To: Program Revision Subcommittee
From: Peter Henderson, Director of the Paralegal Program
Re: Program Revision
February 8, 2005
The effect of this program revision is to reduce the credits required in the Paralegal major, both Option A and Option B, by 6 credits. Specifically, the program would reduce the “Interdisciplinary Foundations” section of the major by elimination the required course in Communication Studies (CMST 389), and the required course in English (ENG 439).
The History department’s rationale for this change in the Paralegal program is to point out that the historical reason for the inclusion of these two courses in the major are no longer valid because of the revisions to the University Studies program. Specifically, when the Paralegal program was designed in 1975, its founders believed that students needed an additional upper division writing course and an additional upper division speaking course to fortify their skills. Now that the Oral Flag and the two Writing Flags have been added to the curriculum for all students, the original requirement seems redundant.
The Director has spoken to the chairs of the English department and the Communication Studies department, and they are in agreement with this revision.
Thank you for your consideration.
Current Program
B.S. MAJOR – PARALEGAL
128 S.H.
CORE REQUIREMENTS
Option A (91 S.H.)
Option B (56 S.H. plus Minor)
I.INTERDISCIPLINARY FOUNDATIONS (27 S.H.)
Communication Studies (3 S.H.)
CMST389 Persuasive Communication (3)
English/Writing (3 S.H.)
ENG439 Technical Writing (3)
History (12 S.H.)
*HIST150U.S. History to 1865 (3)
*HIST151 U.S. History Since 1865 (3)
HIST365 American Legal History (3)** OR
HIST488 American Constitutional History** (3)
One of the following:
HIST220Introduction to African American History (3)
HIST235History of the American Indian (3)
HIST315Women in U.S. History (3)
HIST355European Intellectual and Cultural History (3)
HIST398Topics in History with Oral Communication Emphasis (3)
HIST461Latin American Social Revolution (3)
HIST468History of the Andean Nations (3)
HIST469History of Brazil (3)
HIST485Contemporary America 1945-Present (3)
HIST486American Intellectual and Cultural History (3)
** A student may also choose to take both HIST 365 American Legal History and HIST 488 Constitutional History to satisfy this requirement.
Political Science (9 S.H.)
*POLS120Intro to American Politics (3)
POLS320Constitutional Law (3)
POLS420Administrative Law (3)
Proposed Program
B.S. MAJOR – PARALEGAL
128 S.H.
CORE REQUIREMENTS
Option A (85 S.H.)
Option B (50 S.H. plus Minor)
I. INTERDISCIPLINARY FOUNDATIONS (21 S.H.)
Communication Studies (3 S.H.)
CMST389 Persuasive Communication (3)
English/Writing (3 S.H.)
ENG439 Technical Writing (3)
History (12 S.H.)
*HIST150U.S. History to 1865 (3)
*HIST151 U.S. History Since 1865 (3)
HIST365 American Legal History (3)** OR
HIST488 American Constitutional History** (3)
One of the following:
HIST220Introduction to African American History (3)
HIST235History of the American Indian (3)
HIST315Women in U.S. History (3)
HIST355European Intellectual and Cultural History (3)
HIST398Topics in History with Oral Communication Emphasis (3)
HIST461Latin American Social Revolution (3)
HIST468History of the Andean Nations (3)
HIST469History of Brazil (3)
HIST485Contemporary America 1945-Present (3)
HIST486American Intellectual and Cultural History (3)
** A student may also choose to take both HIST 365 American Legal History and HIST 488 Constitutional History to satisfy this requirement.
Political Science (9 S.H.)
*POLS120Intro to American Politics (3)
POLS320Constitutional Law (3)
POLS420Administrative Law (3)
II. LEGAL SPECIALTY SEQUENCE (29 S.H.)
HIST370 Legal Research & Writing I (3)
HIST371 Substantive Law & Ethics I (2)
HIST372 Legal Research & Writing II (3)
HIST373 Adversary Systems - Civil (2)
HIST374 Evidentiary Rules (2)
HIST 375 Substantive Law & Ethics II (3)
HIST 376Adversary Systems - Criminal (2)
HIST380Paralegal Internship (12)
III. OPTIONS
Option A: 35 S.H.
Business Administration
BUSA301 Business Law I (3)
History
HIST377Practical Legal Investigation Techniques (3)
Physics
PHYS 310Science and Technology in Litigation (4)
Sociology
*SOC150Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOC216Social Problems (3)
SOC376Intro to Social Research (3)
Approved Electives (16)
Courses approved by Paralegal Director and academic advisor
Option B: Minor required.
II. LEGAL SPECIALTY SEQUENCE (29 S.H.)
HIST370 Legal Research & Writing I (3)
HIST371 Substantive Law & Ethics I (2)
HIST372 Legal Research & Writing II (3)
HIST373 Adversary Systems - Civil (2)
HIST374 Evidentiary Rules (2)
HIST 375 Substantive Law & Ethics II (3)
HIST 376Adversary Systems - Criminal (2)
HIST380Paralegal Internship (12)
III. OPTIONS
Option A: 35 S.H.
Business Administration
BUSA301 Business Law I (3)
History
HIST377Practical Legal Investigation Techniques (3)
Physics
PHYS 310Science and Technology in Litigation (4)
Sociology
*SOC150Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOC216Social Problems (3)
SOC376Intro to Social Research (3)
Approved Electives (16)
Courses approved by Paralegal Director and academic advisor
Option B: Minor required.