Online Bachelor Degree in Paralegal Studies: Accredited Online University

Preparing for a future as a paralegal is a highly practical career choice: The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that job growth for paralegals will grow by 28 percent between 2008 and 2018,* much faster than the average for all occupations. At the same time, competition for paralegal jobs is also increasing, enhancing the advantage of a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies. Employers increasingly hire paralegals to perform tasks once done by lawyers. As a trained paralegal, your skills may be in growing demand for companies of all sizes.^†

| Curriculum | Tuition and Fees

Program Highlights

You will have the opportunity to build a solid foundation of knowledge in specialized areas of law while you study to develop paralegal skills, including:

Analyzing data and information to assist clients throughout the legal process
Performing legal research using electronic and print media
Applying investigative techniques to gather information from witnesses and other sources
Preparing and maintaining legal schedules and legal documents and forms

A Fast Track to a Master’s Degree

Eligible students in this bachelor's degree program who want to continue on to pursue a master's degree within the School of Criminal Justice or School of Legal Studies may be interested in the accelerated master's degree option. Students complete graduate-level courses within this undergraduate plan of study. Once accepted to the master’s degree program, students transfer in the graduate courses and matriculate into a shortened degree plan. This accelerated option allows students to complete both their bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than completing both programs separately. Accelerated options are offered for the following programs. Qualification for accelerated options is subject to eligibility requirements.

What are the Career Opportunities?

This degree program is designed to help prepare you to pursue opportunities in law firms, corporate law departments, and government agencies. Graduates may pursue career opportunities or job advancement in a legal environment such as a private law firm, corporate law department, or local, state, or federal agency.

In addition to private law firms, the number and types of companies that demand the services of paralegals is on the rise. These include corporate legal departments, insurance companies, real estate and title insurance firms, and banks. Businesses of all sizes, and corporations in particular, are expected to increase their in-house legal departments to cut costs.^†‡

Curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies

Course #	Course Title	Credits
100/200-level	100/200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE	5 100/200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE
	100/200-LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE	5 100/200-LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE
	200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE	5 200-LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE
300/400-level	300/400-LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE	6 300/400-LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE
300/400-level	300/400-LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE	6 300/400-LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE
300/400-level	300/400-LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE	6 300/400-LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE

Course #	Course Title	Credits
PA 101	THE PARALEGAL PROFESSIONAL	5 THE PARALEGAL PROFESSIONAL This is an introductory course that will familiarize students with the role of the paralegal in both the workplace and the American legal system. The course is designed to expose students to current trends and issues in the profession, the regulation of the profession, the professional associations available to the paralegal, as well as the ethical considerations associated with the legal profession. Students will also receive basic introductions into the various areas of legal practice, such as law office organization, legal research, and litigation and advocacy. This course will provide students with a good introductory overview of the paralegal's role and contribution to today's legal system.
PA 110	CIVIL LITIGATION	5 CIVIL LITIGATION This course introduces students to civil litigation, the civil law process, rights, and procedures. Topics include informal fact gathering and investigation, case management and strategy, jurisdiction, the structure of the court systems in the United States, parties, pleadings, and motions.
PA 201	INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL RESEARCH	5 INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL RESEARCH One of the basic tasks performed by the paralegal is legal research-finding the law. Accurate, concise, and up-to-date information can be the difference between winning and losing a lawsuit. Students who complete this course gain specialized skills in the area of legal research.
PA 205	INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL ANALYSIS AND WRITING	5 INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL ANALYSIS AND WRITING Some of the tasks performed by a skilled paralegal are to summarize statutes or regulations, analyze the component parts of written opinions of appellate judges through briefing, identify the legal issues in a fact pattern, and apply the reasoning of relevant legal authorities to a fact pattern. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to analyze and synthesize legal authorities and draft correspondence and memoranda commonly used in the practice of law.
PA 253	LEGAL ETHICS	5 LEGAL ETHICS Legal assistants and paralegals must always consider the duty owed to the clients. Are the clients protected against having confidential information revealed? What are the duties and responsibilities regarding the ethical conduct of the paralegal? This course discusses these areas and presents canons, codes of ethics, ethical and procedural practices in a law office, licensing and certification, and more.
PA 300	REAL ESTATE LAW	6 REAL ESTATE LAW In this course, students will become familiar with procedures and documentation of real estate transactions. The course will address a wide range of issues and functions within the field of real estate law, including ethics, types of ownership, use, possession, mortgages, financing, taxation, closings, and litigation.
PA 310	TORT LAW	6 TORT LAW Paralegals must be familiar with tort law, as they will undoubtedly encounter tort issues at some time, no matter in what area of law they work. This course includes topics such as negligence, defamation, malpractice, strict liability, product liability, intentional torts, misrepresentation, and issues of liability and insurance.
PA 401	ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING	6 ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING The course focuses on researching legal issues and drafting legal documents using the results of student research. Emphasis will be placed on the drafting of documents commonly used in practice (rather than strictly legal theory). This course also teaches students how to present the results of research in professional memorandum format, helps students acquire skills in briefing and analyzing court opinions and writing legal memoranda, and teaches students how to prepare legal documents from various areas of practice. The course is intended to prepare students for the demands of a legal practice environment.
	100/200-LEVEL MAJOR ELECTIVE	5 100/200-LEVEL MAJOR ELECTIVE
	300/400-LEVEL MAJOR ELECTIVES	24 300/400-LEVEL MAJOR ELECTIVES
PA 499	BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN PARALEGAL STUDIES	6 BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN PARALEGAL STUDIES This course builds on the concepts of all of the paralegal courses students have mastered in the bachelor's degree program. The capstone course integrates problem-solving techniques and research skills studied in the paralegal program and applies them to fact scenarios that present legal issues. Students research the relevant secondary and primary sources in order to draft the required legal documents.
Choose one of the following courses:*
LS 100	EIGHT SKILLS OF THE EFFECTIVE LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT	5 EIGHT SKILLS OF THE EFFECTIVE LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT This course is an important component of the new student experience in the School of Legal Studies' legal studies program at Kaplan University. It is designed to ensure legal studies students' successful social and academic transition into and pursuit of academic excellence within the Kaplan University community and provide a foundation for success within the profession. Students will be introduced to eight key skills (reading, writing, research, planning, thinking, organizing, interviewing, and communicating) through dynamic and engaging interactions and presentations by practicing professionals. "Real-life" examples and interactions with practicing professionals will provide students with a sense of the culture and nuances of the field. The goal of this course is for students to become academically, personally, and socially successful within and beyond this intellectual community.
CS 121	PATHWAYS TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS	5 PATHWAYS TO ACADEMIC SUCCESS Designed to facilitate personal and professional success, this course introduces students to the purposes and processes of university education. An emphasis is placed on study, communication, and thinking skills that support academic achievement. Students also examine the relationship between learning and motivation. Onsite only.
Choose one of the following courses:†
IT 133	SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS	5 SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS This course teaches students to use application software. Topics include an introduction to the Windows operating system and to Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Students also learn how to apply soft ware applications within a profession.
PA 230	INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL TECHNOLOGY	5 INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL TECHNOLOGY Technology is pervasive and the modern law office is chock-full of technological appliances, tools, and applications that the paralegal must be able to master. At the core of most software applications are the basics-word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and tools for presentations. Of course, the ubiquitous communication tool, email, is the center of modern electronic communications. This course will explore the most common tools and applications found in law firms and those that every "technology-literate" paralegal must know. Word processing, document-assembly programs, and tools for case management, time and billing, calendaring, electronic communications, and creating presentations are a few of the topics explored in this course. Students will leave this course with a solid foundation of the basics in legal technology.
*Online students will take the program-specific Eight Skills of the Effective Student course. †Online students will take PA 230: Introduction to Legal Technology.

Course #	Course Title	Credits
	100/200-LEVEL: OPEN ELECTIVES	35 100/200-LEVEL: OPEN ELECTIVES
	300/400-LEVEL: OPEN ELECTIVES	24 300/400-LEVEL: OPEN ELECTIVES

Eligible students who choose to complete an accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives.

Total Program Requirements	180 Total Program Requirements

Core
Major
Open Electives
Total Program Requirements

You Could Save Time and Money on Your Kaplan University Degree

Credit for Prior Learning

Our undergraduate degree programs feature large pools of open electives designed to offer greater flexibility when applying transfer credits toward program requirements. In addition, you can enroll in our portfolio development course, which helps you document your work and life experience in a portfolio you can submit for consideration for college credits. Qualifying transfer credit may reduce your total costs for undergraduate programs. Refer to the University Catalog for our transfer of credit policy.

Continuing Students

Students who earn their bachelor’s degree at Kaplan University and enroll in a master’s degree program may be eligible for an alumni tuition reduction. For more information, contact your Admissions Advisor.

Students in the Military

Kaplan University is proud to support our military and veterans in their educational pursuits by offering significantly reduced tuition. Undergraduate program tuition is reduced up to 55 percent for active-duty servicemembers and up to 38 percent for veterans. In addition, Kaplan University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program for all of our graduate programs, and both active-duty servicemembers and veterans are eligible for special tuition rates for these programs. A 10 percent tuition reduction is also available to spouses of active-duty servicemembers. For more information, call 866.583.4412 (Toll Free) to speak to a military Admissions Advisor or visit the Kaplan University military site.

Tuition and Fees

Cost per credit hour	$371.00
Total program requirements Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies	180
Total cost of tuition	$66,780.00
This program requires a $100 technology fee per term (online students only). A nonrefundable application fee, depending on your program and as described in the Tuition and Fees Supplement, may be required at the time of enrollment. We encourage you to explore the availability of financial aid and scholarships.

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*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm (accessed April, 2011). National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.
^†Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Paralegals and Legal Assistants,www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm (accessed April, 2011).
^‡Paralegals are not lawyers and cannot practice law or give legal advice.