Paralegal Studies, AS
The purpose of the A.S. in Paralegal Studies is to provide students with the basic skills necessary to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. This degree is designed mainly for students who have not attended college before or those who have a limited amount of previous college credit. All of the courses in the Paralegal Studies Certificate are included in the A.S degree. Therefore, we encourage A.S. students to add the Certificate as a secondary curriculum.
Please note that paralegals and other non-lawyers may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law. Note also that all Legal Studies and Paralegal Studies students are required to take at least nine (9) semester credits or equivalent of legal specialty courses through face-to-face or online synchronous instruction. Transfer students must provide proof of such credits if taken elsewhere.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core IMPACTS | 42 | |
| All core curriculum recommendations are shown under the Core IMPACTS section of the Undergraduate Graduation Requirements. | ||
| Lower Division Field of Study Requirements | 18 | |
| PARA 1101 | Introduction to Law & Ethics 1 | 3 |
| PARA 2203 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| PARA 2205 | Legal Research & Writing | 3 |
| Any 2000-level PARA course | 3 | |
| Any 2000-level PARA course | 3 | |
| Any 2000-level PARA course | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
Please Note: This is a suggested course sequence and assumes a starting freshman with no prior college credit.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1101 | English Composition I Core Area A1 | 3 |
| Non-Science/Math Course Core Area A2 | 3 | |
| CRIT 1101 | Critical Thinking Core Area B1 | 3 |
| POLS 1101 | American Government Core Area E1 | 3 |
| PARA 1101 | Introduction to Law & Ethics * | 3 |
| CSU 1000 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENGL 1102 | English Composition II Core Area A1 | 3 |
| Literature, Philosophy, or Foreign Language Course Core Area C1 | 3 | |
| Science with Lab Core Area D1 | 4 | |
| PARA 2203 | Civil Litigation | 3 |
| PARA 2205 | Legal Research & Writing | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Fine Arts or Intermediate Foreign Language Core Area C2 | 3 | |
| Science Course without Lab Core Area D1 | 3 | |
| HIST 1111 |
Survey-PreModern World History Core Area E2 or Survey of Modern World History or Critical Trends and Issues or Intro to Global Issues |
3 |
| Lower Division Major Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| Lower Division Major Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Foreign Language or Communication Course Core Area B2 | 2-3 | |
| Science, Math, or Technology Course Core Area D2 | 3 | |
| HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 |
Survey of US History to 1877 Core Area E3 or US HIST Since Reconstruction |
3 |
| Behavioral Sciences Core Area E4 | 3 | |
| Lower Division Major Requirement 1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 61-62 | |
- *
Students who do not achieve a grade of C or higher in PARA 1101 must re-take PARA 1101 and achieve a grade of C or higher before taking any other PARA classes.
- 1
PARA Lower Division Options - Students must choose three of the following:
PARA 2209 Business Organizations
PARA 2211 Computers in the Law
PARA 2213 Real Estate Law
PARA 2223 Wills, Trusts and Probate Law
PARA 2225 Family Law
PARA 2235 Law Office Skills