MSL Admissions
Master in the Study of Law
Learn the Law, Elevate Your Career
Considering your next career move can feel like a big leap — the Moritz MSL makes it easier to take that step with confidence. The program gives working professionals practical, advanced legal insight that sharpens judgment and strengthens critical thinking — all without becoming an attorney. It’s a smart way to build legal fluency and stand out in any field that intersects with the law.
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 (online or hybrid)
- Legal Environment of Business (online or hybrid)
- Compliance (online)
- Health Law (online or hybrid)
- Intellectual Property and Technology Law (online or 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.
Important Dates
Choose from three admission deadlines or register to attend our virtual information sessions to learn more about the MSL program.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2026 | Fall Application Deadline |
| December 1, 2026 | Spring Application Deadline |
| April 15, 2027 | Summer Application Deadline |
“I definitely recommend the MSL program as it provides you with the opportunity to develop expertise in your given profession. My advice is to identify what you want to learn, investigate course offerings, talk to administrators to help you formulate your schedule, and really know why you want the degree so that it holds purpose and meaning to you and is not just a thing to obtain. Also, at Moritz College of Law, I love how amenable and open the professors and administrators were in helping me to achieve my educational goals. The professors genuinely want to help you succeed, to help you become your best! They truly cared about my educational goals.”
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.
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 must be completed is four academic years. To graduate, MSL candidates are not required to complete a master's thesis or a capstone project.
Whether you’re exploring professional development opportunities or building a strong foundation for a pursuing master’s degree, the Moritz College of Law’s online graduate certificates offer in-demand skills in a flexible format. Plus, you can stack earned credits toward the MSL program.
Moritz College of Law does not provide scholarships, assistantships, or fellowships. MSL admitted students may explore and apply for assistantships and fellowships at other schools/colleges of OSU.
We also accept payment through FAFSA loans, private loans, and third-parties.
Questions?
Contact Us
Phone
