Paralegal Department - MSU Moorhead

Majors must complete at least one area of emphasis. This requires 12 credits from any area of emphasis. In addition, all majors must complete at least 3 credits from one other area of emphasis. Credits in excess of the minimum requirements are applied to general electives.

Probate/Tax

PARA 380 Real Property Law (3)
(pre-req. Para 250)

PARA 405 Probate & Estate Planning (3)
(pre-req. Para 250 & 446)

PARA 416 Elder Law (3)
(pre-req. Para 250)

PARA 446 Estate, Gift and Trust Taxation (3)
(pre-req. Para 250)

Civil Litigation

PARA 340 Evidence (3)
(pre-req. Para 251)

PARA 346 Public Benefits (3)
(pre-req. Para 250)

PARA 410 Civil Procedure II (3)
(pre-req. Para 250, 310)

PARA 435 Personal Injury (3)
(pre-req. Para 250, 310)

Criminal Litigation

PARA 340 Evidence (3)
(pre-req. Para 251)

CJ 335 Criminal Law (3)

CJ 337 Criminal Procedure (3)

PARA 420 Criminal Litigation (3)
( pre-req. Para 340 & CJ 335)

Commercial Law

PARA 331 Debtor-Creditor and Bankruptcy Law (3)
(pre-req. Para 250)

PARA 380 Real Property Law (3)
(pre-req. Para 250)

ACCT 307 Commercial Transactions (3)

PARA 321 Employment Law (3)

(pre-req. Para 250)

Legal Research and Writing I and II must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

**Internship prerequisites: Para 251, 310, 325, 375 and two courses from your area of emphasis.

Effective Summer 2005

1. Graduation Requirements for Paralegal

     a. GPA minimum:
        2.00 MSUM overall
        2.00 Liberal Studies
        2.25 Paralegal

    b. Semester Credit Minimums:
        128 total
        52 in Paralegal
        45 in Liberal Studies
        40 at 300 and 400 course level

2. Suggested Program of Study

	First Semester	Second Semester
Year 1:	Engl 101 Other Liberal Studies PARA 125 -- or --	Engl 102 Other Liberal Studies PARA 125
Year 2:	PARA 250 ACCT 304 Liberal Studies	PARA 251 Liberal Studies
Year 3:	PARA core courses PARA track courses Free electives	PARA core courses PARA track courses Free electives
Year 4:	PARA 425 -- or -- PARA core courses PARA track courses Free electives Internship -- or --	PARA 425 PARA core courses PARA track courses Free electives Internship

(NOTE: Internship may be done between third and fourth year if all prerequisites have been completed)

3. Liberal Studies Requirements

The following is a general outline of liberal studies divisions, with some recommended courses for Paralegal majors:

Division A:

English Composition and Literature (at least 6 credits)
--English 101-102

Division B:

Natural Sciences (at least 6 credits; must include one experimental or observational course)

Division C:

Behavioral and Social Sciences (at least 6 credits)

Recommended:
Pol 120 American National Government & Politics
Pol 221 State and Local Government
Pol 230 Introduction to the Law

Division D:

Western Tradition: Humanities and Fine Arts (at least 6 credits; must include one course of historical perspective)

Recommended: Phil 105 Philosophical Thinking
Phil 115 Contemporary Moral Issues
English, Humanities, and Philosophy courses

Division E:

Communicative and Symbolic Processes (at least 6 credits; one must be from mathematics and one must be be from communicative processes)

Recommended: Engl 286 Practical Writing
Engl 387 Technical Report Writing
Phil 110 Practical Reasoning
Phil 340 Symbolic Logic
CMST 100 Speech Communications
CMST 210 Communication Theory
CMST 301 Business/Prof Communication
CMST 311 Persuasion

Division F:

Multicultural and Global Studies (at least 6 credits; must include one multicultural course)

Courses for Non Paralegal Majors Only

Para 470 Government Benefits (3)