Master of Legal Studies

Advance your career with skills in criminal law for non-lawyers

Earn a graduate degree in criminal law through flexible, top-ranked learning online or on campus.

#1 in the U.S. for legal master’s graduates

Ahead of Northwestern, Georgetown, USC and Texas A&M
– NCES, 2019-2023

Join one of the best law programs anywhere, from anywhere.

ASU Law offers advanced graduate degrees tailored to professionals seeking to enhance their careers by gaining legal knowledge and skills without becoming lawyers. Available both online and on-campus, the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree with an emphasis in Criminal Law is a flexible program designed to help non-lawyers advance beyond their current roles or explore new career opportunities.

Earning a master’s in criminal law builds expertise in the social goals of the penal system and the variations in laws across jurisdictions. With this unique degree, you can enhance your employability for roles in fields such as law enforcement, corrections, criminal justice, court administration, government agencies, public policy, victim advocacy, social work, forensics, criminology, teaching, compliance, cybercrime and cybersecurity.

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Quick facts

Summer start date: May 19, 2025
Fall start date: August 21, 2025

Total classes: 10
Total credit hours: 30

Online and on campus
No application fee or entrance exam required

Why ASU Law?

As the highest-ranked law school in Arizona, with the No. 24 criminal law program in the U.S., ASU Law has a proven track record of training skilled leaders across industries. The criminal law emphasis at ASU Law is led by some of the nation’s most distinguished criminal law scholars, dedicated to preparing students to promote and pursue criminal justice. Through both foundational and specialized courses, students gain a deep understanding of the criminal justice system. Opportunities to participate in clinics and externships allow students to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings.

Ranked in the top 25% of law schools in the U.S.

– U.S. News & World Report, 2026

#32 best Criminal Law program in the U.S.

– U.S. News and World Report, 2026

Ahead of University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of Utah and University of Washington

#1

ASU worldwide rank for education, employability, faculty and research

– Center for World University Rankings, 2024

7:1

Student-to-faculty ratio for small class sizes and accessible faculty to enhance learning

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MLS Emphasis Areas

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Degree emphasis areas for your career

As a student of ASU Law, you have the opportunity to customize your degree to your area of interest and career goals.

Online On-campus

Arizona Legal Paraprofessional

Online On-campus

Criminal Law

Hear from our students

Heather Ashworth

Master of Legal Studies alum, 2023

“When I started researching MLS programs, I was thrilled to discover the program was offered at ASU. While there are many options, especially now with online programs, ASU had everything I was looking for. Not only is ASU Law one of the top schools in the country, but the program also offered the core focus I was looking for and the flexibility I needed. You can finish the program at the pace that is right for you, one class at a time, or double up and finish in a year.” "

Degree requirements

To be admitted to the Master of Legal Studies program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States or hold a comparable degree from a foreign institution. Graduate school entrance exams (e.g., LSAT, GRE, GMAT) are not required.

On campus and international students

Many of the MLS program’s core courses are available online. On-campus students will complement their on-campus learning experience with electives and core courses taken online. Visit our MLS admissions webpage for more information on applying as an international students.

Sample coursework

In your master’s in criminal law studies, you’ll start by developing a foundation in the legal system and elements of legal reasoning, a shared starting point across all MLS degree emphases. You’ll then focus on areas of the legal system directly relevant to criminal law, selecting from a large catalog of courses including, but not limited to:

U.S. Law and Legal Analysis
Advanced Topics in Criminal Law
Constitutional Law
Criminal Procedure
Evidence

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