Legal Studies

The Master of Arts in Legal Studies degree program seeks to expand students’ academic and professional development by providing a solid foundation in legal doctrine and concepts, while expounding on students’ ability to identify and analyze legal issues within the workplace environment. It is designed for students who are not interested in practicing law, but who wish to develop a better understanding of the law as it affects their legal and non-legal careers, interdisciplinary research, or other areas of interest.

The program prepares its graduates to pursue career opportunities in law and law-related fields, government, business, or as a background for further graduate study.

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning outcomes objectives, the Master of Arts in Legal Studies seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. Graduates in this degree program will be able to:

• Analyze the constitutional, juridical, philosophical, and ethical perspectives of the law.
• Generate analytical and critical thinking in legal writing.
• Evaluate and identify areas and issues needing study and analysis using legal research.
• Assess the relationship between the social organization of legal institutions and the legal profession in society.
• Evaluate the complex relation between the law and justice as dictated and mediated by societal conditions and forces.

Core Requirements

• LSTD502Criminal Law
• LSTD503Criminal Justice Process
• LSTD504Methods of Legal Research and Writing
• LSTD505Methods of Legal Research and Writing
• LSTD506Property Law
• LSTD508Contract Law
• LSTD509Tort Law
• LSTD510Constitutional Law

Our university welcomes international applicants from many countries around the world. We are an online university and students are not required to enter the U.S. Therefore, we do not issue I-20 or DS-2019 forms for the F-1 or J-1 student visas.In addition to the admission requirements for undergraduate or graduate study, we may require additional documents related to residency, English proficiency, and educational background. Our institution maintains the right to require this documentation when needed.Master's degree and graduate certificate students with graduate-level credit to transferBachelor’s degree verification required as noted above.Students wishing to transfer credit to their master’s degree or graduate certificate must submit a Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) application. The TCE is optional at the graduate level. Only graduate-level courses are eligible for transfer at this level of study.Those that earned their graduate-level credit at a CHEA or AUCC accredited institution must provide an official copy of their transcript for the TCE. Those that earned their graduate-level credit at a non-CHEA or non-AUCC accredited institution must have a course-by-course evaluation for U.S. equivalency conducted by an APUS-approved agency for the TCE.Applicants residing in the U.S. are required to have a current U.S. residency card, appropriate current Visa, or Social Security Number card and are required to submit that documentation to APUS for record retention.Depending on the country of citizenship applicants may be required to provide documentation of English proficiency before being able to register for class.Non-U.S. TranscriptsAs an international student, you must have your non-U.S. college and university transcripts (those not accredited by CHEA or AUCC) evaluated by a credential evaluation agency, listed below, that can interpret your educational background received outside the United States and provide statements of U.S. equivalencies.Agency Issued ReportsEvaluation agencies will complete your evaluation in one of two ways:Degree-only verification: Verifies the type of degree earned and whether or not the non-U.S. institution degree is equivalent to one earned at an accredited U.S. institution.Course by course evaluation: Verifies whether or not the non-U.S. institution is equivalent to an accredited U.S. institution and includes a separate report that provides U.S. semester credit, grade equivalent, and level equivalent (graduate or undergraduate) for each course. This report is used for Transfer Credit Evaluations (TCE) and three year non-U.S. bachelor degrees.Accepted Credential Evaluation AgenciesYou are responsible for contacting one of these accepted foreign education evaluation agencies to have your non-U.S. transcript evaluated, and to receive procedure and fee information:Office of International Education Services, Credentials Analysis Service at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. (AACRAO)Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) – We only accept the academic report which includes the earned credential equivalency and a course-by-course report.National Association of Credential Evaluation Services National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Current Members Only*Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Current Members Only**Because membership may change throughout the year, visit the NACES or AICE websites to see the most current information.Agencies Should Use the Following Address to Send Transcript Evaluations:American Public University SystemAttn: Document Services10110 Battleview Parkway, Suite 114Manassas, VA 20109Please note: Faxed evaluation reports are not considered official. English Proficiency for International StudentsNon-exempt, non-U.S. citizens must provide verification of English proficiency by submitting the results of a standardized test.The university's preference is for students to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, but we would accept the other standardized tests listed below as well.Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Paper Based Test-520 with TWE of 4.0 Internet Based TestReading 21 Writing 23International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic VersionReading 6.0 Writing 6.0Tests Requiring University Approval FirstTo submit one of the following tests in place of the TOEFL or IELTS, contact international@apus.edu for approval.ACT EnglishSAT VerbalAdvanced Placement International English Language (APIEL)General Certificate of Education (GCE)International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGSCE)General Certificate of Secondary Education (GSCE)Transcripts and Other Documentation NeededThe following types of individuals are required to provide us additional documentation and should read the relevant sections below for details on the necessary documentationNote: If you are an undergraduate student with no previous college credit, or if you are a non-degree seeking student, we will not need any transcripts.Undergraduate Students with Previous College CreditIf you are an undergraduate student with previous college credit and you have not earned a bachelor’s degree or above yet, we need:Official transcripts sent from all previous institutionsTCE application for transfer credit reviewIf the course work was completed at an institution not accredited by a U.S. recognized body, you will need to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an international education agency. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550

International applicants are required to pay each course in full using a U.S. credit card or money order. The Automatic Debit Plan (ADP) payment option is available when used with a credit card drawn from a U.S. institution.

Suggestions for international students seeking financial assistance to fund their studies at APUS:

• Contact their Ministry of Education – explore scholarship, grants or loan possibilities

• Contact private lenders – companies or banks

• Seek sponsorship from a personal investor

Accreditation

American Public University is part of the American Public University System (APUS), which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC accredits degree-granting institutions located in a 19-state region, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

ED formally recognizes accrediting commissions that meet all federal standards, and CHEA extends recognition to accrediting bodies and their institutions that meet these established standards. Accreditation should be important to you because it determines a school’s eligibility for federal and state financial aid, and may influence acceptance of transfer credits and admission to accredited graduate schools.

In addition to our HLC accreditation, our B.S. in Nursing program, as well as many of our business programs, have obtained specialized accreditation from external accrediting organizations in these specific disciplines.

Credits and degrees earned through APUS may be recognized for promotion, assignment, and position qualification standards within the military, federal government, and private sector. For students transferring to other colleges, APUS credit is considered transfer-eligible based on its accreditation. However, APUS cannot guarantee that its credit will be accepted, as acceptance of credit is always the prerogative of the receiving institution.

Institutional Accreditation

This level of accreditation requires a significant amount of self-study and presentation of evidence to satisfy the demanding requirements of accrediting organizations. Obtaining accreditation with HLC demonstrates our focus on providing academic excellence and the best possible experience for our students.

As an accredited institution, our university is eligible to participate in federal educational entitlement programs such as military tuition assistance, government tuition reimbursement programs, the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill, and many corporate education assistance programs. In addition, APUS has been granted approval by the Department of Education to participate in Title IV Federal Student Aid Programs.

Further information on recognition policies and standards may be found on the following websites:

U.S. Department of Education (ED)

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

(800) USA-LEARN (800-872-5327)

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 510

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 955-6126

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500

Chicago, IL 60604

(800) 621-7440

View the APUS 2011 HLC Reaccreditation letter

Specialized Accreditation

In addition to our HLC accreditation, our university has obtained specialized/programmatic accreditation through appropriate governing organizations for the specific academic programs listed below. The curriculum for these programs meets the higher standards required by these external accrediting organizations.

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Business School

A.S., B.S., and M.S. in Accounting; A.A. in Business Administration; Bachelor of Business Administration; Master of Business Administration; B.A. in Marketing; A.A., B.A., and M.A. in Management; A.A. and B.A. in Retail Management; A.A. and B.A. in Hospitality Management; B.A. and M.A. in Transportation and Logistics Management; and A.A. in Real Estate Studies.

The B.A. and M.A. in Reverse Logistics Management and the B.A. and M.A. in Entrepreneurship programs within the School of Business are not accredited by ACBSP. They will be eligible for accreditation once they have been standing for a minimum of two years and each has at least one graduate.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

B.S. in Nursing (RN to BSN)

CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.

Council for Education for Public Health (CEPH)

At this time, our university is not accredited by CEPH, and our prior application for CEPH accreditation lapsed on January 1, 2013. However, the governing body of the CEPH, at its June 2013 meeting, formally approved our request to begin the accreditation process for our Master of Public Health program. The steps and timeline for the CEPH accreditation process are subject to modification, and there is no assurance that we (or any institution seeking accreditation) will achieve this accreditation.

Professional Recognition and Affiliation

Management

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Sports and Health Sciences

American Sport Education Program (ASEP) (B.S.)

National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) (M.S.)

Information Systems Security

National Security Agency (NSA) - Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation (IACE)

Child and Family Development

National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)

School of Education, M.Ed. Teaching, M.Ed. Educational Leadership, M.Ed. School Counseling

WV state approved educator certification programs (WVDE)