McGeorge offers the innovative and versatile Master of Science in Law (MSL) to professionals who seek the benefits of advanced training in legal reasoning and analysis but who do not require the JD degree for their career plans. The degree enhances many professions and is ideal for business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, human resource and other professionals in today's economy. With so many businesses and industries being impacted by constantly changing laws and regulations, having knowledge and training in legal analysis can be advantageous in dealing with those everyday law-related issues. Our MSL program is designed to help professionals gain and apply the legal skills required to excel and advance in their careers.
McGeorge faculty will work with each student to develop a customized curriculum with a rigorous legal grounding that is infused with real-world, practical examples, skills-based learning, and experiential opportunities. Students will also experience intense interaction and collaboration with a cohort of like-minded professionals who are seeking to increase their own skills. Finally, opportunities will be created for each student to put their new skills to work in California’s capital city.
Building upon the long-standing expertise and the foundations for regular and substantial opportunities for interaction with classmates and McGeorge faculty, we are excited to announce the creation of three online degree programs launching in Fall 2019. These degrees will allow individuals to maximize flexibility; pursuing professional and personal commitments while simultaneously enjoying a high-quality academic experience.
The McGeorge MSL program also offers the following focus areas:
- Business Law — Online
- Government Law & Policy — Online
- Health
- Human Resources
- Water & Environmental Law — Online
Questions?
Contact the Graduate & International Programs Office
Email | 916.739.7019
Master of Science in Law Curriculum
Students accepted into the program can anticipate receiving guidance from our nationally and internationally renowned faculty on individual curricular plans. Students can go full or part-time; 26 units are required to earn the M.S.L. degree, which includes two required courses, a set of elective choices, and for those who are interested, a supervised capstone paper or project.
Required Courses
| LAW 101 | Contracts/Analytical Skills | 4 |
| LAW 212 | Intro. to Legal Analysis | 2 |
| On a case by case basis, Contracts/Analytical Skills can be substituted for: | ||
| LAW 115 | Criminal Law | 2-4 |
| LAW 125 | Property | 4 |
| LAW 131 | Torts | 4 |
| Elective Courses - LAW, MSL, PUB courses or see concentrations | ||
| Students may elect to choose from a variety of courses, and to customize their course selections to meet their interests and career goals. | ||
Business Law Concentration (Online Program)
| First Semester Required Courses | ||
| LAW 101 | Contracts/Analytical Skills | 4 |
| LAW 212 | Intro. to Legal Analysis | 2 |
| Second Semester Required Courses | ||
| LAW 530 | Business Organizations | 3 |
| LAW 699X | Negotiations | 3 |
| Summer Session Required Courses | ||
| LAW 217 | Leadership in Organizations for Graduate Students | 1 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 1-2 |
| Upper Division Course Electives for the Second Year (choose from this list) | 12 | |
| Survey of Intellectual Property Law | ||
| Legislatures and Lawmaking | ||
| The Executive Branch and the Administrative State | ||
| Employment Law - Online | ||
| Contract Drafting | ||
| Election Law - Online | ||
| Lobbying & Politics | ||
| State and Federal Taxation | ||
| Government Law & Policymaking | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Directed Research, Graduate Level | ||
| Capstone MBA Course in Business Strategy | 3 | |
Health Concentration
| Sample Courses | ||
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 304 | Mental Health - Policy and Law | 2 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 503 | Legislation and Statutory Interpretation | 3 |
| LAW 517 | Statutes and Regulations | 3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 570 | Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 572 | Public Health Law | 3 |
| LAW 576 | Cap. Lawyering and Pol. Making | 2 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 745 | Elder Law and Social Policy | 3 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
Human Resources Concentration
| Sample Courses | ||
| LAW 110 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 405 | Worker's Compensation Law | 2 |
| LAW 433 | Employment Law | 3 |
| LAW 500 | Administrative Law | 3 |
| LAW 526 | Mediation | 2-3 |
| LAW 576 | Cap. Lawyering and Pol. Making | 2 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 2 |
| LAW 780 | Sexual Orientation and Gender ID | 2 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 826 | Negotiating Disputes Into Deals | 1 |
| LAW 991 | Directed Research, Graduate Level | 1-3 |
| LAW 989 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
Government Law & Policy Concentration (Online Program)
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| LAW 217 | Leadership in Organizations for Graduate Students | 1 |
| LAW 502 | The Executive Branch and the Administrative State | 3 |
| LAW 505 | Legislatures and Lawmaking | 3 |
| LAW 576-O | Government Law & Policymaking | 3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 1-2 |
| Electives | ||
| LAW 230 | Water Resources Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 510 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 513-O | Lobbying & Politics | 3 |
| LAW 528 | Online Dispute Resolution | 1 |
| LAW 567-O | Election Law - Online | 3 |
| LAW 583 | Water & Environmental Justice | 3 |
| LAW 621 | International Water Resources Law Seminar | 2-3 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 989 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| LAW 991 | Directed Research, Graduate Level | 1-3 |
Water and Environmental Law Concentration (Online Program)
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| LAW 217 | Leadership in Organizations for Graduate Students | 1 |
| LAW 230 | Water Resources Law | 2-3 |
| LAW 502 | The Executive Branch and the Administrative State | 3 |
| LAW 505 | Legislatures and Lawmaking | 3 |
| LAW 507 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| LAW 706 | Persuasive Public Speaking | 1-2 |
| Electives | ||
| LAW 510 | Natural Resources Law | 3 |
| LAW 513-O | Lobbying & Politics | 3 |
| LAW 567-O | Election Law - Online | 3 |
| LAW 576-O | Government Law & Policymaking | 3 |
| LAW 583 | Water & Environmental Justice | 3 |
| LAW 621 | International Water Resources Law Seminar | 2-3 |
| LAW 802 | Negotiation and Settlements Seminar | 2 or 3 |
| LAW 989 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| LAW 991 | Directed Research, Graduate Level | 1-3 |
Learning Outcomes
- Identify legal issues that arise in student’s professional context; Recognize and make use of legal language and field knowledge; Find and evaluate legal resources in library and online.
- Identify and distinguish legal sources; interpret legal texts, such as statutes and cases; apply legal methodology to differentiate and prioritize legal issues, to deduce likely outcomes, and to evaluate competing positions.
- Select, apply, and adapt interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills in professional context; employ legal methodology in professional writing tasks.
- Collaborate with lawyers and others to evaluate and resolve legal issues.
- Identify legal ethical issues that arise in one’s profession and develop strategies to address them consistent with legal precepts.
