Paralegal Studies Associate Degree Program Outline

This course teaches the students fundamental principles while emphasizing skills development in the practice of public speaking. It covers purposes, methods and steps in preparing speeches, develops communication skills in listening, speech criticism, audience analysis and writing, and provides effective delivery techniques to present a variety of speeches.
Credit Hours: 3

This course offers an introduction to basic writing skills that is especially relevant to academic assignments. It focuses on paragraph development and organization in conjunction with a review of basic grammar and mechanics. The course also covers the construction of multi-paragraph essays, the development of writing style and tone, and techniques for critically editing and revising one',s work.
Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to assure a basic level of computer applications literacy, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, and the Internet. The course also covers various types of computer hardware and networking methods. (This course has been designed so that access to a computer is helpful, but not required.)
Credit Hours: 3

This course offers a broad overview of the business world for both business and non-business majors. It is an introduction to the business environment, business ownership, management, marketing, technology and information, and finance.
Credit Hours: 3

This course offers an introduction to written composition especially relevant to academic assignments. It begins with an emphasis on composing stronger expressions at the sentence level and then covers development of multi-paragraph essays, development of writing style and tone, and how to revise and edit one',s work critically. An introduction to academic research is included.
Prerequisite for C02
Credit Hours: 3

View General Education Elective (Science 100-200 Level) offerings.

This course presents the basic principles of business law as applied to contracts, personal property, sales, negotiable instruments, agency and employment, business organization, insurance and bankruptcy, and real property.
Credit Hours: 3

This is an introduction to the paralegal field, the legal system, and legal analysis. The course explores the scope of paralegal activities in procedural law, criminal law, contracts and business law, torts and property law, wills and estates, and family law.
Credit Hours: 3

This course is a continuation of Introduction to Paralegalism I, providing skills in legal analysis, interviewing, investigation, advocacy, and ethics, and providing an overview of legal research and writing.
Credit Hours: 3

View General Education Elective (Behavioral/Social Science 100-200 Level) offerings.

View General Education Elective (Humanities/Fine Arts 100-200 Level) offerings.

This course opens with the proper use of basic grammar and punctuation. Next, how to effectively communicate in a legal setting and how to employ the various sources and methods of legal research are presented. The student will also learn how to take a given case from its infancy and see it through the final stages of disposition, including providing the proper legal analysis, writing an objective memorandum or persuasive brief, and finally, drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery.
Credit Hours: 3

This course examines the fundamentals of substantive criminal law and procedures unique to criminal cases, including an examination of the practical aspects of prosecution and defense, the constitutional rights of the accused, plea bargaining, and the unique aspects of a criminal trial.
Credit Hours: 3

The world of torts is violent. There are explosions, collisions, mishaps, injuries, and deaths. There is libel and slander, assault and battery, malpractice, and defective products. This course is an introduction to basic areas of law dealing with civil wrongs, with coverage of intentional torts, negligence, malpractice, defamation, joint and vicarious liability, auto insurance, and workers’ compensation.
Credit Hours: 3

C17: This is a comprehensive review of mathematical skills and concepts commonly used in academic and vocational applications. Topics include whole numbers, fractions, decimal notation, ratios and proportions, percents, statistics and measurement, geometry, real numbers, and algebra.
Credit Hours: 3

MA240: This course introduces the major concepts of college-level algebra. The course begins with basic concepts such as sets and numbers but quickly moves into intermediate algebra topics, emphasizing concepts most often used in computer science. The student will gain extensive experience in evaluating and manipulating expressions, equations, inequalities, and functions.
Credit Hours: 3

This course examines the broad implications of technological innovation on social organization in terms of personal, political, economic, and environmental issues. Topics covered include technological progress within society, issues of energy use and creation, positive and negative environmental impacts of technology, the use of technology in war and politics, social responsibility, personal health, and economic development.
Credit Hours: 3

This is an introduction to the legal industry and the legal team. The course opens with an overview of the different types of law offices and law practices. The role of the paralegal/legal assistant is examined, as is the attorney-client relationship. Also covered are topics such as timekeeping, fee structures, billing, administrative reports, legal technology, and the law library.
Credit Hours: 3

View Elective (100-200 Level) offerings.

View Elective (100-200 Level) offerings.

This course offers a broad overview of the business world for both business and non-business majors. It is an introduction to the business environment, business ownership, management, marketing, technology and information, and finance.
Credit Hours: 3

This course presents the basic principles of communication that are particularly applicable in business and industry, providing a foundation for more effective communication skills. It focuses on the proper use of English grammar in business settings.
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite: EN130

This course presents the basic principles of business law as applied to contracts, personal property, sales, negotiable instruments, agency and employment, business organization, insurance and bankruptcy, and real property.
Credit Hours: 3

This is an introduction to the paralegal field, the legal system, and legal analysis. The course explores the scope of paralegal activities in procedural law, criminal law, contracts and business law, torts and property law, wills and estates, and family law.
Credit Hours: 3

This course is a continuation of Introduction to Paralegalism I, providing skills in legal analysis, interviewing, investigation, advocacy, and ethics, and providing an overview of legal research and writing.
Credit Hours: 3

This is a consumer-oriented overview of the practical application of economic concepts. The course emphasizes decision making about budgeting, savings, consumer strategies, insurance, investing, retirement planning, and estate planning.
Credit Hours: 3

This course presents the basics of written communication in business. It also explores differences in approach and format for various business documents, and covers techniques for planning, researching, organizing, and writing reports.
Credit Hours: 3

This course provides an overview of the structure and operations of the federal government, including constitutional principles, rights and liberties, the political process, and the relationships among the three branches of the federal government.
Credit Hours: 3

The world of torts is violent. There are explosions, collisions, mishaps, injuries, and deaths. There is libel and slander, assault and battery, malpractice, and defective products. This course is an introduction to basic areas of law dealing with civil wrongs, with coverage of intentional torts, negligence, malpractice, defamation, joint and vicarious liability, auto insurance, and workers’ compensation.
Credit Hours: 3

Civil procedure is the rules and procedures that must be followed in filing and conducting a civil lawsuit. This course discusses assisting the law office with matters concerning jurisdiction, venue, preparing basic pleadings, discovery documents, pre-trial and post-judgment motions, managing the case file, attending to service of process, and assisting in the courtroom.
Credit Hours: 3

This is a survey of the field of psychology, including the development of behavior, physiological mechanisms of behavior, perception, motivation and emotion, consciousness, learning, memory, personality, and mental health.
Credit Hours: 3

This course examines the fundamentals of substantive criminal law and procedures unique to criminal cases, including an examination of the practical aspects of prosecution and defense, the constitutional rights of the accused, plea bargaining, and the unique aspects of a criminal trial.
Credit Hours: 3

This course covers real property and common types of real estate transactions and conveyances. The course also covers preparation of legal instruments including deeds, contracts, leases, deeds of trust, and mortgages. Recording statutes, title examinations, and the real estate closing are also presented.
Credit Hours: 3

This is a comprehensive review of mathematical skills and concepts commonly used in academic and vocational applications. Topics include whole numbers, fractions, decimal notation, ratios and proportions, percents, statistics and measurement, geometry, real numbers, and algebra.
Credit Hours: 3

This is an introduction to the legal industry and the legal team. The course opens with an overview of the different types of law offices and law practices. The role of the paralegal/legal assistant is examined, as is the attorney-client relationship. Also covered are topics such as timekeeping, fee structures, billing, administrative reports, legal technology, and the law library.
Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to assure a basic level of computer applications literacy, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, and the Internet. The course also covers various types of computer hardware and networking methods. (This course has been designed so that access to a computer is helpful, but not required.)
Credit Hours: 3

The main goal of this course is to help you formulate an accurate picture of the state of family law today. We also want you to understand the role that a paralegal plays in the family law sector. The course emphasizes substantive law and overview of common procedures related to domestic relations law, including the formation and dissolution of marriage, marital property, child custody and support, and related matters.
Credit Hours: 3

This course opens with the proper use of basic grammar and punctuation. Next, how to effectively communicate in a legal setting and how to employ the various sources and methods of legal research are presented. The student will also learn how to take a given case from its infancy and see it through the final stages of disposition, including providing the proper legal analysis, writing an objective memorandum or persuasive brief, and finally, drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery.
Credit Hours: 3

This course outlines the duties a paralegal may perform when drafting a will or trust or when assisting with the administration of an estate. It further presents the unique terminology and general principles of this area of law, the step-by-step procedures that are necessary to draft wills and trusts, as well as the ethical standards imposed on legal assistants in the area of wills, trusts, and estates.
Credit Hours: 3

This is an introduction to the principles of federal taxation with emphasis on gross income, deductions, exemptions, depreciation, capital gains and losses, business expenses and retirement plans, payroll taxes, corporate taxation, tax planning, and tax administration.
Credit Hours: 3