Paralegal, A.A.S.
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Paralegal, approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), provides students with a comprehensive foundation in legal principles, legal analysis, and professional ethics. The program combines general education coursework with specialized legal training to prepare students for careers in law firms, corporations, and government agencies. Paralegals support attorneys by conducting legal research, drafting documents, assisting with investigations, and helping prepare cases.
Program Requirements
Students must complete all degree coursework, including both general education and paralegal courses, and meet the following requirements:Complete at least 15 credit hours of paralegal (PAR) courses at the institution. Complete at least 9 semester credit hours of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction, in accordance with ABA requirements.
Course Applicability and Transfer
Paralegal courses completed at another institution may be applied toward the certificate upon review and approval by the Paralegal Program Director. Students seeking transfer of paralegal coursework must provide documentation sufficient to verify course content and method of delivery. All transfer and previously completed coursework must meet the requirements of the ABA-approved Paralegal Program.Students are encouraged to complete appropriate general education coursework prior to enrolling in legal specialty courses.
The Paralegal Program’s primary program goal is to provide high-quality and meaningful education so that graduates enter the workforce prepared to perform their jobs ethically, effectively, and professionally.
The objectives of the program are to
1. provide students with knowledge of the paralegal’s role in delivering quality legal services;
2. educate students about the paralegal’s ethical obligations in a professional legal setting;
3. provide students with the necessary practical skills, including legal research, legal drafting, critical thinking, communication, and organization, to perform the job of a paralegal;
4. instruct students on the importance of working well for and with others in the job setting; and
5. introduce students to advanced technology applications used in the legal field and instruct them in their operation.
A paralegal performs substantive legal work assigned by and supervised by a licensed attorney. The attorney is responsible for the paralegal’s work. Paralegals may not engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
Degree Requirements: 60 credits
General Education Requirements: 30 credits
English and Communication
(9 credits)
Mathematics or Science
(3 credits - MA1 or SC1)
Select one gtPathways course from GT-MA1 or GT-SC1
Category I (GT-MA1)
| MAT 1240 | Mathematics for Liberal Arts (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| MAT 1340 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| MAT 1420 | College Trigonometry (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| MAT 1320 | Finite Mathematics (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| MAT 1400 | Survey of Calculus (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| MAT 1260 | Introduction to Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
| MAT 1440 | Pre-Calculus (GT-MA1) | 5 |
| MAT 2410 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 5 |
| MAT 2420 | Calculus II (GT-MA1) | 5 |
| MAT 2430 | Calculus III (GT-MA1) | 4 |
| MAT 2431 | Calculus III with Engineering Applications: (GT-MA1) | 5 |
| MAT 2561 | Differential Equations with Engineering Applications with Lab: GT-MA1 | 4 |
| MAT 2560 | Differential Equations (GT-MA1) | 3 |
Category I (GT-SC1)
| ANT 1005 | Biological Anthropology w/Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| ANT 2315 | Introduction to Forensic Anthropology with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| AST 1110 | Planetary Astronomy w/Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| AST 1120 | Stellar Astronomy w/Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIO 1005 | Science of Biology with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIO 1111 | GenBio I: Molecular&Cellular Biology w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| BIO 1112 | GenBio II: Ecology&Organismic Biology w/Lab: GT-SC1 | 5 |
| BIO 2101 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIO 2102 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| BIO 2104 | Microbiology with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| CHE 1011 | Introduction to Chemistry I with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| CHE 1111 | General College Chemistry I with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| CHE 1112 | General College Chemistry II with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| GEO 1011 | Physical Geography-Landforms with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| GEO 1012 | Physical Geography-Weather and Climate with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| GEY 1111 | Physical Geology with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| GEY 1112 | Historical Geology with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| GEY 1135 | Environmental Geology with Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| PHY 1111 | Physics: Algebra Based I with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| PHY 1112 | Physics: Algebra Based II with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| PHY 2111 | Physics: Calculus Based I with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| PHY 2112 | Physics: Calculus Based II with Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 |
| SCI 1055 | Integrated Science I - Physics and Chemistry (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| SCI 1056 | Integrated Science II - Earth and Life Science (GT-SC1) | 4 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
(9 credits-GT-HI1, GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3)
Select three gtPathways courses from at least two different categories
Category I (GT-HI1)
| HIS 1110 | The World: Antiquity - 1500 (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 1120 | The World: 1500 - Present (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 1210 | US History to Reconstruction (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 1220 | US History Since Civil War (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 1310 | Western Civilization: Antiquity - 1650 (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 2005 | Women in World History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 2015 | 20th Century World History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 2105 | Women in U.S. History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 2110 | African American History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 2115 | Native American History: GT-HI1 | 3 |
| HIS 2135 | Colorado History (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| HIS 2200 | History of Latin America (GT-HI1) | 3 |
Category I (GT-SS1)
| ECO 2001 | Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| ECO 2002 | Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| PSC 1011 | American Government (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| PSC 1025 | American State and Local Government (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| PSC 1050 | Current Political Issues: GT-SS1 | 3 |
| PSC 2005 | International Relations (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| PSC 2020 | Introduction to Political Science (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| PSC 2025 | Comparative Government (GT-SS1) | 3 |
Category II (GT-SS2)
Category III (GT-SS3)
| ANT 1001 | Cultural Anthropology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| ANT 1003 | Introduction to Archaeology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| ANT 2115 | Native Peoples of North America (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| ANT 2125 | Anthropology of Religion GT:SS3 | 3 |
| ANT 2130 | Sex, Gender, and Culture: GT-SS3 | 3 |
| ANT 2550 | Medical Anthropology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| COM 1250 | Interpersonal Communication (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| COM 2220 | Group Communication (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| COM 2300 | Intercultural Communication (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| CRJ 1010 | Introduction to Criminal Justice (GT:SS3) | 3 |
| ETH 2000 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| ETH 2015 | Discrimination and Diversity (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 1001 | General Psychology I (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 1002 | General Psychology II (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 2105 | Psychology of Gender (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 2107 | Human Sexuality (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 2221 | Social Psychology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 2331 | Positive Psychology: GT-SS3 | 3 |
| PSY 2333 | Health Psychology: GT-SS3 | 3 |
| PSY 2440 | Human Growth and Development (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 2441 | Child Development (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| PSY 2552 | Psychopathology: GT-SS3 | 3 |
| SOC 1001 | Principles of Sociology: SS3 | 3 |
| SOC 1002 | Sociology of Institutions & Change: GT-SS3 | 3 |
| SOC 2005 | Sociology of Family Dynamics (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| SOC 2007 | Environmental Sociology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| SOC 2015 | Contemporary Social Problems (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| SOC 2018 | Sociology of Diversity (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| SOC 2020 | Sociology of Religion (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| SOC 2031 | Sociology of Deviant Behavior (GT-SS3) | 3 |
| WST 2000 | Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies: GT-SS3 | 3 |
| WST 2300 | Women's Sexuality (GT-SS3) | 3 |
Arts and Humanities
(9 credits -AH1, AH2, AH3, AH4)
Select three gtPathways courses from at least two different categories
Category I (GT-AH1)
| ART 1110 | Art Appreciation: (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| ART 1111 | Art History - Ancient to Medieval (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| ART 1112 | Art History – Renaissance to Modern: GT-AH1 | 3 |
| ART 1113 | Art History - 1900 to Present: (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| COM 1300 | Communication and Popular Culture (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| ENG 2021 | Creative Writing I (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| MUS 1020 | Music Appreciation (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| MUS 1021 | Music History: Medieval through Classical Period (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| MUS 1022 | Music History Early Romantic Period to the Present (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| MUS 1023 | Survey of World Music (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| MUS 1025 | History of Jazz (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| THE 1005 | Theatre Appreciation (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| THE 1008 | Theater Script Analysis (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| THE 2011 | Development of Theatre Greek-Reniassance (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| THE 2012 | Development of Theatre Restoration to Modern (GT-AH1) | 3 |
| THE 2015 | Playwriting (GT-AH1) | 3 |
Category II (GT-AH2)
| HUM 1015 | World Mythology (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| HUM 1021 | Humanities: Early Civilizations (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| HUM 1022 | Humanities: Medieval-Modern (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| HUM 1023 | The Modern World (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 1015 | Introduction to Literature (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2001 | World Literature to 1600 (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2002 | World Literature after 1600 (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2005 | Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in U.S. Literature (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2011 | American Literature to Civil War (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2012 | American Literature after Civil War (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2021 | British Literature to 1770 (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2022 | British Literature since 1770 (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2025 | Introduction to Shakespeare (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2046 | Literature of Women (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2055 | Children's Literature (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2058 | Latinx Literature (GT-AH2) | 3 |
| LIT 2059 | Survey of African American Literature (GT-AH2) | 3 |
Category III (GT-AH3)
Category IV (GT-AH4)
| ASL 2221 | American Sign Language IV: (GT-AH4) | 3 |
| SPA 2011 | Spanish Language III (GT-AH4) | 3 |
| SPA 2012 | Spanish Language IV (GT-AH4) | 3 |
Paralegal Required Courses: 21 credits
PAR 1116, PAR 2205: Students may take either Torts or Criminal Law to meet the emphasis requirements or they may take both courses, one as an elective.
Electives: 9 credits
Select three courses:
PAR 1116, PAR 2205: Students may take either Torts or Criminal Law to meet the emphasis requirements or they may take both courses, one as an elective