Learn the Law, Elevate your Career
What is an MSL?
Our Master in the Study of Law degree (MSL) provides a high quality education in the field of law to post-graduates and professionals interested in gaining foundational and advanced legal knowledge, but not interested in becoming an attorney. The program offers comprehensive legal perspectives — along with critical and analytical thinking skills and a new level of professionalism — that builds a strong foundation for future career growth and advancement.
Our MSL program is designed for working professionals whose careers interface with the law on a regular basis, or who wish to advance in their fields or pivot to a new area of interest through a more in-depth understanding of the law. The MSL degree is not an alternative to the JD degree and does not qualify its graduates to take a bar exam or practice law.
Our curriculum is thoughtful and practical, and taught by expert faculty at the nationally ranked Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. You can take courses fully online wherever you are, or in a hybrid format (i.e. a mix of online and in-person courses). The MSL curriculum covers a wide range of legal topics and you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on education in areas that meet your professional needs. You may design your own curriculum by selecting any courses from among the available course offerings, or pursue a specialized curriculum in one of the five areas of concentration.
Areas of Concentration:
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (hybrid)
- Legal Environment of Business (online or hybrid)
- Compliance (online or hybrid)
- Health Law (online or hybrid)
- Intellectual Property and Technology Law (hybrid)
To be eligible for the MSL program, the minimum requirement is a bachelor or undergraduate degree. No standardized test score (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc.) is required to apply. International students are required to submit English test scores.
How can the MSL degree help your career?
Our MSL program is designed specifically to help working professionals leverage knowledge and understanding of the law so they can be more effective in their careers. Graduates of the MSL program return to the workplace with in-depth understanding of the U.S. legal system. The law touches every aspect of society in all sectors — banking, education, health care, human resources, business, journalism and media, IT, financial services, and other heavily regulated industries.
Earning an MSL degree will help you speak the language of the law, understand contemporary legal issues, and see the law’s real-world implications, as well as develop important legal skills such as communication skills, negotiation and advocacy skills, and critical thinking. These skills and specialized knowledge of the law can translate to any industry or professional field and help you stand out.
Is the degree flexible?
Yes. Our MSL program is designed specifically to allow you to tailor it to fit your needs. You can complete your degree fully online or hybrid (a mix of in-person and online courses). You can study at a pace that matches your busy schedule. You can take anywhere from 1 to 7 credit hours (part-time) or 8+ credits (full-time) in our Fall, Spring or Summer semesters. Choose your own pace: complete the program in as little as 12 months (3 semesters), two years (5-6 semesters), or go at a slower pace (6+ semesters). The maximum duration within which the MSL degree has to be completed is four academic years. To graduate, MSL candidates are not required to complete a master's thesis or a capstone project.
Questions?
Contact MoritzMSL@osu.edu or (+1) 614-292-1241