Curriculum
CORE - All majors must complete the core. (37 Credits)
Degree Requirements
B.S. Degree in Paralegal
Emphasis in Civil Litigation
Emphasis in Commercial Law
Emphasis in Criminal Litigation
Emphasis in Probate and Tax
Select any red highlighted class to view more information.
| (All Required - 37 credits) |
| PARA 125 Intro to Paralegal (3) |
| PARA 250 Legal Research & Writing I (3) |
| PARA 251 Legal Research & Writing II (3) (pre-req. Para 250) |
| PARA 310 Civil Procedure I (3) (pre-req. Para 250) |
| PARA 320 Family Law (3) (pre-req. Para 250) |
| PARA 325 Interviewing (3) (pre-req. Para 250) |
| PARA 375 Legal Ethics (3) (pre-req. Para 250) |
| PARA 425 Advanced Legal Research & Writing (3) (pre-req. Para 251, 325, 375) |
| PARA 469 Internship (4-12) (pre-req. Para 251, 310, 325, 375 and two courses from your area of emphasis) |
| ACCT 130 Fundamentals of Accounting (3) |
| ACCT 304 Legal Environment of Business (3) |
ACCT 306 Contracts and Business Entities (3) (pre-req. Acct 304) |
AREAS OF EMPHASIS (12 Credits)
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
Year 1: Engl 101 Engl 102 Year 2: PARA 250 PARA 251 Year 3: PARA core courses PARA core courses Year 4: PARA 425 -- or -- PARA 425 (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) 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: Division D: Western Tradition: Humanities and Fine Arts (at least 6 credits; must include one course of historical perspective) Division E: Communicative and Symbolic Processes (at least 6 credits; one must be from mathematics and one must be be from communicative processes) Division F: Multicultural and Global Studies (at least 6 credits; must include one multicultural course)
First Semester
Second Semester
Other Liberal Studies
PARA 125 -- or --
Other Liberal Studies
PARA 125
ACCT 304
Liberal Studies
Liberal Studies
PARA track courses
Free electives
PARA track courses
Free electives
PARA core courses
PARA track courses
Free electives
Internship -- or --
PARA core courses
PARA track courses
Free electives
Internship
--English 101-102
Pol 120 American National Government & Politics
Pol 221 State and Local Government
Pol 230 Introduction to the Law
Recommended:
Phil 105 Philosophical Thinking
Phil 115 Contemporary Moral Issues
English, Humanities, and Philosophy courses
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
Courses for Non Paralegal Majors Only
Para 470 Government Benefits (3)
