Frequently Asked Questions

Academics

• What courses can I take?
• Can I focus on a specific area?
• Are there any required courses?
• What are the requirements for graduation?
• Will I be taking courses with J.D. students or just MSL students?

Admissions

• How do I apply?
• What are the requirements for admission?
• What is the application deadline?
• Are international students eligible for admission to the MSL program?

Costs and Financial Aid

• What is the cost?
• What is the cost of living in San Francisco?
• Is there any financial aid available?

General

• I am not a Health or Science professional. Can I still apply for the MSL program?
• Who will benefit from the Master of Studies in Law degree?
• I own my own business. Is the MSL program for me even though I am not an academic?

MSL Program

• Is it possible for MSL students to transfer to the J.D. program?
• Do I have to attend school full-time? Or are there part-time options?
• Do you offer weekend or evening classes?
• How many students are in the Program?
• How long is the Program?

Academics

What courses can I take?

There are a variety of courses available to MSL students in order to meet their diverse needs and interests. Students will choose coursework in consultation with their faculty advisor and the UC Hastings Associate Academic Dean. Besides the required courses, students can choose from a wide variety of courses. View Sample Courses.

Can I focus on a specific area?

With guidance from UC Hastings' world-class faculty, MSL Students can focus on a variety of areas including:

• Health Law and Policy
• Science and the Law 
• International Law and Human Rights
• International Business
• Government and Administrative Law
• Mediation and Dispute Resolution
• Criminal Justice
• Criminal Law and Forensics
• Business and Entrepreneurship (Contracts, Tax, and Corporations)
• Evidence and Expert Witnesses
• Intellectual Property
• Family Law
• Food and Drug Law
• Reproductive Health Law
• Social Justice and Advocacy

Are there any required courses?

Yes. All MSL students must take the following courses:

• Legal Research and Writing for MSL Students (Fall, 2 units)
• Intro to Law (Fall, 2 units)
• At least one of the following first-year classes in the first semester: Civil Procedure 1, Constitutional Law 1, Contracts 1, Criminal Law, Property, or Torts

What are the requirements for graduation?

In order to earn an MSL degree, students must complete a total of 28 units, which includes both required and elective coursework. MSL students are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

Will I be taking courses with J.D. students or just MSL students?

MSL Students have access to a the full range of course offerings at UC Hastings. MSL students take two courses designed for MSL students: Legal Writing and Research, and the MSL Seminar. All other courses will be a mixture of J.D. and MSL students.

Admissions

How do I apply?

The MSL application process is self-managed, which means that the applicant is responsible for assembling the various pieces of the application file and mailing them as a single, complete package to UC Hastings. Please view the Application Checklist for a list of all requirements.

What are the requirements for admission?

To be considered for admission to the UC Hastings MSL Program, candidates must have earned a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree, candidates must satisfy ONE of the following conditions:

1. Have earned a graduate degree, or be currently enrolled in a graduate-level program in a field other than law, or
2. Have substantial professional experience in a field other than law.

What is the application deadline?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis starting October 1st. The application period goes through May 1st. The priority deadline for financial aid is March 1st. If you plan on applying for financial aid, you will need to submit your application and any financial aid documents by that date. After March 1st, financial aid decisions will be made on a funds-available basis.

Are international students eligible for admission to the MSL program?

Candidates who have earned a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent at a university outside of the United States or Canada are welcome to apply. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree, candidates must satisfy ONE of the following conditions:

1. Have earned a graduate degree, or be currently enrolled in a graduate-level program in a field other than law, or
2. Have substantial professional experience in a field other than law.

Students who have received their undergraduate degree from a country other than the U.S. or Canada must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved foreign credential agency. Visit the following websites for more information:

ACREVS, Inc. www.acrevs.com

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) www.ece.org

World Education Services (WES) www.wes.org

Students applying for the MSL program who did not earn their Bachelors’ degrees (or the equivalent) at an English-medium undergraduate program should submit an official TOEFL score report OR an official IELTS score report. The UC Hastings code for the TOEFL score report is 4342. The score should be less than five years old.

Costs and Financial Aid

What is the cost?

Tuition and fees for the 2012-2013 academic year are $44,520 with no distinction made between in-state and out-of-state residents. Please visit Fiscal Services to view a breakdown of the tuition and fee schedule.

What is the cost of living in San Francisco?

Estimated living expenses, including housing, food, transportation, books and supplies, and federal loan fees, are $21,156. This estimate is based on a nine month academic calendar and is the same whether the student is living on or off campus.

Is there any financial aid available?

There are a number of merit scholarships available to exceptional MSL students. In order to be considered for a scholarship, please indicate on your MSL application that you are interested in financial aid. Applicants who are interested in merit scholarships will need to submit their applications by March 1st.

Full-time students and part-time students (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents only) who are taking at least six credit hours a semester are eligible for the federal loan program, which includes the Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Graduate PLUS Loans. MSL students applying for financial aid should submit the FAFSA and the UC Hastings Financial Aid Supplement form by March 1st. For additional information, please visit Financial Aid.

General

I am not a Health or Science professional. Can I still apply for the MSL program?

Yes. UC Hastings has expanded the MSL program to include other academics and professionals. If you have a graduate degree or substantial professional experiences in a field other than law, you may wish to focused your degree on one of the following areas:

• International Law and Human Rights
• International Business
• Government and Administrative Law
• Mediation and Dispute Resolution
• Criminal Justice
• Criminal Law and Forensics
• Business and Entrepreneurship (Contracts, Tax, and Corporations)
• Evidence and Expert Witnesses
• Intellectual Property
• Family Law
• Food and Drug Law
• Reproductive Health Law
• Social Justice and Advocacy

Who will benefit from the Master of Studies in Law degree?

Many professionals increasingly deal with the modern regulatory state, participate in legal processes, research legal actors and institutions, and interact with legal systems. The MSL is designed for professionals who want to have a sophisticated understanding of legal reasoning and doctrine, but who do not need the three-year J.D. degree.  

I own my own business. Is the MSL program for me even though I am not an academic?

Yes. One of the many benefits to the MSL program is that it can be tailored to individual interests and needs. A business owner or entrepreneur may wish to focus their elective course work on contracts, tax, corporation and intellectual property law.

MSL Program

Is it possible for MSL students to transfer to the J.D. program?

No. At this time, MSL students cannot transfer to the J.D. program.

Do I have to attend school full-time? Or are there part-time options?

We recognize that individuals interested in the MSL program will have varying time commitments. To accommodate these needs, the MSL program at UC Hastings is offered both on a full-time and part-time basis. Course requirements are the same for both programs. Please see enrollment options for more details.

Do you offer weekend or evening classes?

No. At this time we do not offer any weekend or evening classes.

How many students are in the Program?

Our inaugural class has 13 students.

How long is the Program?

Full-time students will be expected to complete their degree requirements in two consecutive semesters in one academic year. The part-time MSL program is meant to accommodate working professionals who cannot complete their degree requirements in one academic year. Part-time MSL students must complete their degree requirements within four years of enrolling in the program.