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- Apply Now
- Academic Information
- Admissions Requirements
- Program Costs
- JD Admissions
- Request Information
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:
- AlternativeDispute 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.
Explore Our Curriculum View Admissions Requirements Request Information Email Us
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 in-person, 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.eduor(+1) 614-292-1241
By the Numbers
#1
Alternative Dispute Resolution
2023 US News & World Report
#1
Law School
in Ohio
Top 30
Law School
in the US
#17
Health Law
2023 US News & World Report
Testimonials
“Lawyers think in a completely different way. The program gave me a new perspective on my day-today work. I loved the program. It was worth the time commitment, even for a busy professional and mom.”
Nikia Reveal
Vice President, Brand Manager, Huntington National Bank - Class of 2019
“Virtually every job and industry—from the private, nonprofit, or government sectors—are impacted by regulation, legislation, and litigation. The Master in the Study of Law (MSL) program at Moritz provides an exceptional opportunity for professionals seeking a greater understanding of the law without becoming an attorney. The online MSL program will equip professionals with the tools to meet the demands of navigating risk, compliance, and the rapidly changing legal environment.”
Todd A. Starker
Clinical Professor of Law
"The Master in the Study of Law (MSL) program provides students a strong foundation in law that they can put to use in any industry or career that intersects with legal matters such as contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, employment matters, and litigation (avoidance and defense). Students will gain knowledge and acquire skills that will enable them to anticipate and understand potential legal issues, and to be an informed partner to legal counsel. In that way, the MSL program gives students a strategic mindset that will help advance a student’s career."
Colleen Settineri
Assistant Clinical Professor
“As a working professional with a family, I knew it would not be feasible for me to pursue a JD program. I am grateful that Ohio State provided this opportunity for someone like me interested in gaining more knowledge of specific legal practices, regulations, and laws that could help further a current career path or a different career path such as myself. You are able to select the courses in which you have a personal and professional interest, and the program now offers courses specifically for MSL student lifestyles. I have been in higher education my whole life but having an opportunity to make a career change has been the best decision I made when pursuing and completing the program.”
LaShanda C. Coleman
Class of 2022
“The highlight of the MSL program has been applying real-world scenarios that I am interested into our course work. We have had the opportunity to discuss everything from restructuring NFL contracts to settling disputes between record labels and their recording artists. I cannot recall a time that I have been more interested in my coursework.”
Ray Webb
Current MSL Student
“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.”
Amy English
Current MSL Student
