Paralegal Studies Associate Degree
Offered at the Following Campus Locations
Program Overview
The Paralegal Studies program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for positions in the paralegal profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The knowledge and skills emphasized in this program include ethical obligations; research in state and federal law; legal correspondence preparation; family law matters; basic concepts of real property law, criminal law and procedure, civil litigation, tort law, and substantive contract law; and wills, trusts, and probate. The program of study emphasizes opportunities that provide students with specialized legal knowledge and skills required to aid lawyers in the delivery of legal services. Program graduates receive a Paralegal Studies Associate of Applied Technology degree.
Entrance Requirements
This program requires either the ACCUPLACER® or COMPASS college placement test and High School Diploma or GED. Minimum Required Age of 16.
ACCUPLACER® minimum scores: Reading Comprehension 64, Sentence Skills 70, Elementary Algebra 57
COMPASS minimum scores: Reading 79, Writing 62, Algebra 37
Course Overview
General Education Core (Required minimum: 18 Semester Credit Hours)Area I – Language Arts/CommunicationENGL1101Composition and Rhetoric3Explores the analysis of literature and articles about issues in the humanities and in society. Students practice various modes of writing, ranging from exposition to argumentation and persuasion. The course includes a review of standard grammatical and stylistic usage in proofreading and editing. An introduction to library resources lays the foundation for research. Topics include writing analysis and practice, revision, and research. Students write a research paper using library resources and using a formatting and documentation style appropriate to the purpose and audience.1242SPCH1101Public Speaking3Introduces the student to the fundamentals of oral communication. Topics include selection and organization of materials, preparation and delivery of individual and group presentations, analysis of ideas presented by others, and professionalism.1245Area II – Social/Behavioral Sciences - Select 1ECON1101Principles of Economics3Provides a description and analysis of economic operations in contemporary society. Emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of economic concepts and policies as they apply to everyday life. Topics include basic economic principles; economic forces and indicators; capital and labor; price, competition, and monopoly; money and banking; government expenditures, federal and local; fluctuations in production, employment, and income; and United States economy in perspective1310ECON2105Macroeconomics3Provides a description and analysis of macroeconomic principles and policies. Topics include basic economic principles, macroeconomic concepts, equilibrium in the goods and money markets, macroeconomic equilibrium and the impact of fiscal and monetary policies.1311ECON2106Microeconomics3Provides an analysis of the ways in which consumers and business firms interact in a market economy. Topics include basic economic principles, consumer choice, behavior of profit maximizing firms, modeling of perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly and monopolistic competition.1312HIST1111World History I3Emphasizes the study of intellectual, cultural, scientific, political, and social contributions of the civilizations of the world and the evolution of these civilizations during the period from the prehistoric era to early modern times. Topics include the Prehistoric Era the Ancient Near East, Ancient India, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, Ancient Africa, Islam, the Americas, Japan, Ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.1314HIST1112World History II3Emphasizes the study of the intellectual, cultural, scientific, political, and social contributions of the civilizations of the world and the evolution of these civilizations during the period from early modern times to the present. Topics include transitions to the Modern World, scientific revolution and the Enlightenment, political modernization, economic modernization, imperialism, and the Twentieth Century.1315HIST2111U.S. History I3Emphasizes the study of U. S. History to 1877 to include the post-Civil War period. The course focuses on the period from the Age of Discovery through the Civil War to include geographical, intellectual, political, economic and cultural development of the American people. It includes the history of Georgia and its constitutional development. Topics include colonization and expansion; the Revolutionary Era; the New Nation; nationalism, sectionalism, and reform; the Era of Expansion; and crisis, Civil War, and reconstruction.1316HIST2112U.S. History II3Emphasizes the study of the social, cultural, and political history of the United States from 1865 to the beginning of the twenty-first century and will equip the student to better understand the problems and challenges of the contemporary world in relation to events and trends in modern American history. The course also provides an overview of the history of Georgia and the development of its constitution. Topics include the Reconstruction Period; the great West, the new South, and the rise of the debtor; the Gilded Age; the progressive movement; the emergence of the U. S. in world affairs; the Roaring Twenties; the Great Depression; World War II; the Cold War and the 1950*s; the 1960*s and 1970*s; and America since 1980.1317POLS1101American Government3Emphasizes study of government and politics in the United States. The focus of the course will provide an overview of the Constitutional foundations of the American political processes with a focus on government institutions and political procedures. The course will examine the constitutional framework, federalism, civil liberties and civil rights, public opinion, the media, special interest groups, political parties, and the election process along with the three branches of government. In addition, this course will examine the processes of Georgia state government. Topics include foundations of government, political behavior, and governing institutions.1318PSYC1101Introductory Psychology3Introduces the major fields of contemporary psychology. Emphasis is on fundamental principles of psychology as a science. Topics include research design, the organization and operation of the nervous system, sensation and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, thinking and intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychopathology and interventions, stress and health, and social psychology.1320SOCI1101Introduction to Sociology3Explores the sociological analysis of society, its culture, and structure. Sociology is presented as a science with emphasis placed on its methodology and theoretical foundations. Topics include basic sociological concepts, socialization, social interaction and culture, social groups and institutions, deviance and social control, social stratification, social change, and marriage and family.1324Area III – Natural Sciences/Mathematics – Select 1MATH1103Quantitative Skills/Reasoning (201614)3Emphasizes algebra, statistics, and mathematics of finance. Topics include fundamental operations of algebra, sets and logic, probability and statistics, geometry, mathematics of voting and districting, and mathematics of finance.1295MATH1101Mathematical Modeling3Emphasizes functions using real-world applications as models. Topics include fundamental concepts of algebra; functions and graphs; linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions and models; systems of equations; and optional topics in algebra.1296MATH1111College Algebra3Emphasizes techniques of problem solving using algebraic concepts. Topics include fundamental concepts of algebra, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, and systems of equations; optional topics include sequences, series, and probability or analytic geometry.1297Area IV – Humanities/Fine Arts - Select 1ARTS1101Art Appreciation3Explores the visual arts and the relationship to human needs and aspirations. Students investigate the value of art, themes in art, the elements and principles of composition, and the materials and processes used for artistic expression. Well-known works of visual art are explored. The course encourages student interest in the visual arts beyond the classroom.1236ENGL2110World Literature3This course explores the history of the human experience through literature and writing across the cultures of the world. Surveys of important works across multiple genres of fiction and non-fiction as a reflection of cultural values. Explores themes from the ancient through modern era.6630ENGL2130American Literature3Emphasizes American literature as a reflection of culture and ideas. A survey of important works in American literature. Includes a variety of literary genres: short stories, poetry, drama, nonfiction, and novels. Topics include literature and culture, essential themes and ideas, literature and history, and research skills.1237ENGL2310English Literature from the Beginnings to 17003This course presents a survey of important works in early English literature. Course content includes a variety of literary genres: poetry, drama, fiction and nonfiction. Writers typically include the Beowulf poet, Gawain poet, Chaucer, Spenser, Sidney, Marlowe, Donne, Jonson, Shakespeare, and Milton. The course emphasizes English literature as a reflection of culture and ideas. Competency areas include literature and culture; essential themes and ideas; literature and history; research and writing skills; and oral communication skills.6632HUMN1101Introduction to Humanities3Explores the philosophic and artistic heritage of humanity expressed through a historical perspective on visual arts, music, and literature. The humanities provide insight into people and society. Topics include historical and cultural developments, contributions of the humanities, and research.1238MUSC1101Music Appreciation3Explores the analysis of well-known works of music, their compositions, and the relationship to their periods. An introduction to locating, acquiring, and documenting information resources lays the foundation for research to include the creative and critical process, the themes of music, the formal elements of composition, and the placing of music in the historical context. Topics include historical and cultural development represented in musical arts.1239Program – Specific RequirementsXXXX0000Choose any additional course from Areas I, II, III, or IV34946Occupational Courses:COMP1000Introduction to Computer Literacy3This course introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include introductions to computer and digital terminology and usage, operating systems, Internet and digital communication, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, and presentation applications.1098PARA1100Introduction to Law and Ethics3Emphasizes the American legal system, the role of the lawyer and legal assistant within that system, and the ethical obligations imposed upon attorneys and legal assistants. Topics include: survey of American jurisprudence, code of professional responsibility and ethics overview, and introduction to areas of law and legal vocabulary.1105PARA1115Family Law3Introduces the student to the issues which may arise in family law cases and to the role of the paralegal in assisting the attorney in the development and presentation of such cases. Topics include: issues associated with client and witness interviews, marriage validity and dissolution, litigation support in family law matters, issues concerning children, special matters in family law, and attorney and paralegal ethical obligations.1108PARA1105Legal Research/Legal Writing I3Introduces the student to the process of locating statutory, judicial, administrative and secondary sources on both a state and federal level. The student will utilize both print and electronic research resources. Focuses on the application and reinforcement of basic writing skills, familiarizes the student with types of writing typically engaged in by lawyers and legal assistants, and prepares the student for legal writing tasks. The student learns to write business letters as well as advisory documents. Topics include: legal analysis and legal correspondence and composition.1106PARA1110Legal Research/Legal WritingII3Builds on competencies acquired in PARA 1102 and continues the process of locating statutory, judicial, administrative and secondary sources on both a state and federal level. The student will conduct a wider range of research in both print and electronic research resources. Emphasis will be placed on preparation of legal documents. Criminal case documents will be examined, but most of the emphasis will be on civil matters. The student will be presented factual scenarios, and utilizing these facts, research and develop a case from intake to trial.1107PARA1125Criminal Law/Crim Procedure3Introduces the student to the basic concepts of substantive criminal law and its procedural aspects with an emphasis on the constitutionally protected rights of the accused in the criminal justice system. Topics include: substantive criminal law and procedure and criminal litigation support.1110PARA1140Tort Law3Introduces the student to the basic concepts of substantive tort law. Topics include: concepts of intentional torts, negligence and product liability; causation and liability concepts; damages and defenses; and special tort actions and immunities.1113PARA1150Contracts, Comm Law/Bus Org3Introduces the student to the basic concepts of legal rules commonly applicable in commercial settings, to the basic concepts of substantive contract law and to the formulation and operation of sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, and corporations. Additionally, the course explores the basic concepts of agency law. Topics include Constitutional law and its impact on business, the essential elements of a contract and related legal principles and the Uniform Commercial Code, sole proprietorships, partnerships, professional associations and other business organizations, corporations and tax implications of different organizations.1115PARA1120Real Estate Law3Introduces the student to the basic concepts of real property law as they pertain to common types of real estate transactions. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on practical skills such as document preparation and title examination. Topics include: real estate contracts, plat reading and legal descriptions, types and purposes of deeds, title searches, common real estate mortgages and documentation, real estate closing and closing statements, recordation statutes and requirements, and elements of the lease.1109PARA1130Civil Litigation3Emphasizes competencies and concepts of civil litigation in both federal and state courts. Topics include: federal and state litigation; trial and pretrial proceedings; litigation ethics; and litigation documents, exhibits, investigations, and interviews.1111PARA1135Wills, Trusts, Probate, Admin3Provides a general framework of the substantive theory of wills, trusts, and estates. Topics include: wills, trusts, and powers of attorney; probate of wills and administration of estates; document preparation for other probate proceedings; general jurisdiction of the probate court; terminology of wills and estate practice; client interviews; and document preparation.1112PARA1145Law Office Management3Introduces the student to common forms of law practice. The student will be exposed to methods of billing and time-keeping, automation in the law office, the law office library, the appropriate role of support staff in the law office, and ethical concerns relevant to law office management. Topics include: forms of law practice and insurance needs, support systems, support staff, and ethical responsibilities.1114PARA2210Paralegal Internship I6Focuses on the application and reinforcement of paralegal skills in an actual workplace environment, or at the discretion of the instructor, in a school practicum with simulated work experiences. Students are acquainted with occupational responsibilities through realistic work situations and are provided with insights into paralegal applications on the job. Topics include: problem solving, adaptability to the job setting, use of proper interpersonal skills, application of paralegal skills in a workplace setting, and professional development.1121Complete 9 credits from the following courses:PARA2215Paralegal Internship II6This course continues the focus on the application and reinforcement of paralegal skills in an actual workplace environment, or at the discretion of the instructor, in a school practicum with simulated work experiences. Realistic work situations are used to provided students with insights into paralegal applications on the job. Topics include: problem solving, adaptability to the job setting, use of proper interpersonal skills, application of paralegal skills in a workplace setting, and professional development.1122PARA1205Constitutional Law3Explains the major legal principles and concepts of the U.S. Constitution including governmental powers and structure, and civil liberties. Additionally, this course includes an exploration of the history of the Constitution and case law interpreting it.1117PARA1210Legal/Policy Issues-Healthcare3Provide an overview of the legal issues involved in the delivery of healthcare and the issues relating to Elder Law. Students will recognize the fundamentals of the healthcare treatment relationship, liability issues, patient care decisions and the human condition of sickness. They will explore the complexities of heath care financing, health care access, governmental regulations and privacy issues. Topics will also include access to care, informed consent, patient care decisions, the doctor-patient relationship, end-of-life decision making, legal problems of the
elderly, law and mental health, AIDS and the law and the privatization of health care facilities.1118PARA2205Adv Legal Research and Writing3Continues to develop writing skills developed in PARA 1105 and 1110 focusing on legal memoranda preparation. Additionally, students enhance legal research skill. Course competencies include research methodology, legal memoranda preparation, and substantive law research.1120PARA1215Administrative Law3Introduces the student to the basic concepts of administrative law including the legislative process related to enabling the agency. The Administrative Procedure Act (federal and state) is covered. Topics also include agency discretion, due process, delegation, rule making, investigation, information collection, informal proceeding, hearings, and judicial review. Because paralegals are permitted to represent individuals in some agency proceedings (e.g., social security, unemployment, etc), the students are introduced to the various aspects of such
representation1119PARA1200Bankruptcy/Debtor-Credit Relat3Introduces the student to the purpose and application of the Federal Bankruptcy Code and Rules, as well as applicable state law related to bankruptcy and debtor-creditor issues. Topics include: the Bankruptcy Code and Rules, Bankruptcy Court procedures, the preparation of bankruptcy forms and documents, state law workouts and collection, and the role of the paralegal in a bankruptcy practice.1116Minimum Length of Program: 5 Term(s)Minimum Credit Hours for Graduation: 69