New Master’s Program Links Health Science and Law

UCSF/UC Hastings Consortium

Note: Applications for this Master's program are still being accepted on a space-available basis. To apply, please calll 415-581-8905.

In the realm of science, understanding the law and legal processes is increasingly critical to the success of health and science professionals. Although researchers must contend with regulation, participate in legal processes, research legal actors and institutions, and interact with legal systems, most academic scientists have little training in navigating the complexities and nuances of the legal system.

With that important integration in mind, the UCSF/UC Hastings Consortium, a joint effort between the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, was established to bring expertise together and improve interdisciplinary communication and collaboration between the law and health sciences. The Consortium is also focused on better informing the law regarding the health sciences, and better enabling the health sciences to serve the public good.

A large part of that effort includes the launch of a Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degree with a focus in science & health policy. The program will begin in August, 2012, with both full- and part-time enrollment options. The full-time program will require two semesters of study (one academic year) to complete and the part-time program is expected to take four to five semesters of enrollment.

Efforts like these...encourage multidisciplinary collaboration, which is a critical component of translational science and research.
Mini Kahlon, CTSI Deputy Director

The UC Hastings MSL degree is designed for individuals who do not seek to practice law, but who instead want to equip themselves with a more sophisticated understanding of legal reasoning and doctrine.

Beyond its degree programs, the Consortium will leverage the expertise of scholars from both UCSF and UC Hastings in support of various educational, research, and service opportunities. These include sponsoring speakers, events, and conferences; promoting research opportunities of mutual interest through formal and informal gatherings; and developing service opportunities, especially for the benefit of underserved populations, which create synergies between legal and health care professionals. 

Encouraging Collaboration

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at UCSF, and in particular its Virtual Home program, are among the wide range of partners supporting the UCSF/UC Hastings Consortium. The CTSI Virtual Home program is working with the Consortium to expand its communications at UCSF, and exploring options for integrating UC Hastings faculty into online collaboration tools.

“Our support for the Consortium is a good example of how CTSI’s resources, particularly in communications and technology, can have an impact both within and beyond UCSF,” said Mini Kahlon, PhD, CTSI deputy director. “Efforts like these support our overall efforts to both diversify our partners and encourage multidisciplinary collaboration, which is a critical component of translational science and research.”

To request more information about the UC Hastings MSL visit the online Information Request page.

CTSI is a member of the National Institutes of Health-funded Clinical and Translational Science Awards network focusing on accelerating research to improve health. The Institute provides services for researchers at every stage, and promotes online collaboration and networking through UCSF Profiles.