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Paralegal Studies - B.A.

Paralegal Studies - B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies program combines legal theory and practical skills to prepare you for a career in the legal field.

While the majority of the program can be completed online, the following three courses must be taken either in person or in a remote synchronous format:

  • PLST 18000 Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Professional Ethics;
  • PLST 28001 Legal Research; and
  • PLST 28004 Civil Procedure.

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Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies

Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies offers students a comprehensive education in legal concepts, research, and professional practices. The program emphasizes critical thinking, legal writing, and the study of various areas of law, including criminal, civil, corporate, and family law. Students gain practical skills in legal research, case preparation, and document drafting, making them invaluable members of legal teams. With a focus on ethical practices and hands-on experience through internships, this degree prepares graduates for careers in law firms, government agencies, corporate legal departments, and nonprofit organizations. The B.A. in Paralegal Studies equips students with the tools needed to excel in the legal field and pursue opportunities in a wide range of legal settings.

Program Information for Paralegal Studies - B.A.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies combines a liberal arts background with law-related specialty courses to provide students with communication, critical reasoning and analytical skills; knowledge of the legal system; and practical hands-on experience.

The program prepares students for the Certified Paralegal exam from the National Association of Legal Assistants. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions for Paralegal Studies - B.A.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the .

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Â鶹ÊÓƵ students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Â鶹ÊÓƵ may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's .

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Analyze a legal problem as well as identify and evaluate alternative solutions.
  2. Formulate logical solutions to problems and construct logical arguments in support of specific positions as well as evaluate solutions and arguments.
  3. Determine which areas of law are relevant to a particular situation.
  4. Apply principles of professional ethics to specific factual situations.
  5. Identify interrelationships among cases, statutes, regulations and other legal authorities.
  6. Apply recognized legal authority to a specific factual situation.
  7. Analyze factual situations to determine when it is appropriate to apply exceptions to general legal rules.
  8. Apply exceptions to general legal rules.
  9. Distinguish evidentiary facts from other material and/or controlling facts.
  10. Identify factual omissions and inconsistencies.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
PLST 18000INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS 3
PLST 28001LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING 3
PLST 28004CIVIL PROCEDURE 3
PLST 36792INTERNSHIP IN PARALEGAL (ELR) 16
PLST 38006APPLIED LEGAL RESEARCH AND LITIGATION (WIC) 23
Legal Specialty Electives, choose from the following:24
PLST 28003
FAMILY LAW AND PROCEDURE
PLST 28007
ESTATE AND PROBATE ADMINISTRATION
PLST 35001
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FOR PARALEGALS
PLST 35003
HEALTH LAW
PLST 35005
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR PARALEGALS
PLST 35007
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES LAW
PLST 36001
LAW OFFICE TECHNOLOGY
PLST 38003
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND PROCESS
PLST 38005
TORT LAW
PLST 40095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN PARALEGAL STUDIES
PLST 42701
EVIDENCE AND E-DISCOVERY
PLST 42705
BANKRUPTCY LAW I: BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
PLST 42706
BANKRUPTCY LAW II: CREDITOR-DEBTOR RELATIONS
PLST 42708
REAL ESTATE LAW
PLST 48002
CONTRACT LAW
PLST 48300
LAW OF CORPORATIONS AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS
PLST 48401
PATENT LAW
PLST 48403
PATENT PROSECUTION
PLST 48404
COPYRIGHT LAW I
PLST 48407
TRADEMARK LAW
PLST 48408
TRADEMARK PROSECUTION
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)14-16
6
3
9
6
6-7
6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)27
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Although required minimum hours for internship is 6 credit hours, it is recommended that students enroll in more than one internship.

2

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the programs offered by Â鶹ÊÓƵ; or (3) demonstrating comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
PLST 18000 INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
PLST 28004 CIVIL PROCEDURE 3
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
PLST 28001 LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING 3
Legal Specialty Electives 6
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
PLST 38006 APPLIED LEGAL RESEARCH AND LITIGATION (WIC) 3
Legal Specialty Electives 6
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
Legal Specialty Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Legal Specialty Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
!PLST 36792 INTERNSHIP IN PARALEGAL (ELR) 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
!PLST 36792 INTERNSHIP IN PARALEGAL (ELR) 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation for Paralegal Studies - B.A.

The B.A. degree in Paralegal Studies is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Paralegal Studies - B.A.

Graduates of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s B.A. Degree in Paralegal Studies are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the legal field. They can pursue roles as paralegals, legal assistants, and compliance officers in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. The program equips students with essential skills in legal research, writing, and case management, enabling them to assist attorneys in preparing for trials, drafting legal documents, and conducting investigations. Additionally, graduates may explore specialized areas such as real estate, family law, or intellectual property, enhancing their career prospects in a dynamic and rewarding profession.

Paralegals and legal assistants

10.5%

much faster than the average

337,800

number of jobs

$52,920

potential earnings

Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

-2.6%

decline

63,600

number of jobs

$48,820

potential earnings

Legal support workers, all other

-1.2%

decline

50,400

number of jobs

$59,540

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.