Legal Studies Online Degrees

American Military University's legal studies program is designed for those interested in entering the vast network of professional support for the legal community. American Public University System is an officially recognized member of the Law School Admissions Council (lsac.org). Our ID number is 5070.

Take the next step and complete a no-fee application.

We want you to make an informed decision about the university that's right for you. For more about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, visit www.apus.edu/disclosure.

• Available Programs

  • A.S. in Paralegal Studies
  • B.S. in Legal Studies
  • Undergraduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies
  • M.A. in Legal Studies

• Why Choose AMU?

  Academic Quality meets Affordable Tuition

  American Military University (AMU) provides quality and affordable online education to U.S. Armed Forces, members of the public safety, service and national security communities, and working adults in a wide range of fields. AMU closely partners with industry organizations and is highly respected by public service, intelligence, homeland security and criminal justice communities for developing curriculum that is relevant to today’s job market. AMU is a member of the regionally accredited American Public University System. Here’s why more than 100,000 students make us their school of choice.

  • #1 most popular provider of education to the U.S. military*
  • Admission fees are waived for active duty, guard and reserve members 
  • No application or technology fees; and textbooks are provided at no cost to all undergraduate students earning academic credit 
  • Active duty tuition assistance covers up to 100% of undergraduate tuition and up to 75% of graduate tuition for as many as six courses per year**
  • Affordable tuition that is 20 percent less than the average four-year public university’s in-state rates according to the College Board’s 2010-2011 study
  • Save time and money by transferring previous education and training credits
  • Nationally recognized for quality online education and effective practices 
  • Experienced faculty; many who are executives in government and nonprofit organizations including the United Nations, State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
  • 96% of AMU seniors say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their education
  • 97% of AMU seniors say they would recommend AMU to friends and colleagues

  To get started, complete our no-fee application now.

  *based upon 2011 DoD enrollment figures for U.S. servicemembers
  **refer to your service's policy on tuition assistance eligibility and availability

Video Spotlight

AMU Feature Video
Just what is online learning all about? Hear from our faculty and students about how AMU achieves academic excellence each day through online learning and take a tour of our virtual campus and classroom.

Student Spotlight

Pat Guthoff, Alumnus
Bachelor of Arts, Legal Studies

Pat Guthoff, an Area Operations Manager for a cable company, wanted to jump-start his legal studies career he began years ago. Earning his BA was a life goal for Guthoff. “As I’ve told people,” he says, “it took me 30 years to find the right school and two minutes to decide on AMU.” He found that 90 credit hours from other college work would transfer to AMU, immediately establishing him as a senior. “I resumed the legal studies track I began 25 years before,” he says. Not only did Pat work full-time while he pursued his online degree, he also served with the New York State Guard. With a family and a crowded calendar, he used every spare minute for studying — arriving early at work, staying late and devoting lunch hours to learning. Guthoff also uses his new knowledge in the Guard, where he works with Judge Advocate General (JAG) units as a paralegal. There, he creates legal documents for service members who are deployed overseas. “I wanted an independent legal studies program where the subject was the center of attention — and not the classroom,” says Guthoff, who believes that online universities are ideal for working adults.

Faculty Spotlight

Constance A. St. Germain Driscoll
Program Director
J.D.: University of Baltimore

Professor St. Germain currently serves as the Director of the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Programs for American Public University System (APUS).

Formerly, she was an attorney in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Her assignments include XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina where she served as an attorney for the US Army Claims Service; the 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina where she acted as a Legal Assistance attorney, Administrative Law attorney, and Chief of Administrative Law; US Army Trial Defense Service (TDS), Fort Riley, Kansas where she practiced as a Trial Defense Counsel and tried over 86 felony cases in addition to providing legal defense services to the 12,000 soldiers stationed at Fort Riley; the 22nd Legal Support Organization (LSO) Trial Defense Service, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where she served as a Trial Defense Counsel; the 154th Legal Support Organization (LSO), Trial Defense Service, Alexandria, Virginia where she acted as the S-3 and Trial Defense Counsel; and the US Army Defense Appellate Division, Arlington, Virginia where she worked as an Appellate Defense Attorney.

Professor St. Germain has extensive experience in both trial and appellate litigation. A graduate of the Naval Justice School Capital Litigation Course, she defended, at an appellate rehearing, a military inmate sentenced to death.

After leaving active duty, Professor St. Germain went into private practice where her main areas of concentration were property law, and wills, trusts, and estates.

Professor St. Germain attended George Mason University where she received a B.A. in History and was inducted into the History Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta. She subsequently attended the University of Baltimore School of Law, <i>am jured<i/> in International Law, and earned her Juris Doctor degree. She immediately joined the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and after attending the Officer Basic Course, she promptly headed off to the U.S. Army Airborne School, Ft. Benning, Georgia.

Professor St. Germain has been with APUS since 2003. She currently teaches LSTD301 Constitutional Law, LSTD502 Criminal Law, LSTD503 Criminal Justice Process, LSTD507 International Law, and LSTD506 Property Law.

Professor St. Germain is admitted to practice in Vermont, Virginia, and Maryland, before the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the US District Court for the District of Vermont.