing people in the workplace, including labor laws, hiring practices and internal investigations. This concentration is ideal for HR professionals and managers who handle employee relations and compliance with employment regulations
Compliance law centers on how organizations follow external regulations and internal policies, covering areas like corporate ethics, risk management and regulatory oversight. The compliance law concentration is designed for professionals in highly regulated industries or roles focused on organizational accountability.
Earning an M.L.S. with a concentration in human resources and employment law can help you pursue roles such as:
- Human resources manager
- Employment law specialist
- HR legal analyst
- Labor relations specialist
- Employee relations manager
- Risk and compliance officer focused on employment issues
Earning an M.L.S. with a concentration in human resources and employment law can help you pursue roles such as:
- Human resources manager
- Employment law specialist
- HR legal analyst
- Labor relations specialist
- Employee relations manager
- Risk and compliance officer focused on employment issues
Ready to learn more? Download our brochure, and explore our curriculum, admission and FAQ pages.
Request information
To download a program brochure and learn more about the online Master of Legal Studies offered by Southern Methodist University, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 469-871-6018.