Degree: Master of Laws (ML)
Our 30 credit hour Master of Law Degree is designed for U.S. or foreign-trained undergraduate or graduate students who do not have an initial law degree and are seeking U.S. legal training but not a full JD at this time. This degree is helpful for students planning to work in related fields but who do not need a full JD degree, students who are looking for relevant legal training as part of a dual graduate degree but do not plan to practice law, and those who are looking to bolster their credentials before applying to JD programs.
Program Requirements
The School of Law offers a Master of Laws (ML) program to students who do not have prior legal training. This program allow students to develop an individualized plan of study with options to gain exposure and immersion into the legal theory and practices, engage in comparative study of the U.S. and other international legal systems, or to focus within a particular specialization of legal study.
Specific degree requirements for each of these programs will be developed in consultation with the ML program director, and will be based on the student's goals and interests, available courses, and prior coursework completed. The degree requires a minimum of 30 credits hours earned over at least two semesters of study.
Concentrations
The ML program has the option to be focused in a particular area of study, leading to the ML degree conferred with a formal curricular concentration. To earn an optional concentration, at least 12 credit hours of the degree must be taken in courses specific to the concentration. The ML program director and the student will need to develop a specific plan of courses that can be used to satisfy the requirement for a curricular concentration.
Currently, we offer curricular concentrations in the following areas:
- Criminal Law
- Health Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- International Law
- International Business Law
- International Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Public Law
