MSL Degree offers flexible curriculum, enhancement of legal knowledge
By: James Grega, Jr.
For many considering law school, the Juris Doctorate degree is the most common choice for getting a legal education.
However, for those who want to simply enhance their legal knowledge, the MSL Degree at the Moritz College of Law is also an option.
This was exactly the path for MSL student Eric Vendemia, a member of the Student Athlete Support Services Office at The Ohio State University.
“I was always interested in law school. I thought maybe I would be a sports agent, if I couldn’t play professional sports,” Vendemia, who was a member of the men’s track and field team at Youngstown State University, said. “Initially I was going to go to law school, but I still had to work full-time and so I landed on the MSL program.”
The MSL Degree at the Moritz College of Law offers a flexible and customizable curriculum. A student can select to pursue a General Track or a Concentration Track. In either track, one can take anywhere from 1 to 7 credit hours (part-time) or 8+ credits (full-time) in Fall, Spring or Summer semesters.
While the degree must be completed within a maximum of five years, a student can complete the program in as little as 3 semesters (i.e., between 12-15 months), 5-6 semesters (i.e., approximately 2-2.5 years), or go at a slower pace, over 6 semesters (i.e., 2.5 to 4 years). Students enrolled on a part-time basis will be expected to complete the MSL degree within four years from the date of first matriculation in the program.
“The MSL program is fantastic when it comes to its flexibility,” Vendemia said. “It offers fully remote courses in the evenings, but I have personally enjoyed going in person and sitting in the lecture halls. I have enjoyed the experience.”
Vendemia, who has been a Senior Athletic Academic Counselor for Ohio State’s athletic department since 2018, said with the ever-changing nature of college athletics, he wanted to make sure he secured a better understanding of the legal aspect of his profession.
“I just wanted to provide myself with more opportunities and different ways to approach my own job,” Vendemia said. “In any walk of life, just having the legal awareness is important. College athletics is becoming more politically involved. I think the knowledge I have gained will not only help myself, but the student-athletes I work with at Ohio State.”
Ultimately, Vendemia said the MSL program has challenged him to think more critically and view legal situations from a variety of viewpoints, better preparing him for the next step in his professional career.
“You can take what you want from an article or book, but you’ll find that another individual in class will have a completely different angle on it,” he said. “That is exciting, because it keeps you open-minded. You get different perspectives being in class with both JD students and MSL students and I really enjoy what everyone brings to the table.”