Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies online degree program provides a solid foundation in the law and paralegal
skills, including litigation preparation, document supervision, and legal research. Graduates gain research and analytical
skills in specialized areas of law to pursue career opportunities or job advancement in private law firms, corporate law
departments, and government agencies. The program consists of a minimum of 180 quarter credit hours. Eight emphasis
areas are available:
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Corporate Law
• Employment Law
• Family Law
• Office Management
• Personal Injury
• Real Estate Law
• Social Security Law
starts here.
Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
The Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree program was designed
to prepare individuals for a career as a paralegal as well as for advancement for those already working in the field. The program provides the
student with a broad knowledge base and a solid foundation in law and
paralegal skills. The baccalaureate program is designed to combine the
technical skills of various specialized areas of law with research and
analytical skills. In addition to the areas covered in the associate-level
program, the bachelor’s level covers the fields of real estate law, evidence,
tort law, and advanced legal writing, as well as the addition of paralegal
electives and general education requirements at the 300/400 level. The
bachelor program also offers students the opportunity to select an emphasis area within their program elective requirements, such as personal
injury, office management, alternative dispute resolution, corporate law,
employment law, family law, real estate law, and social security law. The
bachelor’s degree program is ideal for students who seek an academically challenging program.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
more and more employers of paralegals now prefer the bachelor’s degree
as the entry-level degree to the field. Students enroll in this program to
seek employment in a legal environment (private law firm, corporate law
department, or local, state, or federal agency), to use their skills in a
nonlegal job, or to seek job advancement. Duties may include assisting
with the preparation for litigation, supervision of documents, assisting
attorneys in conducting courtroom proceedings, and researching legal
issues. Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be
awarded a bachelor of science degree.
The Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree program
consists of a minimum of 180 quarter credit hours.
Curriculum
Courses
Credits
CORE REQUIREMENTS
CM 104:
Effective Writing I
for Paralegal Studies Majors*
CM 220: Effective Writing II
PA 100:
Eight Skills of the Effective Paralegal Online Student
CS 410:
Advanced Career Development Strategies
Software Applications
IT 133:
KU 105:
Introduction to Undergraduate Online Learning
for the Profession—Paralegal Studies
MM 201: College Algebra (or higher)
PA 165:
Introduction to Torts
PA 253:
Legal Ethics
Elective: Diversity and Culture 100/200-level
Elective: History 100/200-level
Elective: Communications 300/400-level
Elective: Social Science 300/400-level
Elective: Humanities 300/400-level
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
OPEN ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS
Electives: 100/200-level‡
Electives: 300/400-level
10
18
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Introduction to Paralegal Studies
PA 101:
PA 110:
Civil Litigation I
PA 112:
Civil Litigation II
PA 130:
Contracts
Introduction to Legal Research
PA 201:
Real Estate Law
PA 300:
PA 310:
Tort Law
PA 323:
Evidence
PA 401:
Advanced Legal Writing
5
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
6
5
5
5
2
5
PA 499:
Bachelor’s Capstone in Paralegal Studies
Elective: 200-level Paralegal Elective
Electives: 300/400-level Paralegal Electives
or Emphasis Area Courses
4
5
24
Total Program Requirements
180
EMPHASIS AREAS
Option I: Office Management
MT 302:
Organizational Behavior
MT 340:
Conflict Resolution and Team Dynamics
PA 305:
Law Office Management
PA 402:
Employment Law
6
6
6
6
Option II: Alternative Dispute Resolution
CM 310:
Communication and Conflict
PA 412:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
PA 415:
Family Law and Divorce Mediation
PA 416:
Employment Dispute Resolution
6
6
6
6
Option III: Personal Injury
PA 326:
Product Liability
PA 330:
Medical Records Summary and Review
PA 342:
Insurance Law
PA 450:
Medical Malpractice Litigation
6
6
6
6
Option IV: Corporate Law
MT 310:
Ethics and the Legal Environment
MT 302:
Organizational Behavior
PA 328:
Intellectual Property
CM 410:
Organizational Communication
PA 233:
The Role of the Paralegal in a Corporate Law Practice§
6
6
6
6
2
Options V: Employment Law
PA 402:
Employment Law
6
PA 412:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
6
PA 416:
Employment Dispute Resolution
6
CM 310:
Communication and Conflict
6
PA 237:
The Role of the Paralegal in an Employment Law Practice§ 2
Option VI: Real Estate Law
CM 310:
Communication and Conflict
6
PA 303:
Landlord and Tenant Law
6
PA 403:
Real Estate Transactions
6
PA 231:
The Role of the Paralegal in a Real Estate Law Practice§ 2
Option VII: Social Security Law#
PA 350:
Social Security and Disability Law
6
PA 352:
Principles of Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
6
PA 407:
Preparing for an Administrative Law Hearing
6
PA 423:
Handling Childhood Disability Claims
6
PA 427:
Principles of Medicaid and Medicare
6
The Role of the Paralegal in a Social Security Law Practice§ 2
PA 235:
Option VIII: Family Law#
PA 250:
Family Law
Elective: Paralegal 400-level
PA 425:
Elder Law
Elective: Criminal Justice 300-level
PA 234:
The Role of the Paralegal in a Family Law Practice§
5
6
6
6
2
NOTE: In lieu of KU 105: Introduction to Undergraduate Online Learning for the Profession—Paralegal Studies, students
who have earned college credit or demonstrated proficiency in writing and math on the required placement test will be
enrolled in the Option A degree plan, where they will select a 200-level paralegal elective to meet degree plan requirements. The Option A degree plan requires 10 credits of 200-level paralegal electives. Students enrolled in the Option A
degree plan will take this additional elective later in the degree plan sequence than KU 105: Introduction to
Undergraduate Online Learning for the Profession—Paralegal Studies.
*Onsite and developmental students will take CM 102: Effective Writing I.
†Onsite students will take CS 110: Human Dynamics.
‡Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program must take PA 260: Criminal Law as an open
elective requirement.
§For the emphasis areas noted, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies program will take the
following course instead of CS 410: students enrolled in the corporate law emphasis area take PA 233; students
enrolled in the employment law emphasis area take PA 237; students enrolled in the real estate law emphasis area take
PA 231; students enrolled in the social security law emphasis area take PA 235; and students enrolled in the family law
emphasis area take PA 234.
#Students enrolled in the social security law emphasis area take one 6 credit emphasis area course in place of one 6
credit open elective. Students enrolled in the family law emphasis area take one 6 credit open elective course in place
of one 5 credit open elective.
Kaplan Higher Education Corporation is a division of Kaplan, Inc., a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. Kaplan University is regionally accredited by The
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The HLC can be reached at 312.263.0456 or www.ncahlc.org.
BSPS SLSHEET - 04/07