Course Content

The first module focuses on the complex interplay of ethical, legal and business considerations that form the foundation of effective compliance systems in companies and other organizations. These fundamentals form the basis of a broad spectrum of rules and standards that you learn to identify with reference to your field of activity. You also learn how you can find and interpret such specifications independently, and examine the process-oriented prerequisites for an effective, efficient compliance organization in regard to your professional environment.

This module deals with the realization of effective compliance in businesses and organizations, including the development of a company-specific, organization-specific or industry-specific compliance manual. You will bring the development of specific proposals for all relevant compliance problems into focus from the point of view of law, management theory, and information technology. You will also acquire the tools to carry out process-oriented risk analyses and assessments with regard to possible violations, and to take action to avoid and minimize such risks.

You explore the ways and means of implementing and enforcing the necessary compliance policies effectively and efficiently in your professional environment. The third module of the master’s degree course in Compliance deals with handling compliance-related conflict and crisis situations appropriately. You will study compliance-related offences and possible sanctions, and gain experience with mediation procedures in cases of compliance conflicts. Last but not least, you will learn techniques and methods to continuously develop the effectiveness and efficiency of the compliance system in your professional environment.

This module strengthens your basic management skills, and imparts insights into key processes in the activities of modern organizations. You acquire the skills you need as a compliance manager in the areas of change management, enterprise management and controlling, and project management and practice transfer. Particular attention is given to ensuring the sustainability of the skills you acquire in the course, and transferring them to actual practice.

In the Knowledge Management, Leadership, Cross-cultural Communication and Practice Research courses, you strengthen your skills in those areas of personal relations that are indispensable to specialists and managers, in compliance as in other fields. You will broaden and reinforce your personal abilities in dealing with knowledge, people and different cultures and roles, including expert cultures, in the context of your profession.

To conclude your course of study, you will write a scientifically grounded master’s thesis that connects theory and practice. Your thesis may be on a specific project from your own professional context, or on a general topic in the field of compliance. The objective in either case is to discuss an issue that is relevant to practice using the knowledge and methods you have acquired and augmented during your course of study at DUW, and to propose an answer based on your discussion. In developing your master’s thesis, as in all other phases of your studies at DUW, you will receive academic supervision and thorough guidance counselling.