PROGRAM OF THE WEEK - West Virginia University M.L.S.

This is the first in a (hopefully) ongoing series of detailed posts about DL programs that we (moderators) have completed ourselves, have considered in the past, or just find interesting. Whether RA, NA, foreign, or unaccredited (but legitimate/legal), anything that strikes our fancy is fair game. Feel free to comment, especially if you have experience/interest in the program or school.

Please note that this is simply to stimulate discussion/debate among members, and in no way constitutes any recommendation or approval from DegreeInfo.com or any of its owners, advertisers, administrators, or moderators.

Now that the legalities are out of the way, first up.....ironically enough.....is:

School: West Virginia University

Accreditation: Regionally Accredited (North Central Association)

Degree Title: Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.)

Residencies: None required

Credit Hours: 36 semester hours (21 core and 15 electives). Capstone project required.

Admission Criteria: Regionally accredited undergraduate degree (minimum 2.75 GPA), graduate admission exam scores (GRE, LSAT, GMAT), three letters of reference, letter of intent, and resume (exam scores may be waived by petition for those with 5+ years in the legal field).

Program Cost: $12,240 (online M.L.S. students pay in-state tuition).

Program Website: Online Legal Studies M.L.S. | WVU Online

Details: This looks like a great opportunity to earn a non-lawyer legal degree; courses include Legal Research & Writing, Family Law, Employment Law, Healthcare Law, Criminal Law, Commerce Law, Constitutional Law, Media & the Law, and Administrative Ethics. Faculty come from the Department of Political Science, Division of Public Administration, Division of Sociology & Anthropology (Criminology), College of Law, and from practicing attorneys.

For someone with an interest in the law but no need or desire to become a lawyer, this looks like a fantastic, relatively inexpensive program. Providing I survive my doctoral journey, I might break my "nothing past the doctorate" mantra and take a crack at this.

 

This is a good one! Another good comparable would be the M.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Illinois Springfield. Also in-state tuition for all. The department of Legal Studies at UIS also lists a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Labor Relations, 12 sh. Not currently listed as online, but with the distance learning focus at UIS, it could come, and further complicate Bruce's decision-making. :tongue:

 

I like the Integrated Marketing Communications program WVU offer.

Online Integrated Marketing Communications | WVU Online

 

It was a coin flip between the two of which one I was going to post, I just thought the degree title of the WVU program is cool. The UI-S program is also 36 credits, and a wee bit less expensive ($10 per credit hour less, I believe).

Bastard.