Protective measures available through intellectual property law allow businesses to safeguard advancements they’ve created and retain an edge in the marketplace. Pursuing this master's emphasis in intellectual property law can provide you with the background needed to:
- Assess when creative advancements are vulnerable to loss.
- Identify potential intellectual property protection options.
- Maintain competitive advantages through various techniques, including brand building.
The importance of intellectual property law
This interdisciplinary program explores fundamental legal principles, facilitating your growth in concepts related to the law, legal writing and more. Intellectual property law is a focus within the curriculum, helping you gain a deep understanding of copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets. By studying intellectual property law, you'll gain the tools to protect your ideas, build a strong brand and manage creative content responsibly. Coursework explores the importance of trade secrets, NDAs and licensing agreements. This knowledge will equip you to handle collaborations, protect confidential information and negotiate favorable deals. Upon graduating, you’ll also have the skills to protect your work across borders and avoid legal risks. These insights are applicable across industries and prepare you for a wide range of professional roles.
What is a degree emphasis? Is it the same as a concentration?
A degree program’s emphasis is similar to a concentration, but there are key differences.
- A concentration is a formalized selection of courses within a major. A concentration requires a minimum of 15 credit hours of which at least nine credit hours must be upper division. Your concentration appears on both your ASU diploma and your transcripts.
- An emphasis is a selected topic area defined within the major. It’s typically 9–12 credit hours and doesn’t need to be officially declared. The emphasis will not appear on your diploma or transcripts.
Explore innovation and creativity through a legal lens in Arizona State University's online Master of Legal Studies with an emphasis in intellectual property. In this program, you’ll build a strong foundation in legal reasoning as well as the systems that protect inventions, artistic works or other original creations. You'll graduate prepared to pursue careers in software, the arts and other innovation-driven fields.
In this program, you’ll learn about topics specific to intellectual property law, ranging from unfair competition to patent limitations. After completing the two required courses, the remaining 8 can be fulfilled by either emphasis area courses or electives of your choice.
The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law faculty has more than 300 combined years of experience. Hailing from across the country, they’re nationally recognized for their wealth of knowledge. Our world-class faculty provides comprehensive legal education in popular focus areas and addresses legal challenges on a global scale.
The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU is one of the top schools in the nation, providing personalized and practical legal education. Offering more than 250 unique courses, students can tailor their educational experiences to meet their unique interests. Our bar passage achievements and peer-reviewed U.S. News & World Report rankings highlight our dedication to preparing students for success.
in Arizona for bar passage
specialty law programs ranked amongst the top 35 in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report
best public law schools, according to U.S. News & World Report
best law schools, according to U.S. News & World Report
Applicants to the Master of Legal Studies program must fulfill the requirements of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
U.S.-educated applicants can apply through our FastApp process, which streamlines the application process and may allow for an offer of conditional admission to the Master of Legal Studies program while the applicant continues to submit any additional requested documentation. Find more information about the FastApp process here.
Possible outcomes from FastApp submission may include:
- Conditional admission
- A request for supplementary documents
- A request to complete the full Master of Legal Studies application with accompanying documents
- Denial
For the FastApp application to be considered complete, it must include:
- The complete Master of Legal Studies FastApp application form and the following uploaded documents:
- An unofficial transcript from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
- Resume that does not exceed three typed pages
If a decision cannot be made from a FastApp, our admissions team may request additional information from an applicant, including any or all of the following:
- Writing sample
- Explanations to affirmative answers to any conduct questions
- Two letters of recommendation
- Transcripts from all institutions attended, including the transcript showing a bachelor's degree was conferred
A minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of an applicant’s bachelor's program is preferred. Prospective students may earn admission with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 if the other assets included in the application package are strong, such as but not limited to:
- A personal statement that addresses a low GPA or inconsistent academic performance
- Improved academic performance in subsequent degrees
- Significant work history since completing a bachelor’s degree
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application
- Official* transcripts
- CV or resume
*Transcripts can be unofficial through the FastApp process. Official transcripts reflecting degree conferral(s) will be required if an applicant is admitted
If English isn’t your native language and you haven’t completed a bachelor’s degree or higher at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S., you must provide evidence of English proficiency.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.
Your diploma will state the degree you earn: Master of Legal Studies. Your emphasis in intellectual property law will not appear on your diploma or transcripts.