Curriculum

Earning the hybrid MSL in Sports Law and Negotiation degree requires successful completion of at least 24 credit units, including 8 mandatory units and 16 units worth of electives:

Introduction to the U.S. Legal System introduces students to the legal system in the United States and the distinctive process and methods of American law. The course examines the basic structure and operation of government in the United States, particularly the judicial branch, and will focus on the American method of making, finding and enforcing law. The course provides a basic understanding of the historical context in which the legal system in the United States developed. Further, the course examines the foundational values of American law, such as due process and equality.

In this course, students will examine the strategies, objectives, and challenges that will affect how they draft contracts. They will consider the lawyer's role in drafting contracts and the factors that influence drafting style, technique, and content. The course will begin by analyzing the standard structure and terms of a typical contract, including the purposes behind them. Students will learn to draft precisely. Students then will dissect and examine a range of contracts used in business relationships (e.g., business formations, employment, real estate transactions, mergers/acquisitions) to evaluate drafting techniques and decisions in specific transactions. Finally, the students will use the knowledge they've gained to ink a deal.

This course provides an overview of certain business and legal issues that pertain to professional and amateur sports. Through various legal lenses (contract law, employment and labor law, antitrust law, tort law, intellectual property law, and constitutional law), this course will examine the legal and business relationships between various sports industry participants (athletes, teams, leagues, governing bodies, sports facilities, licensees, broadcasters, and fans).

This course is designed to: (1) develop your understanding of negotiation, and your awareness of yourself as a negotiator; (2) give you some tools and concepts for preparing for and analyzing negotiations; (3) enhance your negotiating skills through frequent role plays, reflection and feedback; and (4) teach you how to keep learning from your own negotiating experience.

Select at least 16 units from the following:

This course examines the legal organizations most often used by businesses in the United States. We will study the specific laws governing business organizations, the policies and theories underlying these laws, and best practices for complying with them. The primary focus of the course is to analyze comparatively corporations, partnerships and hybrid entities. In addition, students will learn basic transactional practice skills by learning how to spot legal issues that concern business organizations at the time of formation, during operation, and when shutting down.

Contemporary Name, Image and Likeness will use current legal cases that have shaped Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) today. Students will consider the legal landscape and economic realities of NIL to develop an informal proposal for a sustainable model, understand the legal framework to address college sports and various stakeholders, and learn how to negotiate and draft NIL collective and NIL marketing agreements.

The course will focus on the business, legal, and financial issues that relate to the creation, financing, and exploitation of digital media, including TV, shorts, mobile, virtual reality, influencers, and merchandising. In addition, the business, corporate, structuring, and tax issues (as opposed to intellectual property issues) will be explored.

This course is designed to study and practice writing in business and legal settings. The premise is to teach students writing structure based on audience, tone, form, and purpose. We will address the fundamentals of business writing, including electronic mail, letters, formal reports, and memos, with an emphasis on clear and concise writing. The course will also feature the fundamentals of legal writing, including IRAC, with an emphasis on legal analysis and consistent writing.

Employment Dispute Mediation provides a general survey of substantive employment law related to the procedural rules governing mediation. The course will begin with an introduction to the statutes, regulations and cases governing common employment disputes with a particular emphasis on anti-discrimination law, whistleblower protection, and employer accommodation of disabilities and religious practices. Hypotheticals and partner exercises will simulate aspects of the mediation of employment matters, specifically, counseling clients about mediation, drafting mediation briefs, communications during mediation sessions, negotiation tactics, and drafting agreements.

An examination of how the courts are handling selected, "cutting edge" topics in entertainment law. The topics will include the scope of and limitations on the right of publicity; fair use and parody defenses to copyright infringement; future technology clauses in rights contracts; and copyright and defamation issues arising in the online world.

Any company wishing to prosper will have to manage efficiently their Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio. For this reason, it has become essential to understand the different types of IP and how they are exploited. This class will focus exclusively on issues related to copyright and fair use, trademark, trade secrets and related laws that seek to protect intellectual property. In addition, students will learn strategies for licensing and enforcing a company's IP.

Human Resource Compliance explores the key areas within the field of human resources and employment and labor law from recruiting through termination. As the people who comprise the workforce, human resources are the backbone of every organization. Thus, the human resources field is valuable for every business leader and advisor to understand to meet the strategic objectives of an organization and to minimize risk. This course will prepare you to advise and support employers in day-to-day management of the workforce by enabling you to spot issues, compose policies and procedures, and develop an appropriate course of action based on legal requirements and best practices.

Legal Research examines the basic legal research methodologies and techniques for the federal and California jurisdictions by focusing on online research sources.

Sports Law and Representation will help students to understand the legal framework governing professional and amateur sports, analyze athlete representation through contracts and agreements, apply the principles of contract, antitrust and labor law to sports industry issues, identify and resolve ethical dilemmas and develop negotiation and advocacy skills to sports law practice.

*During the 2026-2027 academic year, these courses will only be offered online.

Notes:

All course selection and enrollment subject to availability.
Courses used toward a degree or a certificate completed at another university may not be applied toward a master's degree at USC. If courses were not used toward a completed degree or a certificate, a maximum of five credits may be transferred to our Hybrid MSL in Sports Law and Negotiation degree.
The USC Catalogue defines full-time enrollment as 8 or more units for master's level students. Hybrid MSL in Sports Law and Negotiation students may enroll on a full-time (8+ units) or part-time basis (2-7 units).