Master of Business Administration vs. Master of Legal Studies

When planning for the future, it is important for professionals to consider which degree path can provide them with skills that closely align with their goals.

A Master of Legal Studies is a specialized degree program that can help legally minded professionals stand out in a crowded job market. Students will enhance many of the same soft skills as in an MBA program, such as communication, critical thinking, and problem solving, but they will focus on gaining expertise in law instead of management and quantitative skills.

MBA vs MLS: At a Glance

Criteria
Typical Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Pepperdine Online Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Primary Goal
Prepares leaders for management and broad business strategy
Prepares non-lawyers with specialized legal expertise for their industry
Core Skills
Economics, accounting, data analytics, marketing
Contracts, regulatory compliance, negotiation, administrative law
Admissions
Often requires GMAT or GRE scores
No GRE, GMAT, or LSAT scores required
Program Length
18 to 36 months, on average
16 to 28 months to complete

Master of Business Administration

While MBA programs can vary widely, students in a typical MBA program can expect to:

  • Take courses in economics, accounting, data analytics, marketing, and other business topics.
  • Prepare for roles in businesses or nonprofits leading people or strategy.
  • Submit standardized test scores, such as the GMAT or GRE, as part of their application.
  • Graduate in an average of 18 to 36 months.

Master of Legal Studies

In Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s online Master of Legal Studies program, students can expect to:

  • Take courses in contracts, regulatory compliance, negotiation theory, administrative law, and other legal topics.
  • Graduate in 16 months if taking a full-time course load or 28 months if taking a part-time course load. See sample course schedules.
  • Apply to the program without having to submit scores from the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or other standardized test.
  • Excel in law-adjacent fields such as healthcare administration, public policy, regulatory agencies, criminal justice, and dispute resolution.

FAQs about MBA vs MLS

  • This depends on your career goals. An MBA is a generalist degree focused on business management and strategy. The online MLS is a specialist degree designed to give you in-depth expertise in legal topics like contracts, compliance, and negotiation, which are all directly applicable to HR and compliance roles.

  • MBA graduates often pursue roles in finance, marketing, or general management. MLS graduates are prepared for law-adjacent fields such as healthcare administration, public policy, regulatory agencies, criminal justice, and dispute resolution.

  • Pepperdine’s online law program does not offer a dual MLS/MBA degree. We do offer an MDR/MLS dual degree for students interested in mastering both legal studies and dispute resolution.