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About our Master of Legal Studies Online Program
Build upon your existing knowledge of law, legal doctrine, and legal concepts with a master's degree in legal studies from American Public University.
The interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Legal Studies is designed for law-related professionals looking to increase their legal insight. Through this dynamic program, you'll explore legal terminology, practices, and values, as you develop a working knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and procedures. To prepare you for the rigor of your legal responsibilities, our master’s degree program will challenge you to develop sound legal research and communication skills.
American Public University is part of American Public University System (APUS), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission accredits degree-granting institutions nationwide and is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
NOTE: Although some states do not require a Juris Doctor for bar entry, this program does not prepare you for the practice of law or admission to the bar of any state based solely on completion of this program. Completion of American Public University’s Master of Legal Studies online program does not qualify an individual to sit for the bar exam in any state.
What You Will Do in our Legal Studies Program
- Integrate legal research and writing skills into a variety of communications
- Facilitate the creation of new solutions to complex societal legal issues through critical thinking and analysis
- Design innovative legal solutions with technology
Degree at a Glance
$386.75** | $409.50***
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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 2578
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2579
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4053
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4054
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4050
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4051
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4052
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3850
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Choose 6 credit hours from this section.
Course ID: 2739
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3909
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2829
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4356
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2816
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2747
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2686
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2581
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4284
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4489
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4490
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3551
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3555
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 5126
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 07/28/24 | Spring 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 09/29/24 | Summer 2024 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 10/27/24 | Summer 2024 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3964
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 08/25/24 | Summer 2024 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4947
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 4534
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
12/25/23 - 05/31/24 | 06/03/24 - 09/22/24 | Spring 2024 Session C | 16 Week session |
01/29/24 - 06/28/24 | 07/01/24 - 10/20/24 | Summer 2024 Session A | 16 Week session |
02/26/24 - 08/02/24 | 08/05/24 - 11/24/24 | Summer 2024 Session K | 16 Week session |
03/25/24 - 08/30/24 | 09/02/24 - 12/22/24 | Summer 2024 Session C | 16 Week session |
What is a Master of Legal Studies?
Unlike a law degree, a master of legal studies degree is for professionals who are interested in gaining an advanced working knowledge of the law but aren't looking to become a lawyer themselves. Our Master of Arts in Legal Studies program covers topics such as:
- Ethics
- Legal research
- Legal writing
- Legal regulations
- Legal procedure
- Legal systems
You may be surprised to discover the diversity of roles held by those with a degree in legal studies. The field includes a wide range of professions such as paralegals and legal assistants, as well as those in human resources, health care compliance, higher education compliance, operations, or other disciplines interfacing with lawyers regularly.
Advantages of our Master of Legal Studies
A Master of Arts in Legal Studies helps further your understanding of the law and its impact on various areas of life and work. Having a master of legal studies deepens your understanding of the legal system, legal doctrines, business law, and more.
This knowledge can be advantageous, particularly for those involved in heavily regulated industries dealing with:
• Financial regulatory compliance
• Healthcare privacy compliance
• Intellectual property law
• Cybersecurity and online privacy
• Human resources and employment law
As a pioneer in online education, American Public University offers a highly engaging program with the added convenience of flexible coursework. Our program is ideal for working professionals, with online classes starting monthly. To keep college affordable, we also offer no-cost applications, many transfer credit opportunities, and no-cost transfer credit evaluations.
We're also proud to share that American Public University is part of American Public University System, which ranks in the top 11% for return on investment.1
1Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report, Ranking 4,500 Colleges by ROI (2022), based on a 20-year return on investment, or net present value.
Evolution of the Legal Studies Field
Demand for paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 4 percent between 2022 and 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The responsibilities of some of these roles have expanded and evolved in recent years, offering challenging opportunities for non-lawyers. Notably, the American Bar Association updated its definition of paralegals to distinguish them from legal assistants, noting that paralegals “....perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.”
Several fields are seeing an increased demand for legal knowledge. For example, as online data increases, there is a growing need for legal professionals as electronic discovery personnel who deal with digital evidence. The market research group Research and Markets estimates the worldwide e-discovery market will grow by more than $9.3M by 2027. Likewise, as health law continues to evolve, there is an associated need for regulatory affairs professionals in biotech and life sciences businesses.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed October 2023] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Practice of law is defined by state bar associations. Students must check with their respective state bar associations to learn more about attorney and non-lawyer legal professional licensing requirements. Note: American Public University is not a law school.
Our online master of legal studies program is built around you and your schedule. To complete weekly assignments, you can log into your classes at any time, allowing you to build legal knowledge at your convenience.
You can explore the legal system through in-depth discussions with experienced faculty and fellow students, many of whom are working legal professionals. Peer-to-peer discussions are designed to widen your perspective by sharing diverse views on how the discipline of law is handled in different regions and sectors.
Through these discussions, you'll expand your knowledge and legal skills on a vast array of topics, from criminal law to constitutional law as well as research and writing. Today's pressing legal issues are addressed in additional courses. Courses have covered areas such as:
- Environmental law, policy, and regulation
- Immigration law
- Employment and human resources law
- Law, ethics, and cybersecurity
- Sports law
- Space law
About Our Faculty
Our faculty brings real-world experience about the legal system, having served as judges, assistant attorneys general, legal advisors, and related roles. As attorneys and scholar practitioners, they are passionate about leading thoughtful discussions with students.
These discussions offer the foundation needed to understand a range of legal concepts—and open doors to helping people in need. According to The Justice Gap, a report by Legal Services Corporation, low-income people in America are particularly impacted by a lack of access to legal support. Our online master of legal studies affords you the opportunity to understand the law and potentially discover ways to improve access to justice for people who have traditionally been disenfranchised. For service-minded students interested in fair access to justice, faculty members bring ethical service and leadership insights to the legal discipline.
Ways to Save When Earning Your Degree
We understand that many students are worried about the cost of higher education. At American Public University, we're breaking through barriers by keeping costs as affordable as possible. We are here to support you in accessing financial aid and tuition assistance in a number of ways.
- Federal Student Aid: Access financial aid, grants, and loans accepted by American Public University.
- Employer Benefits: Check with your employer's human resources department on the types of programs covered under their tuition assistance benefit. Some organizations have partnerships with American Public University, which can afford additional benefits. Ask your HR department whether they partner with our University.
- Scholarships & Loans: Hundreds of organizations have provided scholarship opportunities for American Public University students.
- Tuition Assistance for Military Personnel: Take advantage of low tuition rates to help limit costs beyond military tuition assistance. Contact us to request information about your eligibility for our Preferred Military Rate.
- Veteran Benefits: Let us help you navigate educational benefits, such as GI Bill®, Top-Up, and Survivors & Dependent Benefits programs, offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
How to Save Time and Money Earning your Degree
Earn the credits you deserve for completed academic courses, work and volunteer experience, as well as demonstrated competency gained in a particular subject area. For master’s degree programs, we accept up to 15 credits towards transfer1. Contact an admissions representative to ask about a no-cost transfer credit review. This evaluation will help determine whether you have opportunities to earn credits that will transfer to American Public University.
1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University’s transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Earning this advanced degree helps demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to the field. Mastering the discipline can be valuable across a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, human resources, biotechnology/pharmaceutical/medical, financial, and other regulated businesses as well as government agencies. Gaining deep knowledge of legal principles and legal concepts helps prepare for interactions with attorneys and related professionals.
While it is easy to confuse the two, they are not the same. Both are advanced degrees, but they serve different purposes. A law school degree is for individuals looking to practice law as an attorney. A master’s of legal studies degree is for anyone looking to increase their understanding of legal principles, but not looking to become a practicing attorney.
American Public University is not a law school.
Depending on coursework completed, knowledge gained from a master of legal studies, also referred to as an MLS degree, can often be applied to many diverse needs such as:
- Cybersecurity and information privacy
- Conflict resolution
- Human resources compliance
- Healthcare compliance
- Financial compliance
Admission Requirements
- All APU master's degree/graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®).
- Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
- There is no fee to complete the APU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.
CHEA® is a registered trademark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Materials Cost
Most courses in this program use Open Educational Resources (OER). These teaching, learning, and research materials are made available to you at no cost, meaning there are minimal book costs associated with earning this degree.
Technology fee: $85 per course
Need Help?
Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions coach at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].
Consumer Information
Disclosures
Maryland Residents learn more about costs, completion rates, median debt, and more.
1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.
*Cost Per Credit Hour
The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.
See all military student benefits.
Cost of Attendance
Learn more about American Public University's cost components and full cost of attendance.