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Online Master of Science Degree in Legal Studies

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Earn Your Degree as Early as:
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outcomes
9
Total Courses
$420
Cost per Credit
1 year
Average Completion*
15 Hours/Week
Course Effort

Master’s in Legal Studies (MLS) Overview

Come back stronger and take your career further. Meet the growing demand for legal professionals with an online MLS degree from Purdue Global, the largest university provider of legal support services programs in the U.S.

  • Expand your career opportunities — from business to government to health care, nearly every industry needs professionals with advanced legal education.
  • Gain practical expertise by solving real-world challenges and applying legal principles in a case study format.
  • Learn from expert faculty who are experienced professionals in law, social science, and teaching.
  • Study topics such as: the legal system, dispute resolution, legal research and writing, legal reasoning and analysis, ethical decision-making, jurisprudence, legal history, and substantive areas of law.
  • Choose specialized electives to enhance and expand your area of expertise.

Program Outcomes

  • Apply legal principles and concepts to the analysis of complex social, political, and economic issues.
  • Reflect on the ethical and moral implications of the law and legal processes.
  • Apply principles of leadership to shape change and improve the application and direction of the law and the legal system in relation to institutions and society.
  • Use the skills of a reflective practitioner to analyze and solve problems within a professional context.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

A Community of Support

Learn online, but not on your own. At Purdue Global, you’ll join an active and diverse network of students and alumni.

Join organizations such as the Purdue Global Law Society for further networking and leadership opportunities.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Calculate Your Time and Cost

Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.

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What Courses Will I Take?

Coursework provides a solid foundation in legal doctrine while allowing you to develop and refine your ability to identify and analyze legal issues. Choose electives that build focused expertise in your chosen career field.

All courses are reviewed and revised continually by legal experts to ensure they reflect the most recent developments and legislation.

Sample Courses

  • Legal Methods and Process
  • Ethics and the Professional
  • Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing
  • Family and the Legal System
  • Applied Research in Legal Studies
See All Legal Studies Courses

Program Requirements

7
Core Courses
2
Elective Courses
9
Total Courses
45
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a graduate program. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and, 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Career Opportunities

Demand for legal services is growing and shifting. In addition, the need for legal professionals with regulatory and global compliance expertise is increasing.

The knowledge, skills, and experience you acquire in an online master’s in legal studies program can help you stand out to employers when competing for senior management and administration positions in settings such as corporations, membership groups, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Average Salary

Range

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Earn a Law Degree 1 Year Sooner

Upon graduating, you can apply some of your courses toward an Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) degree at Purdue Global Law School. Save up to $11,772 in tuition and graduate a year sooner. You could earn both a master’s and EJD degree in as few as 4 years. See which courses transfer.

Unlike the JD, which prepares you to sit for the bar exam and practice law, the online EJD is designed to help you build legal expertise to use in your career.

Learn More

Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about the Online Master of Science in Legal Studies and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global. Prepare yourself for success with a master's degree in legal studies.

View Brochure

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Job Growth—Legal Occupations: Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Legal Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/home.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

Largest University Provider of Legal Support Services: Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021–2022 Total Degrees and Certificates Conferred, First Major, Legal Support Services, https://nces.ed.gov/IPEDS. Based on the total number of degrees and certificates granted by Purdue Global compared to other degree-granting institutions.

Program Outcomes: Graduates are not authorized to practice law and will not be eligible to sit for any state’s bar examination. This program was not designed to meet any specific state’s requirements for licensure or certification. Refer to Licensure.PurdueGlobal.edu for state-specific licensure information.

Purdue Global Law School EJD Degree – MSLS: Purdue Global alumni are eligible for a 20% tuition reduction on Purdue Global Law School programs. Tuition savings calculated as 27 credit hours x reduced per credit tuition rate of $436 = $11,772. Savings will vary based on the courses completed in the student’s master’s degree program. Credits apply toward open elective and/or specialty electives in the EJD program.

Time savings based on a student who applies 27 credit hours toward the 3-year EJD program; remaining 45 credits can be completed in 2 years of study. MSLS can be completed in 1.5 years of study when adhering to the recommended course-load each term, taking courses in sequence, and without interruptions such as a leave of absence.