Law - Professional Master of Studies in Law - Online Option

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The Professional Master of Studies in Law (“MSL”) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law is a 30-credit online advanced degree designed for graduates and mid-career professionals seeking to enhance their careers with a versatile alternative to the traditional three-year Juris Doctor degree.

Professional Master’s students gain essential, specialized knowledge of laws and legal systems. Law is a pervasive influence on almost all aspects of life across the globe, but higher education often ill-prepares students and professionals for navigating laws and legal dynamics in business and life. The degree addresses this critical knowledge gap.

Pitt Law commands one of the oldest and most established Professional Master of Studies in Law programs in the country. The degree is now online.  The Online MSL program is a popular and fast-growing program, providing efficiency, flexibility, and affordability. Students can earn their master’s degree in two calendar years in a flexible part-time schedule.

The 15-credit Online MSL series of core courses consists of 7 short courses of between 5 and 8 weeks in length.  Online students take one course at a time along with their starting cohort. The courses are designed as an asynchronous learning opportunity, so students work largely at their own pace, week by week. Course materials are created specifically for professional master’s students.  All courses are carefully designed to combine essential legal and policy content with practice in applying that content in the workplace.

Professors guide students through the core course series, provide personalized feedback to students, offer a weekly optional synchronous session, and are available for online, one-on-one meetings and review sessions.

International students are welcome and encouraged to apply. They must have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree, and they must submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score. International students are encouraged to apply as early as possible because of the greater amount of time needed to process their application.