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Animal Law Master of Studies in Law (MSL) Program
The first animal law master’s degree of its kind in the U.S.
Animal Law Master of Studies in Law (MSL) Program
The first animal law master’s degree in the U.S.
Designed for Non-Lawyers
To equip non-lawyers for success in their animal law courses, MSL students take an Introduction to US Legal Studies course during their first term to prepare them to read legal cases and engage with legal concepts. In addition, MSL students are graded on a “credit / no credit / honors” basis. As such, they do not receive letter grades (e.g., A, B+, C-, etc.) for final course grades; however, they are eligible to receive an “HR,” or Honors, designation for courses in which they would have earned a B+ or higher.
Graduate in 18 Months or Fewer
- Begin the program in the Fall or Spring term.
- The degree requires 26 credit hours to complete
- Graduate from the part-time program in just four terms: e.g., Fall, Spring, Summer, and Fall.
- Students who take more than the regular number of courses (2-3) per term can graduate in as few as three terms: e.g., Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Animal Law MSL Program Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, MSL applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. or international school. A legal degree is not required. Likewise, an LSAT or GRE score is not required.
Online Animal Law MSL Curriculum
Animal law overlaps with many traditional areas of the law such as torts, criminal, constitutional, and property law. It is rooted in the practical application of statutory and decisional law but also explores legal theory and jurisprudence. In animal law we ask fundamental questions about the nature of legal rights and interest. Among other things, we examine how the law creates and entrenches power imbalances, as well as how those imbalances impact animals.
Courses are rigorous and diverse, taught by renowned animal law scholars and practitioners from around the world. Students learn from many of the same accomplished and nationally recognized faculty who teach the in-person MSL program. Courses are delivered via an easy-to-use online asynchronous platform. Online MSL students will complete readings, listen to prerecorded lectures, and submit assignments by established deadlines—on a schedule that works for them.
Animal Law MSL students can look forward to a curriculum (subject to change) that features:
- Animal Law Fundamentals
- Animal Law Trial Advocacy
- Aquatic Animal Law
- Industrial Animal Agriculture Law
- International Animal Law
- Introduction to US Legal Studies
- Companion Animal Law
- Crimes Against Animals
- Food Law
- Global Wild Animal Law
- The Law & Ethics of Animal Testing; and
- Nonprofit Animal Law
Important Dates
Fall Semester Begins
August 12th, 2024
Fall Application Deadline
May 19th, 2024
"As the first of its kind in the US, if not the world, our groundbreaking Animal Law MSL degree equips non-lawyers with the legal knowledge, skills, connections, and insight necessary to effect critical change for animals. We are excited for our first MSL graduates to take their place as a new generation of animal law advocates."