Undergraduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies

UMUC's Undergraduate Paralegal Studies Certificate focuses on the legal concepts, procedures, and skills used in a wide variety of legal environments. The program addresses the organization, functions, and processes of institutions in the U.S. legal system, roles and issues in the paralegal field, legal ethics, and selected specialty areas. The curriculum emphasizes important skills, including legal analysis, communication, legal research, computer competence, legal drafting, investigation, organization, and specialized legal skills. With appropriate choice of courses, this certificate may be completed while pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. However, students may not pursue the paralegal studies certificate within the associate of arts curriculum in legal studies.

No more than 12 credits in certificate courses may be earned through transfer or prior-learning credit. This requirement may be fulfilled through transfer credit, and up to 30 credits may be earned through credit by examination or prior-learning portfolio credit. Total must include 18 credits in general education courses covering at least three different disciplines. No more than six 1-credit courses may be applied toward this certificate. Core coursework includes: Introduction to Law, Techniques of Legal Research, Legal Writing, and Legal Ethics. This certificate requires 60 semester hours to complete.