Paralegal Studies, Associate of Arts (276P, 276)
Program Coordinator
Julia F. Shadoan, julie.shadoan@wku.edu, (270) 780-2539
Like the Bachelor of Arts program, the Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies prepares for careers as paralegals and legal assistants.
The associate degree in paralegal studies is approved by the American Bar Association and requires a minimum of 66 credit hours. It is designed to be completed in four or five semesters. Students must fulfill the stated requirements to declare a paralegal major and must follow the curriculum guidelines and the course prerequisites to graduate. Paralegal degrees will be awarded to those students who complete all requirements with an overall grade point average of 2.0 (out of 4.0) and receive a grade of “C” or better in legal specialty courses.
Program Requirements (64-66 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Prerequisites | ||
| ENG 100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| PS 110 | American National Government | 3 |
| OST 220C | Word Processing | 3 |
| Legal Specialty Courses | ||
| PLS 250 | Legal Research and Writing I | 3 |
| PLS 283 | Property Law | 3 |
| PLS 291 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 3 |
| PLS 294 | Administrative Practice and Procedures | 3 |
| PLS 296 | Family Law | 3 |
| PLS 392 | Corporate Law | 3 |
| PLS 393 | Civil Procedure | 3 |
| PLS 395 | Estate Planning and Administration | 3 |
| PLS 450 | Legal Research and Writing II | 3 |
| PLS 499 | Internship in Paralegal Studies | 3 |
| Colonnade Requirements | ||
| BUS 214C | Business Communication | 3 |
| BUS 110C | Basic Accounting I | 3 |
| or ACC 200C | Introductory Accounting—Financial | |
| COMM 145 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Communication | 3 |
| MA 109C | General Mathematics | 3 |
| or MA 116C | College Algebra | |
| Select 3 hours of Colonnade Natural and Physical Sciences courses | 3 | |
| Select 3 hours of Colonnade Arts/Humanities courses | 3 | |
| Select 3 hours of Colonnade Social and Behavioral Sciences courses | 3 | |
| Select 3 hours of PLS electives | 3 | |