Master of Science in Legal Studies: Masters Degrees in Legal Studies Online

If you have an interest in the law and social issues and wish to incorporate that interest into your career, consider earning a Master of Science in Legal Studies at Kaplan University. Our online program is designed for busy, working adults from diverse career and cultural backgrounds who want to further their knowledge of the legal system without the pressures of law school or studying for the bar exam. When you complete this online program you will earn the valuable credentials many employers demand, while acquiring legal knowledge and skills you can apply throughout your future career.

A Career-Oriented Master's Degree

This master's degree program was developed by professionals in law, social science, and teaching, and is guided by a national advisory board of subject matter experts in a variety of law-related areas. The curriculum is outcomes-oriented, which means we challenge you with real-world experiences to help you develop skills relevant to a variety of career fields. Each course includes a clearly defined set of goals, so you always know what is expected of you and how you are doing. Our online class sizes are limited, so you will receive the level of personal attention you desire.

Intensive Study Areas | Curriculum | Tuition and Fees

Program Highlights

Start building a strong foundation of legal knowledge by completing the program's core requirements. These specialized online courses are designed to help you:

Develop practical skills in dispute resolution, ethical decision making, legal terminology and writing, and use of the law library
Focus on how to apply legal principles and concepts to solve real-world social, economic, political, and institutional problems within a professional context
Reflect on the ethical and moral implications of the law and legal processes
Complete a practicum and a research report to demonstrate your ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in your online coursework to real-world legal scenarios

What are the Career Opportunities?

When you graduate with a Master of Science in Legal Studies you may qualify for a variety of positions requiring legal expertise, such as risk manager or compliance officer. Administrative positions requiring knowledge of the law may be found in health care organizations, such as HMOs, insurance companies, and regulatory agencies. The knowledge, skills, and experience you acquire while earning your master's degree may help you stand out to employers when competing for senior management and administration positions with corporations, nonprofit organizations, associations, membership groups, educational institutions, or government agencies.*

Intensive Study Areas for the Master of Science in Legal Studies

To further develop your expertise, you may choose electives that focus on one of the following intensive study areas:

Examine the legal foundations for the establishment of colleges and universities in the United States as well as the rules and regulations governing administration, funding sources, and accreditation. Explore aspects of managing an institution of higher learning and review policies affecting federal and state funding, budgeting, and sources of financial support.

Study to develop basic financial competence required to of financial literacy to fulfill legal requirements for health care organizations. Explore the roles and relationships between federal and state governments in the delivery of health care services. Study federal statutes related to Medicare, Medicaid, Stark, and HIPAA and the contractual, legal, and procedural aspects of the relationship of professionals to health care institutions. Coursework involves role playing to simulate real-world negotiations within health care organizations.

Explore intellectual property law as it applies to music, digital media, and other forms of entertainment. Examine content ownership and distribution, syndication, and licensing. Study current issues and future changes in the music industry as they relate to content generation, exposure, and revenue.

Explore the organization, function, and interaction within state governments. Examine American local, state, and federal legislative institutions and the processes used to enact new legislation. Cases will be used to explore the judicial role in the legislative process. Engage in hands-on exercises to gain an understanding of how administrative agencies develop policy issues produce administrative rulings and supporting memoranda.

Education and the Legal System
Health Care Delivery
Legal System and the Media
State and Local Government

Curriculum for the Master of Science in Legal Studies Applied Research Track

Course #	Course Title	Credits
LS 500	LEGAL METHODS AND PROCESS	5 LEGAL METHODS AND PROCESS This course introduces students to the legal system. The course will examine the organization of the court system, the different types and sources of the law, the roles of professionals in the legal system, and the way the law is created. Students will study the parallel court system in the federal and state system, as well as the development of rulings and procedures of administrative agencies. In addition, the course will explore laws made in a legislative body.
LS 501	ETHICS AND THE PROFESSIONAL	5 ETHICS AND THE PROFESSIONAL This course will explore the concept of ethics and its relationship to the professional. The course will examine concepts of normative ethics, professional behavior and moralistic ethics, and the relationship of ethical decision making to institutions and organizations in society. The focus will be on general ethical principles and the determination of fundamental and common values in society that govern societal institutions.
LS 502	LEGAL RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND WRITING	5 LEGAL RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND WRITING This course focuses on reading, analyzing, and applying the law found in a variety of legal sources including cases, statutes, administrative rulings, and journal articles. Topics will include methods to analyze cases to determine the facts, issues, analysis, and holdings of a case as well as determining the meaning and purpose of statutes, legislative enactments, and administrative rulings. Students will engage in a variety of legal writing, including case briefs, memoranda, and opinions, and will engage in computerized research and develop skills in writing as well as proper citation of legal materials.
LS 503	JURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL HISTORY	5 JURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL HISTORY This course will provide students with a view of the sources and historical\development of legal principles as well as the philosophical foundations of American legal principles. Students will develop an understanding of significant trends in American legal history as well as current trends in development of law and the philosophy of the law that is the underpinning of many public policy actions.
LS 504	APPLIED RESEARCH IN LEGAL STUDIES	5 APPLIED RESEARCH IN LEGAL STUDIES In the first of two courses in applied research in legal studies, students will be introduced to applied research within the profession, which encourages adoption of the role of a reflective practitioner who seeks to simultaneously understand and change the professional setting. Students will examine the history of applied research and the intersection of applied research and experimental research. This study allows participants to develop an understanding of the processes and how they can impact their own professional setting.
LS 698	APPLIED RESEARCH	5 APPLIED RESEARCH Students experience the art and science of applied research while they develop the tools of reflective inquiry and collaborative practice. Students will engage in analysis of current issues and challenges to explore and practice applied research methods as a logical extension of professional practice. Integral to this process is the examination of both informal and systematic ways to ask and answer questions. Students will design a research plan for their own applied research project.
Choose one of the following courses:
LS 506	UNDERSTANDING CIVIL RESPONSIBILITY	5 UNDERSTANDING CIVIL RESPONSIBILITY This course explores the resolution of private disputes between citizens and institutions in society. The students will study the methods established by society for the measure of appropriate conduct in personal and institutional relationships as well as the remedies provided for the violation of those measures. Students will also study the process provided for the resolution of those disputes and the remedies in place in society.
LS 507	UNDERSTANDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY	5 UNDERSTANDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY This course explores the processes of establishing individual responsibility for violation of individual societal standards of behavior and the remedies for violations of those standards. Students will study the requisite state of mind necessary to prove criminal conduct, the specific types of crimes, punishments for crimes, and defenses. Students will also study the impact of criminal conduct and standards on societal institutions and organizations.
LS 508	FAMILY AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM	5 FAMILY AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM Students will study the role of the family in society, definitions of the family, organization of the family as an institution, and the interrelationships between family and family members. Students will also study basic concepts of marriage, divorce, custody, and support as well as issues affecting the elderly.
LS 509	CONTRACTS AS PRIVATE LAW	5 CONTRACTS AS PRIVATE LAW This course will deal with the concept of the contract as a tool in society of individuals to establish private law through agreement. Students will study basic elements of the contract including offer and acceptance, damages, and restitution as well as the relationship of the contract as a foundational aspect of societal institutions and organization and the philosophical underpinnings of the contract as an interface between law and society.
*This is a capstone course.

Course #	Course Title	Credits
	INTENSIVE STUDY AREA REQUIREMENTS / LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVES	20 INTENSIVE STUDY AREA REQUIREMENTS / LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVES

Course #	Course Title	Credits

LS 620	HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND FINANCE	5 HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND FINANCE The health care industry is one of the nation's fastest-growing and largest industries. Health care executives, managers, and professionals must possess basic financial competence to govern effectively. This course will introduce students to the foundations of financial literacy to enable them to fulfill their roles.
LS 621	FEDERALISM AND THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM	5 FEDERALISM AND THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM In this course, students will learn about the role of the federal government and the relationship between the federal and state governments in the delivery of health care services. Students will engage in an intensive study of federal statutes, such as Medicare, Medicaid, Stark, and HIPAA, and through that process will gain an understanding of the shared responsibilities in delivering health care. The instructor and students will select a health delivery issue and work through the legal, political, and health care issues involved in resolving that issue.
LS 622	PROFESSIONALS AND HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS	5 PROFESSIONALS AND HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS In this course, students will study the contractual, legal, and procedural aspects of the relationship of professionals to health care institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, surgical centers, and drop-in clinics among others. The instructor and students will work through these relationships by simulating the role of a physician seeking hospital privileges, developing a contract between a health care provider and a managed-care organization, and analyzing the roles of health care delivery personnel in a drop-in clinic. The students and instructor will be involved in the development of supporting documents associated with these roles.
	LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE	5 LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE

Course #	Course Title	Credits

LS 605	ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF STATE GOVERNMENT	5 ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF STATE GOVERNMENT This course will explore the organization of state governments, the function of each primary area, and how they interact. Students will examine functional and dysfunctional government structures and analyze what works and why. In addition, they will examine innovative practices in large bureaucratic structures and best practices and the use of technology tools to improve functioning.
LS 606	LEGISLATIVE PROCESS	5 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS This course examines American legislative institutions at the local, state, and federal levels and the processes that are used to enact new legislation. Legislative bodies pass, on an annual basis, laws that regulate or affect all of our lives. This course will familiarize students with legislative materials. Cases will be used to explore the judicial role in the legislative process.
LS 607	GUBERNATORIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS	5 GUBERNATORIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS In this course, students will engage in the hands-on process of conceptualizing and developing a ruling from an administrative agency. The course will begin with an intensive study of the executive branch of government at the state level and the role of administrative agencies. The instructor and students will work together as if both were actually in roles in a state administrative agency. They will develop a policy issue, review it in light of the goals of the governor's agenda, the relationship to the legislature, and the existing state law, and at the end of the course produce an administrative ruling with supporting memoranda.
	LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE	5 LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE

Course #	Course Title	Credits

LS 510	INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT	5 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT This course will explore the progression of content distribution and entertainment intellectual property laws, how these two have impacted each other, and the challenges caused. Students will examine questions that arise on a daily basis regarding content distribution, licensing, and syndication, explore the philosophy of "ownership" around content, discuss the legal differences between content for promotion versus content for revenue generation, and examine the challenges faced in determining those differences.
LS 511	MUSIC CONTENT IP--BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS	5 MUSIC CONTENT IP--BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS This course will explore all aspects of the music industry as it relates to revenue-generating and exposure-generating sources for the content creator.
LS 512	CURRENT AND FUTURE ISSUES IN MUSIC LAW	5 CURRENT AND FUTURE ISSUES IN MUSIC LAW This course will explore critical issues/changes as they relate to current or potential future shifts in music content generation, ownership, exposure, revenue, and/or distribution.
	LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE	5 LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE

Course #	Course Title	Credits

LS 515	LEGAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES	5 LEGAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES This course examines the legal foundations for the establishment of colleges and universities in the United States. Specific inquires will be directed toward the formation of colleges and universities, the governance of the institutions, the funding sources for the institutions, and the accreditation of the institutions. Several types of institutions will be analyzed including public colleges and universities, private colleges, traditionally black colleges, and two-year colleges. New developments with online and international institutions will also be discussed.
LS 516	RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING HIGHER EDUCATION	5 RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING HIGHER EDUCATION This course examines faculty issues in higher education. Specific topics include tenure and promotion issues covering liberty, property, contracts, expectations of continued employment, and race issues. In this course, students will examine considerations when firing faculty including termination for cause, seniority and age discrimination, financial exigency, program discontinuance, faculty density, collective bargaining, remedies, and relief. Students will also explore issues related to faculty research and regulation including informed consent and ethics, biotechnology, national security controls, and secrecy. Finally, students will thoroughly examine faculty misconduct and conflicts of interest, intellectual property, and collective bargaining.
LS 517	MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION	5 MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION This course will explore college and university student issues. The course will start with the legal relationship between the institutions and students, then it will discuss in loco parentis and due process as it applies to students. Tort theories, contract theories, student admissions, and grades will be examined as well as all kinds of student dismissals, whether they are for academic, disciplinary, or misconduct infractions.
	LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE	5 LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVE

Total Program Requirements	55 Total Program Requirements

Core Requirements
Intensive Study Area
Intensive Study Area/Health Care Delivery
Intensive Study Area/State and Local Government
Intensive Study Area/Legal System and the Media
Intensive Study Area/Education and the Legal System
Total Program Requirements

Curriculum for the Master of Science in Legal Studies Comprehensive Exam Track

Course #	Course Title	Credits
LS 500	LEGAL METHODS AND PROCESS	5 LEGAL METHODS AND PROCESS This course introduces students to the legal system. The course will examine the organization of the court system, the different types and sources of the law, the roles of professionals in the legal system, and the way the law is created. Students will study the parallel court system in the federal and state system, as well as the development of rulings and procedures of administrative agencies. In addition, the course will explore laws made in a legislative body.
LS 501	ETHICS AND THE PROFESSIONAL	5 ETHICS AND THE PROFESSIONAL This course will explore the concept of ethics and its relationship to the professional. The course will examine concepts of normative ethics, professional behavior and moralistic ethics, and the relationship of ethical decision making to institutions and organizations in society. The focus will be on general ethical principles and the determination of fundamental and common values in society that govern societal institutions.
LS 502	LEGAL RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND WRITING	5 LEGAL RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, AND WRITING This course focuses on reading, analyzing, and applying the law found in a variety of legal sources including cases, statutes, administrative rulings, and journal articles. Topics will include methods to analyze cases to determine the facts, issues, analysis, and holdings of a case as well as determining the meaning and purpose of statutes, legislative enactments, and administrative rulings. Students will engage in a variety of legal writing, including case briefs, memoranda, and opinions, and will engage in computerized research and develop skills in writing as well as proper citation of legal materials.
LS 503	JURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL HISTORY	5 JURISPRUDENCE AND LEGAL HISTORY This course will provide students with a view of the sources and historical\development of legal principles as well as the philosophical foundations of American legal principles. Students will develop an understanding of significant trends in American legal history as well as current trends in development of law and the philosophy of the law that is the underpinning of many public policy actions.
LS 602	COMPREHENSIVE EXAM CAPSTONE	5 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM CAPSTONE As a final step in the Master of Science in Legal Studies, students may choose the nonthesis option and successfully complete a comprehensive exam. This comprehensive exam incorporates the program outcomes of the Master of Science in Legal Studies program. This exam is designed to carefully assess a student’s overall learning in the program. Successful completion of the exam allows both student and faculty to measure and acknowledge a successful learning experience for the student.
Choose one of the following courses:
LS 506	UNDERSTANDING CIVIL RESPONSIBILITY	5 UNDERSTANDING CIVIL RESPONSIBILITY This course explores the resolution of private disputes between citizens and institutions in society. The students will study the methods established by society for the measure of appropriate conduct in personal and institutional relationships as well as the remedies provided for the violation of those measures. Students will also study the process provided for the resolution of those disputes and the remedies in place in society.
LS 507	UNDERSTANDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY	5 UNDERSTANDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY This course explores the processes of establishing individual responsibility for violation of individual societal standards of behavior and the remedies for violations of those standards. Students will study the requisite state of mind necessary to prove criminal conduct, the specific types of crimes, punishments for crimes, and defenses. Students will also study the impact of criminal conduct and standards on societal institutions and organizations.
LS 508	FAMILY AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM	5 FAMILY AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM Students will study the role of the family in society, definitions of the family, organization of the family as an institution, and the interrelationships between family and family members. Students will also study basic concepts of marriage, divorce, custody, and support as well as issues affecting the elderly.
LS 509	CONTRACTS AS PRIVATE LAW	5 CONTRACTS AS PRIVATE LAW This course will deal with the concept of the contract as a tool in society of individuals to establish private law through agreement. Students will study basic elements of the contract including offer and acceptance, damages, and restitution as well as the relationship of the contract as a foundational aspect of societal institutions and organization and the philosophical underpinnings of the contract as an interface between law and society.

Course #	Course Title	Credits
	INTENSIVE STUDY AREA REQUIREMENTS / LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVES	25 INTENSIVE STUDY AREA REQUIREMENTS / LEGAL STUDIES ELECTIVES

Total Program Requirements	55 Total Program Requirements

Core Requirements
Elective Requirements
Total Program Requirements

You Could Save Time and Money on Your Kaplan University Degree

Credit for Prior Learning

If you already earned course credits at another institution, you may qualify for transfer credit that can be applied toward your program requirements at Kaplan University. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs for graduate programs. Refer to the University Catalog for our transfer of credit policy.

Students in the Military

Kaplan University is proud to support our military and veterans in their educational pursuits by offering significantly reduced tuition. Undergraduate program tuition is reduced up to 55 percent for active-duty servicemembers and up to 38 percent for veterans. In addition, Kaplan University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for all of our graduate programs, and both active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for special tuition rates for these programs. A 10 percent tuition reduction is also available to spouses of active-duty servicemembers. For more information, call 866.583.4412 (Toll Free) to speak to a military Admissions Advisor or visit the Kaplan University military site.

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour	$368.00
Total program requirements Master of Science in Legal Studies Applied Research Track	55
Total cost of tuition	$20,240.00
Cost per credit hour	$368.00
Total program requirements Master of Science in Legal Studies Comprehensive Exam Track	55
Total cost of tuition	$20,240.00
This program requires a $100 technology fee per term. A nonrefundable application fee, depending on your program and as described in the Tuition and Fees Supplement, may be required at the time of enrollment. We encourage you to explore the availability of financial aid and scholarships. For more information, contact an Admissions Advisor.

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*Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.

Master of Science in Legal Studies

School of Legal Studies