Paralegal Associate's Degree

This course teaches students basic to advanced computer concepts and skills, including creating and modifying Word documents, designing databases, spreadsheet creation and analysis, using the Internet and E-Commerce tools, and creating presentations with enhanced features and web tools.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: D132
Credits: 3

The course is designed to study the personal and professional characteristics necessary for obtaining and maintaining suitable employment. The student will assemble a complete job-seeking portfolio including his/her resume and references, letters of application and appreciation, documentation of work and educational history, and demonstration of skills through examples of student work. The course includes an in-depth study of self-marketing approaches, job interviewing techniques and professionalism as well as participation in a mock interview.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: E242
Credits: 2

This course provides an examination of substantive and procedural criminal law. Students are introduced to the Federal and State courts systems. The concepts of evidence sufficiency, standards of proof, and due process are explored. Statutory defenses, mitigating factors and circumstances which may excuse criminal responsibility, and common law principles are examined. For residential only, this course includes a fieldwork assignment.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Criminal Justice or Introduction to Law and the Legal System.

Course ID: J131
Credits: 4

Students will examine the American legal system from a variety of perspectives. They will survey topics including essential history, the working structure of government, issues of court procedure, and specific legal concepts. In addition, they will investigate the role of the paralegal in the legal system, and the impact of legal ethics on the paralegal. Paralegal students will gain a foundation for further paralegal study, and students from other disciplines will gain an appreciation of the legal system's impact on their disciplines. Students will prepare a resume as part of this course.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: PL100
Credits: 4

Students will examine the lawyers and paralegals' roles in handling civil cases and the means by which the objectives of litigation may be achieved. Strategy and mechanics of civil procedure will be explored in depth, and students will be required to prepare complaints, motions, and answers.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

Course ID: PL121
Credits: 4

Students will continue to develop and refine litigation skills. The course will focus on discovery, pre-trial procedure, trial procedure, post-trial procedure, and initial appellate documents.

Prerequisite: Civil Litigation and Procedure I

Course ID: PL122
Credits: 4

This course will provide students with a practical approach to the law of contracts. The class discussions and assignments will include analyzing contracts, breach of contracts, and the remedies provided for a breach of contract.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System or enrolled in Certificate

Course ID: PL142
Credits: 4

This course provides a strong theoretical and practical foundation for solving ethical dilemmas. Students will gain a realistic picture not only of what ethical questions arise in paralegal studies, but also how to resolve these issues with sound moral decisions and proper responses.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System or enrolled in Certificate'

Course ID: PL145
Credits: 4

This course provides the basic concepts of the law of real property enabling the student to perform connected duties in a law office, title company, or financial institution. Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to prepare purchase and sales agreements, deeds, mortgages, closing statements with perorations and other real estate related documents. The student will have a working knowledge of title searches and a thorough understanding of closing procedures. The student will also become familiar with mortgage foreclosures, landlord/tenant law, and zoning regulations.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

Course ID: PL215
Credits: 4

This course will provide students an overview of the formation, operation, and dissolution of the corporate entity. Stockholders rights and remedies as corporate owners will be examined. Corporate documents and corporate formalities will be discussed.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

Course ID: PL216
Credits: 4

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of how to use computer technology to accomplish tasks performed by paralegals in a law office. Students will be introduced to and given the opportunity to utilize law oriented computer software applications. Students will be exposed to exercises designed to provide the skills utilized by paralegals in file management, time, and docket management and computer based legal research and document movement.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

Course ID: PL226
Credits: 4

This course examines the fundamentals of tort law and provides a basic understanding of the principles of tort litigation. Through classroom discussions, projects and supervised library research, students will develop an overview of causes of actions in torts and their relevancy to the paralegal.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

Course ID: PL228
Credits: 4

This course is designed to teach the student to handle client interviews, to draft necessary pleadings and supporting documents, and to perform research relative to the practice of family law and domestic relations matters. The student will develop an understanding of the law relating to marriage, cohabitation, divorce, annulment, custody and support, adoption, guardianship and paternity. Students will draft pleadings and documents including ante nuptial and property settlement agreements.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

Course ID: PL230
Credits: 4

This course introduces the Legal Research process for paralegals. An overview of legal source materials and how and when they are incorporated in the legal research process will be examined. Students will develop information literacy skills specific to the Paralegal field by working with primary sources, like state and federal enacted law and secondary sources, like legal encyclopedias, treatises, and state specific practice books. Students will develop skills such as legal application, analysis, and synthesis skills by identifying and classifying the best sources that apply to legal problems. Students will evaluate the relevance of sources for specific problems and critically evaluate the level of authority of various legal sources.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and the Legal System or enrolled in Certificate'

Course ID: PL235
Credits: 4

After examining the sources of law and the structure of the federal and state court systems, students will be introduced to case and statutory analysis and to an understanding of the role of the paralegal in performing substantive legal analysis and writing tasks. They will learn how to analyze and synthesize written opinions. Students will use the results of their research from the Legal Research course in connection with at least three (3) significant writing projects, including memoranda of law. High level communication skills will be developed to effectively communicate in writing to different potential readers, including clients, attorneys in an office, trial court judges, and appellate panel judges. Analysis and preparation of high level legal content as well as formatting, citation rules, and other items needed for writing in this field will be developed. Students will organize an appellate brief which requires specific, rule based, formatting and structural content. This content includes items such as tables of cases and other authorities, a table of contents, statement of the case, argument, and conclusion.

Prerequisites: Legal Research; English Composition

Course ID: PL240
Credits: 4

This course provides the student with the opportunity to gain practical work experience under the supervision of an attorney. The student must periodically submit written reports to the supervising instructor describing his/her experiences during the internship. The student is evaluated by his/her supervisor at the conclusion of the internship.

Prerequisite: Final-quarter status and consent of program coordinator.

Course ID: PL290
Credits: 5

This course will provide students with an opportunity to integrate learning, skills, and theoretical knowledge from the Paralegal program in the form of real-world paralegal activities simulated in the online environment. Interview videos will be reviewed and analyzed, paralegal files completed, and "electronic office" and "paperless office" methods will be practiced.

Prerequisite or co-requisite: Law Office Technology; Students must be in their last or second-to-last quarter.

Course ID: PL280
Credits: 5

This course is intended to help students develop their ability to write and express ideas in an organized, unified, coherent manner that reflects an appropriate awareness of purpose and audience. Through writing, reading, and discussion, students will learn to synthesize their thoughts as they communicate more effectively. Course concepts are applied to essays, research projects, and specialized writing. Regular writing and revision will improve students' grammar, punctuation and usage skills.

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Reading and Writing Strategies or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G124
Credits: 4

The course will introduce students to basic models and theories of the communication process. Students will learn about a variety of elements involved in communication. They will also explore how factors such as race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, and gender influence communication. Students will focus on developing an awareness of the effects of various types of communication on themselves and others. They will also develop practical skills for improving their ability to communicate in personal, social and professional contexts. Specific topics will include perception, self-concept, verbal and non-verbal communication, effective listening and communicating in culturally diverse settings.

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Reading and Writing Strategies or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G141
Credits: 4

This course will present students with a broad understanding of communication in a variety of contexts. Students will learn the processes and strategies of oral communication by exploring speech anxiety, audience analysis, and organizational speech patterns. Students will research, use supporting materials, and use effective language to develop and present a narrative, informative and persuasive speech.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G227
Credits: 4

This course investigates human creative achievement. It is designed to increase the student's understanding and appreciation of cultural literacy and the pursuit of humanitarian goals. Representative disciplines may include art, music, literature, architecture, drama, and philosophy.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G125
Credits: 4

Students will study different elements, forms, techniques and styles of film and will learn a critical approach to film and the motion picture industry. Students will critique films and filmmakers through various approaches and assessments that demonstrate analysis, interpretation, and evaluation skills as well as fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of film as an art form.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G145
Credits: 4

Students will examine the historical, social, and technological factors that contribute to understanding the function and meaning of art in this course. Using a global and thematic approach, students will be introduced to the basic elements of art, while learning about a full range of media used to make art, and the fundamental concepts of art criticism. Western and non-Western art is represented, with a strong emphasis on a global perspective in relation to culture, communication, politics, and economics.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G147
Credits: 4

Students will study the development of representative musical styles and techniques in this course. Students will learn about the formal structure of music and the significant figures that have shaped the various periods in musical history.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G151
Credits: 4

This course provides students with an introductory understanding of the fundamental questions of philosophy, and an opportunity to develop their own attitudes and beliefs as they seek greater knowledge. Some of the topics students will explore include what it means to be human, the nature of reality, what is truth, morality, free will, and the nature of the self. Significant figures that have played a vital role in developing various fields of philosophy will also be introduced.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G155
Credits: 4

This course will develop the student's talents in creative writing. Various forms of writing will be studied, such as short stories, novels, poems, plays and non-fiction. Works by students and others will be critiqued. Students will also develop editorial skills so that each writer may revise and improve his/her work. Students will compose a minimum of 6000 words over the course of the program.

Prerequisites: Passing grade in Reading and Writing Strategies or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G201
Credits: 4

This course is designed to expose the student to both a variety of literary forms and important writing topics such as symbolism, myth, and character. Utilizing writing as a major mode of thinking, continued emphasis is placed on construction and composition, including word usage, grammar and sentence analysis. A documented research paper is required.

Prerequisite: English Composition

Course ID: G220
Credits: 4

A study of the rules of valid judging and reasoning, both inductive and deductive, in a traditional, language-centered context rather than a symbolic context. Logical analysis of both formal and informal fallacies and of the consistency and logical consequences of a given set of statements. Logical analysis is applied to concrete problems dealing with our knowledge of reality.

Prerequisite: English Composition

Course ID: G224
Credits: 4

This course is designed as a study of ethical practices and principles and its relationship to personal and social morality. Emphasis is placed on the application of ethical theories to problems faced in business and society.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G225
Credits: 4

This course offers an introduction to the most common literary genres: fiction, poetry, drama, and literary non-fiction. Students will study the basic elements of each genre, learn how to compare genres, become familiar with sample texts that illustrate the particularities of each genre, and practice the skills of analyzing and writing about literary texts. Reading and analysis of texts will include a variety of literary forms and periods. Students will engage in approaches to determine literary meaning, form, and value.

Prerequisite: none [English Comp. recommended]

Course ID: G230
Credits: 4

This course focuses on common words and phrases students need to develop a working vocabulary which will enable them to communicate with Spanish-speaking individuals in their personal and professional lives. Although oral communication is stressed, included is an overview of Spanish grammar, phonetic pronunciation and Hispanic culture.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G238
Credits: 4

This course provides students with the skills to achieve mastery of algebraic terminology and applications including, but not limited to, real number operations, variables, polynomials, integer exponents, graphs, factoring, quadratic equations, and word problems.

Prerequisite: Passing grade in Foundations of Math or placement determined by STEP assessment score.

Course ID: G233
Credits: 4

This course provides a working knowledge of the structure and function of the human body. A general introduction to cells and tissues is followed by study of the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal and muscular systems. The student is introduced to the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, and endocrine systems.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G150
Credits: 4

In this course students will explore introductory topics in the biology of animals. Students will learn about the structure, function, and physiology of animals, and their role in the Earth's ecosystems. Students will also have an opportunity to study animal genetics, growth, and behavioral and reproductive patterns in this course.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G170
Credits: 4

Students will explore fundamental concepts of human biology. They will examine cell structure and function, body systems, and biochemistry. They will also learn basic concepts of genetics and evolution. Students will explore the relationship of human populations and the ecosystem.

Prerequisites: none

Course ID: G215
Credits: 4

Examines astronomical phenomena and concepts, including the solar system, stars and galaxies, planetary motions, atoms and radiation, and the origin and evolution of the universe.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G239
Credits: 4

Examines basic geologic principles from a physical or historical perspective. Includes such topics as the formation of rocks and minerals; internal and external processes modifying the earth's surface and phenomena; and the evolutionary history of the earth, including its life forms, oceans and atmosphere.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G245
Credits: 4

This course introduces students to basic sociology terms and concepts. Students will understand how to apply sociological concepts and theories and analyze the structure and relationships of social institutions and the process of social change. Students will explore a variety of topics of sociological interest, including socialization, social inequality, social movements, and the impact of technology and social change on society.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G142
Credits: 4

This course will provide students with a general understanding of basic methodologies, concepts, theories, and practices in contemporary psychology. Areas of investigation may include the goals and research methodologies of psychology, the science of the brain, theories of human development and intelligence, concepts of motivation and emotions, the science of sensation and perceptions, and the current practices pertaining to psychological disorders, therapies, and treatments.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: G148
Credits: 4

This course develops students' reading and writing skills in preparation for college-level coursework. Through review of grammar, punctuation, and the writing process, students will enhance their ability to compose sentences, paragraphs, and short essays. The study of active reading strategies will provide students with the tools necessary for comprehending collegiate level texts.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by placement test score.

Course ID: B080
Credits: 4

This course is a study of the fundamentals of mathematics in the following areas: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and percentages.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by placement test score.

Course ID: B099
Credits: 4