Master of Legal Studies in Criminal Law & the Justice System

Equip Yourself to Fight with a Criminal Law Degree

The Master of Legal Studies in Criminal Law & the Justice System program, offered completely online, can equip you to help individuals and your organization navigate critical legal issues that can have a major life impact. Taught from a Christian worldview, this program can prepare you through coursework in criminal and constitutional law, constitutional criminal procedure, juvenile law, legislation, and human rights.

Location: Online

Total Credit Hours: 32

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

Credential Prep: Non-Licensure

ENHANCE YOUR CREDENTIALS WITHOUT A J.D.

Earn your Master of Legal Studies degree in just five semesters with this practical alternative to the on-campus 3-year Juris Doctor program. Attend law school online without LSAT requirements.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR COURSEWORK

Complement your Master of Legal Studies with courses in civil liberties, family law, and national security.

EXPAND YOUR EXPERTISE IN CRIMINAL Law & the justice system

Choose coursework from juvenile law and international trafficking to criminal pretrial practice, according to your area of interest.

GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE

Acquire the knowledge required for professional advancement and improved marketability with this online law degree. Regent Law was ranked among the Top 5 in the Nation for Interesting Professors (Teaching) by The Princeton Review, 2020. Our Master of Legal Studies program was ranked among the Top 15 Best Online Law Degree Programs by Intelligent, 2023. Gain the Regent Law advantage with a criminal justice program tailored to your schedule and field of interest.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

Top 25 Best Master's Programs in Virginia, 2025, UniversityHQ.

Regent University ranked #8 of the top 14 online master's in legal studies | Best Value Schools

Career Opportunities

On completing the online Master of Legal Studies in Criminal Law & the Justice System program, you can:

Apply criminal law and demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of law enforcement activities.
Demonstrate an understanding of immigration law and procedure.
Research American law, including cases and statutes.
Communicate knowledgeably and effectively with others on legal issues.

Career Opportunities

Nonprofit advocacy
C-level leadership
National security
Mediation

$71Thousand

Median annual wage of arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023

Featured Courses

Table listing featured courses with course code, name, and credit hours.
Code	Name	Credits
MLAW 533	Juvenile Law	3	Discussion of problems related to minority status, including jurisdiction of the state, detention, responsibility for the crime, rights and responsibilities of the parents, and the constitutional, statutory and case law parameters of the juvenile law system.
MLAW 535	International Trafficking in Persons	3	Overview of the global problem of trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor. The course examines the issue of trafficking from several perspectives: (i) the various international conventions that prohibit trafficking in persons; (ii) regional examples of trafficking and factors that contribute to it such as civil unrest and governmental corruption; and (iii) the United States legislative and foreign policy response to trafficking in persons. This course will focus on trafficking in persons as a human rights violation and the treatment of trafficked persons as a victim of a crime.
MLAW 583	Immigration Law & Procedure	3	Citizenship, acquisition and maintenance of major immigrant and non-immigrant classifications; admission into and exclusion or deportation from the U.S.; and structure and procedures of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Board of Immigration Appeals, Department of State and Department of Labor.
MLAW 634	Criminal Law	3	Focus on the foundations and common law doctrines of criminal law and modern statutory provisions.
MLAW 635	Criminal Procedure	3	Focus on the limitations imposed on law enforcement activities by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Students should refer to their catalog or audited degree plan (ADP) for required courses to complete their degree.

Other Concentrations

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Tuition & Fees

2025-26 Tuition Rates

Part-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$715	6	$4,290
Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Studies	$1,090 (On-Campus)	6	$6,540
Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights	$1,090 (On-Campus) $761 (Online)	6	$6,540 $4,566
Juris Doctor (JD)	$1,400	11	$15,400

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$715	9	$6,435
Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Studies	$1,090 (On-Campus)	9	$9,810
Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights	$1,090 (On-Campus) $761 (Online)	9	$9,810 $6,849
Juris Doctor (JD)	$1,400	15	$21,000

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$900 (Fall & Spring) $750 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$750

J.D. Program Fees Per Semester

Student Bar Association	$80 (per semester)
Bar Preparation Program Fee	$430 (per semester)**
Classroom Response Tech Fee	$17 (per semester)

**To be fully vested and eligible to receive the bar preparation review course upon graduation for no additional cost other than postage, a $250 refundable materials deposit, and state sales tax. J.D. students must pay the $430 fee for six semesters.

Estimated Total Cost of Attendance 2025-26
Full-time J.D. (Fall/Spring Combined)

Tuition	$40,800
University Fees	$1,700
Program Fees	$1,046
Loan Fees	$326
Books & Supplies	$2,000
Food	$5,792
Housing*	$13,120
Transportation	$4,224
Personal	$5,056
Total	$74,064

*Estimated off-campus housing cost. If living in on-campus housing, the amount may vary.

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

2024-25 Tuition Rates

PART-TIME STUDENTS

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$715	6	$4,290
Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Studies	$1,035 (On-Campus)	6	$6,210
Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights	$1,035 (On-Campus) $725 (Online)	6	$6,210 $4,350
Juris Doctor (JD)	$1,360	11	$14,960

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
Master of Arts (MA)	$715	9	$6,435
Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Studies	$1,035 (On-Campus)	9	$9,315
Master of Laws (LLM) in Human Rights	$1,035 (On-Campus) $725 (Online)	9	$9,315 $6,525
Juris Doctor (JD)	$1,360	15	$20,400

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$700

J.D. Program Fees Per Semester

Student Bar Association	$80 (per semester)
Bar Preparation Program Fee	$430 (per semester)**
Classroom Response Tech Fee	$17 (per semester)

Estimated Total Cost of Attendance 2024-25
Full-time J.D. (Fall/Spring Combined)

Tuition	$40,800
University Fees	$1,700
Program Fees	$1,046
Loan Fees	$326
Books & Supplies	$2,000
Food	$5,792
Housing*	$13,120
Transportation	$4,224
Personal	$5,056
Total	$74,064

*Estimated off-campus housing cost. If living in on-campus housing, the amount may vary.

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the Master of Legal Studies program, each student will be able to:

Demonstrate an appropriate level of legal knowledge within the student’s concentration;
Apply legal knowledge in practical settings;
Write knowledgeably and effectively on legal issues;
Explain the relevance of Christian principles to law.

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“The Regent Mentoring Program has been a great experience both in my law school career and beyond. My mentor is Ashley Warner, and we met at the end of my 1L summer. Ashley provided great insight and encouragement regarding the challenges of law school. We stayed in touch after our initial meeting and I interned at the same firm where she practiced during the summer after my 2L year. After graduation from Regent Law, I practiced law at that same firm.”

Stockton Brown, Mentoring Program Mentee

“Regent definitely prepared me every step of the way, from a summer internship and moot court competitions to working with Singer Legal Group and securing a clerkship. I wouldn’t have had those same opportunities anywhere else.”

Kevin Hoffman, J.D., 2014

“When I began working for the state of Texas, I immediately began putting the values of servant leadership and ethics I learned at Regent into practice. My Christian faith holds me together and helps me fight tooth-and-nail as an advocate for justice.”

Grace Pandithurai, J.D., 2010 Assistant District Attorney

“I had always prayed about going to a Christian law school. My experience at Regent exceeded my expectations.”

Lina Sophat, LLM, 2011 American Legal Studies

“At Regent, I became interested in issues of social justice. A big part of my calling is really around leveraging the market to do good. I believe if God is leading students here, He will open the door to a meaningful role where they are making a difference in people’s lives.”

Kyle Westaway, J.D., 2006 Lecturer, Harvard Law; Managing Partner, Westaway Brooklyn, New York