Flexibility: A Curriculum You Personalize
To earn an MSL degree, you will be required to complete at least 30 credits. The degree does not require a master's thesis or capstone project.
You may enroll in a part-time program or full-time program, and select to pursue a General Track or a Concentration Track. Students can start in the Fall, Spring or Summer semester.
The full-time program requires completion of the program within 3 semesters (12 months) with approximately 10 credits per semester. An extension of one additional semester is possible upon prior approval by the MSL program administrators.
Part-time program students may enroll in 5-6 semesters (i.e. approximately 2-2.5 years), or go at a slower pace, up to four years. Part-time students typically take between 5-6 credits per semester. Upon prior approval, the MSL degree may be extended to a maximum of five years.
We will be offering online options combined with over 100 in-person courses available throughout the academic year.
Required Courses
All MSL students, in the Concentration Track or the General Track, are required to take two online courses designed for MSL students to gain foundational understanding of the U.S. legal system as well as of how to conduct legal research, reading and analyzing legal materials, and communicating like lawyers:
- Intro to the US Legal System, LAW-8525 (3 credits)
- Legal Research and Writing, LAW-8550 (3 credits)
General Track
Through the General Track, you can personalize your MSL degree and design your own curriculum that meets your career goals. With the General Track, you can enroll fully online, fully in-person (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 in-person courses), or hybrid (a mix of online and in-person courses). Your academic advisor will work with you to select courses that meet your career goals.
Concentration Track
Concentrations are not required for graduation in the MSL program. You can personalize your MSL education by pursuing the Concentration Track, and choosing a concentration that aligns with your career needs and goals.
To graduate with a concentration, you are required to take at least 15 credits of core and elective courses within each concentration. To complete the remaining credits needed to complete the 30-credit requirement, you are free to select any other courses of personal interests, either online or in-person. Note that if you wish to pursue a concentration through a fully online curriculum, as of now, only the Compliance concentration is fully online. For other concentrations, you will need to plan a hybrid curriculum with a mix of online and in-person courses.
Compliance is a broad and growing field that cuts across all areas of law and all industries. You’ll develop skills in analyzing risks and designing and managing compliance functions and learn about topics like legislation and financial crime.
A study of the statutory and common law governing the business environment, this concentration provides the opportunity to learn advanced legal areas like business associations, employment and labor law, corporate finance, taxation, and more.
Explore required, core and elective courses for Legal Environment of Business
Health care is one of the most regulated industries in the world, leading to a host of legal and bioethical questions. With the recent passage of comprehensive health care reform, it is also one of the fastest-growing areas of law. Health care practitioners need a strong foundation in business law, administrative law, and torts.
Due to recent scientific and technological advances, lawyering in the digital age has become increasingly important and complex. This concentration includes study in the principal forms of protection: copyright, trademark and patent law. You can also study issues related to the Internet and technology and protecting both copyright and ownership of material as well as privacy.
Explore required, core and elective courses for Intellectual Property and Technology Law
Increasingly, courts are moving beyond traditional trials and appeals to help clients find satisfactory resolutions to their agreements. Negotiation, mediation, arbitration and other processes are helping parties reach a satisfying outcome. This concentration is for those interested in litigation, transactional, and government practice as well as management and leadership.
Explore required, core and elective courses for Alternative Dispute Resolution