Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
For professionals who are interested in understanding the nuances of legal principles and advancing in their careers, choosing the right path in legal education can be a challenging process. While both a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) and a similar graduate certificate offer valuable insights into healthcare regulations, risk management, and compliance, the MLS provides a more comprehensive career advantage that a certificate alone cannot match. Below, we break down the key differences to help you make the best decision for your professional growth.
Core Knowledge and Active, Practical Application
One of the main reasons to begin any graduate program is not only to gain disciplinary knowledge, but also to learn complementary skills that will help you immediately apply your learned knowledge on the job. An MLS degree offers two key advantages over a graduate certificate: an expanded knowledge base and wider practical application. This is a key difference when comparing an MLS vs graduate certificate: the former provides a broader legal foundation.
A healthcare compliance certificate covers only essential legal knowledge in a narrow focus area. This makes it ideal for individuals already working in the field looking to supplement current expertise with some legal underpinnings. In contrast, the MLS provides a more comprehensive education. This includes the legal foundations as well as a wider range of topics within healthcare compliance. These topics encompass industry regulations, ethical decision-making, and risk assessment within the scope of accepted industry practices.
Expanding Job Opportunities
Masters’ degrees are key to setting yourself up for a promotion, changing careers, or simply building a stronger resume. An MLS degree will prepare you for all three of these things! Compared to a graduate certificate, an MLS degree offers greater opportunities for career advancement. This is because it strengthens your credentials and also carries more weight with employers.
Employers increasingly value candidates with a master’s-level education, making choosing between an MLS vs graduate certificate even more important. A graduate certificate can be advantageous for professionals who want to enhance their current role or gain specialized knowledge quickly. However, because of its limited scope, a certificate may not qualify you for advanced roles in compliance or regulatory affairs. On the other hand, an MLS degree equips graduates with the legal expertise required to address complex compliance challenges. This makes MLS graduates more competitive in the job market.
MLS program curriculums are also more streamlined and consistent. Employers uniformly understand them as covering the essential legal concepts and practical skills application. As such, there is no need to explain what you’ve learned. Your training in legal fundamentals and practical application speaks for itself. This specialized preparation gives graduates a holistic understanding of compliance, preparing them for more advanced positions in healthcare. As a result, professionals with degrees are currently in high demand. Many senior compliance and regulatory roles now require a master’s degree.
Time Well Spent or Just Time Spent?
In today’s competitive marketplace, you need to spend both your time and money wisely. A MLS provides more ROV (Return on Value) than a certificate. In the long run both will benefit you financially. However, the MLS also helps you build your professional network, improve your public speaking skills, and participate in community projects.
When comparing MLS vs graduate certificate programs, it’s clear that the MLS delivers more return on investment.
A graduate certificate requires fewer credits and can be completed in less time than an MLS degree. This can seem like a good option for professionals seeking a quick educational boost. However, because it lacks the depth of a master’s program, the long-term career benefits are also limited. While it requires more coursework, the MLS degree is not just a piece of paper. Instead, it provides both short-term and long-term benefits. In the short term, it gives you the opportunity to participate in networking events, improve soft skills, broaden your disciplinary skill set, and give back to your community in a meaningful way. In the long term, it significantly broadens your career opportunities and allows you to pursue more advanced and higher paying roles. It’s more than a credential; it’s a strategic investment in your future.
Are you ready to start?
If you are a working professional in healthcare looking to enhance your legal knowledge and increase your earning potential, the MLS is the perfect option. This program is ideal for anyone looking to make a transition into healthcare compliance.
A graduate certificate can be a stepping stone. However, the MLS offers a comprehensive, well-rounded education that prepares you for a successful long-term career in healthcare compliance. The Western State College of Law Master of Legal Studies is a 24-month program that allows you to continue working while you study. It is specifically designed to meet you, a working adult learner, where you are. Classes are rigorous, but meant to be taken one at a time, allowing you to balance all the priorities in your life. Classes run in 8-week sessions and are fully asynchronous and online. Choosing the MLS over a certificate demonstrates your commitment to mastering healthcare law and ensures you stand out as a highly qualified professional in the field.
Admissions Requirements
Applying to the Master of Legal Studies program at Western State College of Law is a straightforward process that is designed for working professionals as well as recent graduates. To be eligible, applicants will need to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Our admissions team is interested in candidates who are motivated, intellectually curious, and ready to engage with the legal concepts that shape today’s industries.
As part of the application, prospective students will need to submit a completed program application form, along with a personal statement that outlines their goals and reasons for pursuing the MLS degree, and a current resume detailing their academic and professional background. In addition, applicants are required to provide at least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to their qualifications, character, and potential for success in a graduate-level program like the MLS.
While submission of GRE or LSAT scores is optional, applicants are welcome to include them if they feel that the scores may enhance their overall application. Western State College of Law at Westcliff University takes a holistic approach to the admissions process, considering both academic credentials as well as professional experience to find prospective students who will thrive in the program and contribute meaningfully to the learning environment.
Learn more about our MLS program, here.