Oct 15, 2024  
2024-2025 College Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
2024-2025 College Catalog and Student Handbook

Business - Paralegal Studies


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The Paralegal Studies program prepares students to work under the supervision of an attorney in private law offices, government agencies or corporate law departments performing delegated legal work including legal research, document preparation, client interviewing, factual investigation and case management utilizing current technology and in compliance with ethical and professional standards. The AAS in Business, Paralegal Concentration was developed in compliance with the Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010. Students who begin this program at Walters State Community College and transfer to another Tennessee public community college are guaranteed that their credits will transfer and will be credited toward completion of the AAS degree in Business, Paralegal Studies Concentration at the receiving institution.

This program is designed for the student who does not intend to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program.

Policy Regarding the Award of Credit for Law Courses by Examination or Transfer from another Institution

The paralegal studies program of Walters State does not permit the award of any LEGL course credit by examination. To preserve the quality and integrity of the program, no more than six (6) hours of LEGL course credits may be awarded by transfer from another institution. When a request for credit by transfer is made by a student, the transcript of the institution where those credits were awarded must be presented to the college's student records office. The program director will then review the transcript and a course description from the institution which awarded the credits and makes a determination as to 1) whether the institution which awarded the credits is accredited at a level substantially equivalent to Walters State; 2) whether the credits were awarded as part of a paralegal program substantially the equivalent of the Walters State paralegal program; and 3) whether the specific course appears to cover substantially the same material and involve the same number of semester hours as the equivalent course at Walters State. In the event the program director is satisfied that an acceptance/transfer of the credits is appropriate under these criteria, then the program director will generate a course substitution form indicating the source of the credits and the law course for which they should be accepted as credit and the reason for that recommendation. The course substitution is not effective until approved by the division dean, the vice president for academic affairs and the student records office.

Degree: Associate of Applied Science

Emphasis: Business

Concentration: Paralegal Studies (Approved by the American Bar Association)

Recommended Full-Time Schedule


The following Recommended Full-Time Schedule is not a substitute for academic advising. You must meet with an academic advisor each semester to be cleared for registration. Consult with your advisor about scheduling and degree requirements. Also, see the current undergraduate catalog (catalog.ws.edu) for a complete list of requirements and electives. Requirements are continually under revision, and there is no guarantee they will not be changed or revoked. Contact the academic division or department for current information.

Factors that affect your progression include required Learning Support courses and your choices regarding campus location, course delivery method, and the days and times selected to take classes.

1General Education electives in each category must be chosen from approved courses listed in the General Education Program .

Learning Support courses must be taken every semester until completed.

First Year


Fall Term (15 semester credit hours)


Spring Term (15 semester credit hours)


Second Year


Fall Term (15 semester credit hours)


Spring Term (15 semester credit hours)


Program Degree Requirements - A.A.S. Business - Paralegal Studies


General Education Requirements (15 hours)


Humanities and/or Fine Arts


Approved Humanities General Education elective1 3 hrs.

Mathematics


Approved Mathematics General Education elective1 3 hrs.

Total Credit Hours 60


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