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Paralegal Studies - B.A. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

I.   DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE  (1 credit)
Type Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II.   MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (42 credits) 1  Courses count in major GPA 
Type Course Title Credits
  PLST 18000 Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Professional Ethics 3
    28001 Legal Research and Writing 3
    28004 Principles and Practice of Litigation 3
ELR   36792 Internship in Paralegal 2 6
WIC   38006 Applied Legal Research and Litigation 3 3
  Choose from the following: Legal Specialty Electives 24
  PLST 28003 Family Law and Procedure (3)  
    28007 Estate and Probate Administration (3)  
    35001 Environmental Law for Paralegals (3)  
    35003 Health Law (3)  
    35005 Labor and Employment Law for Paralegals (3)  
    35007 Energy and Natural Resources Law (3)  
    38003 Administrative Law and Process (3)  
    38005 Tort Law (3)  
    48002 Contract Law (3)  
    48300 Law of Corporations and Other Associations (3)  
    48401 Patent Law (3)  
    48403 Patent Prosecution (2)  
    48404 Copyright Law I (3)  
    48407 Trademark Law (3)  
III. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (77 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  Foreign Language 4 14-20
  Kent Core Composition 6
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 6
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
  Kent Core Additional 6
  College General Requirement (must be from Kent Core Basic Sciences) 5 3
  College General Requirement (must be from Kent Core Social Sciences) 6 3
  General Electives (upper division)
Credits required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and minimum 42 upper-division credit hours		 21
MINIMUM TOTAL  120


1 All courses taken from the list of major program requirements are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

2 Although required minimum hours for internship is 6 credits, it is recommended that students enroll in more than one internship. These hours are to be taken near the end of completion of the program and can be taken over several semesters. General elective hours can be used for internship hours.

3 A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

4 Fulfills College General Requirement.

5 One additional course taken from the Kent Core Basic Science courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Biological Sciences (BSCI), Chemistry (CHEM), Geography (GEOG), Geology (GEOL) or Physics (PHY). Students may take the courses listed in the "introductory" sequences with the restrictions noted above in the Kent Core Basic Science section. The course may not be from the student's major.

6 One additional course taken from the Kent Core Social Sciences courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Applied Conflict Management (CACM), Geography (GEOG), Criminology and Justice Studies (JUS), Political Science (POL), Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOC). The course may not be from the student's major.

Foreign Language Note: Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must have the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options:

a. Intermediate I and II of the same language
b. Elementary I and II of a second language
c. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
    -Intermediate I of the same language
    -MCLS 10001 Introduction to Structural Concepts for Language Students
    -MCLS 20000 Global Literacy and Cultural Awareness
    -MCLS 20091 Seminar: Global Literacy Case Studies

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 begin their university foreign language experience 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 or (2) receiving credit through Credit by Exam (CBE), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) exam or credit through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; or (3) being designated a "native speaker" of a non-English language (consult with the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office for additional information). When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining hours with general electives.