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Clarkston Advisor:
Kye Haymore haymorek@dekalbtech.edu
Covington Advisors:
Virgil Costley costleyv@dekalbtech.edu
Celia Murray murrayc@dekalbtech.edu
The Paralegal Studies Associate in Applied Science degree program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for positions in the paralegal profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. The knowledge and skills emphasized in this program include ethical obligations; research state and federal law; legal correspondence preparation; family law matters; basic concepts of real property law, criminal law and procedure, civil litigation, tort law, and substantive contract law; and wills, trusts, and probate. The program emphasizes opportunities that provide students with specialized legal knowledge and skills required to aid lawyers in the delivery of legal services.
To receive a diploma or degree from DeKalb Technical College (DTC), students must complete 25% of their course work at DTC.
Prerequisites: Degree program admission level English and reading competency or completion of ENG 0098 and RDG 0098 with grades of "S", “C*”, or better and the appropriate score on the Writing and Reading ASSET or COMPASS Exit Exams; and recommended successful completion of SCT 100 or equivalent. Note: Because this is a hybrid course, students are expected to have competency in e-mail, document creation, and document filing prior to taking the course.
Focuses on skills required for effective writing in a variety of contexts, with emphasis on exposition, analysis, and argumentation, including introductory use of a variety of research skills; explores the analysis of expository essays and creative nonfiction about issues in the humanities and in society. The course includes a review of grammar and stylistic usage in proofreading and editing, with emphasis on the rhetorical function of these mechanics. Topics include: writing analysis and practice, revision, and research.
Prerequisite: ENG 1101 with a minimum grade of “C”
Explores the philosophic and artistic heritage of humanity expressed through a historical perspective on visual arts, music, philosophy, and literature. The humanities are presented as a source of subjective insights for the understanding of people and society. Topics include: historical and cultural developments, and contributions of the humanities.
Mathematics Elective from the following:
MAT 1100 QUANTITATIVE SKILLS AND REASONING (5)
Prerequisite: Degree program admission level math competency or MAT 1013 with a minimum grade of “C” or “S”
Overview course covering algebra, statistics, and mathematics of finance. Topics include: fundamental operations of Algebra, sets and logic, probability and statistics, Geometry, Mathematics of voting and districting, and Mathematics of finance.
MAT 1101 MATHEMATICAL MODELING (5)
Prerequisites: Degree program admission level math competency or MAT 0099 with a grade of “S” or minimum grade of “C” and appropriate exit test scores
This course is designed as an alternative to College Algebra for those students who will not take Trigonometry, Pre-calculus, or Calculus. It is an applications-driven course that introduces functions using real-world phenomena as models. Topics include: fundamental concepts of algebra; functions and graphs; linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential, and logarithmic functions and models of real-world phenomena; systems of equations; and additional topics in algebra.
MAT 1111 COLLEGE ALGEBRA (5)
Prerequisites: Degree program admission level math competency or MAT 0099 with a grade of “S” or minimum grade of “C” and an appropriate score on the COMPASS Algebra exit examination. The appropriate “exit” examination score can be either of the following: (1) The student completes MAT 0099 with an “S” or minimum grade of “C” AND scores “37” or higher on the COMPASS Algebra exit examination; OR The student obtains transfer credit for MAT 0099 AND scores “37” or higher on the Compass Algebra exit examination; OR scores a “37” or higher on the COMPASS Algebra placement.
This course emphasizes techniques of problem solving using algebraic concepts. Topics include: fundamental concepts of algebra; equations and inequalities; functions and graphs; systems of equations; optional topics including sequences, series, and probability; and analytic geometry.
MAT 1113 PRE-CALCULUS (5)
Prerequisite: MAT 1111 with a minimum grade of “C”
This course prepares students for Differential Calculus. The topics discussed include an intensive study of polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions and their graphs. Applications include simple maximum and minimum problems, exponential growth and decay.
MAT 1127 INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS (5)
Prerequisite: Degree program admission level math competency or MAT 1013 with a minimum grade of “C"
Discusses the concepts and methods fundamental to utilizing and interpreting commonly used statistics. Topics include: descriptive statistics, basic probability, discrete and continuous distributions, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, chi-square tests and linear regression. Computer and Internet technology are an integral part of this course.
MAT 1131 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS (5)
Prerequisite: MAT 1113 with a minimum grade of “C”
Emphasizes the use of differential calculus. Applications of techniques include extreme value problems, motion, graphing, and other topics as time allows. Topics include: derivatives and applications, differentiation of transcendental functions, and introduction to integration and applications.
Prerequisite: Program Admission (degree)
Emphasizes the basics of psychology. Topics include: science of psychology; social environments; life stages; physiology and behavior; personality; emotions and motives; conflicts, stress, and anxiety; abnormal behavior; and perception, learning, and intelligence.
Prerequisite: ENG 1101 with a minimum grade of "C"
Introduces the fundamentals of oral communication. Topics include: selection and organization of materials, preparation and delivery of individual and group presentations, and analysis of ideas presented by others.
Prerequisites: Program admission English and Math
Provides a description and analysis of economic operations in contemporary society. Emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of economic concepts and policies as they apply to everyday life. Topics include: basic economic principles, economic forces and indicators, capital and labor, price, competition, and monopoly, money and banking, government expenditures (federal and local), fluctuations in production, employment and income, and the United States economy in perspective.
Prerequisites: Degree program admission level English and reading competency; or completion of ENG 0098 and RDG 0098 with a grade of “S” or “C” or better; or COMPASS Exit Exams.
Explores the sociological analysis of society, its culture, and structure. Sociology is presented as a science with emphasis placed on its methodology and theoretical foundations. Topics include: basic sociological concepts, socialization, social interaction and culture, social groups and institutions, deviance and social control, social stratification, and social change.
Prerequisite: ENG 1101
Emphasizes the American legal system, the role of the lawyer and legal assistant within that system, and the ethical obligations imposed upon attorneys and legal assistants. Topics include: survey of American jurisprudence, code of professional responsibility and ethics overview, legal reasoning and problem solving, and introduction to sources of law and legal vocabulary.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Introduces the student to the competencies involved with legal bibliography and research methodology so that the student can effectively research issues of both state and federal law. The student will also learn to properly cite legal research sources. Topics include: identification of legal issues, sources of state and federal statutes and case law, citation of legal authorities, and computer assisted legal research.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Focuses on the application and reinforcement of basic writing skills, familiarizes the student with types of writing typically engaged in by lawyers and legal assistants, and prepares the student for legal writing tasks. The student learns to write business letters as well as advisory documents. Topics include: legal analysis and legal correspondence and composition.
Corequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Introduces the student to the issues that may arise in family law cases and to the role of the paralegal in assisting the attorney in the development and presentation of such cases. Topics include: issues associated with client and witness interviews, marriage validity and dissolution, litigation support in family law matters, issues concerning children, special matters in family law, and attorney and paralegal ethical obligations.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Introduces the student to the basic concepts of real property law as they pertain to common types of real estate transactions. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on practical skills such as document preparation and title examination. Topics include: real estate contracts, plat reading and legal descriptions, types and purposes of deeds, title searches, common real estate mortgages and documentation, real estate closing and closing statements, recordation statutes and requirements, and elements of the lease.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Introduces the student to the basic concepts of substantive criminal law and its procedural aspects with an emphasis on the constitutionally protected rights of the accused in the criminal justice system. Topics include: substantive criminal law, criminal procedure from arrest to post-conviction, constitutional issues of criminal law and procedure, and criminal litigation support.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Emphasizes competencies and concepts of civil litigation in both federal and state courts. Topics include: federal and state litigation; trial and pretrial proceedings; litigation ethics; and litigation documents, exhibits, investigations, and interviews.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Provides a general framework of the substantive theory of wills, trusts, and estates. The student receives practical information to better enable him or her to assist in the drafting of wills and other documents, and in the probate and administration process. Topics include: wills, trusts, and powers of attorney; probate of wills and administration of estates; document preparation for other probate proceedings; general jurisdiction of the probate court; terminology of wills and estate practice; client interviews; and document preparation.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Introduces the student to the basic concepts of substantive tort law. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on the fact investigation process. Topics include: concepts of tort, intentional and unintentional; causation and liability concepts; damages and defenses; and business torts.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Introduces the student to common forms of law practice. The student will be exposed to methods of billing and timekeeping, automation in the law office, the law office library, the appropriate role of support staff in the law office, and ethical concerns relevant to law office management. Topics include: forms of law practice and insurance needs, support systems, support staff, and ethical responsibilities.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Emphasizes the formulation and operation of sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, joint ventures, and corporations. Additionally, the course will include the exploration of basic concepts of agency law. Topics include: sole proprietorships, partnerships and joint ventures, corporations, tax implications of different organizations, professional associations and corporations, and agency concepts.
Prerequisite: PLS 191 with a minimum grade of “C”
Introduces the student to the basic concepts of legal rules commonly applicable in commercial settings and to the basic concepts of substantive contract law. Topics include: Constitutional Law and government regulations, Uniform Commercial Code, essential elements of a contract and related legal principles, and standard forms utilization.
Prerequisites: All previous coursework
Focuses on the application and reinforcement of paralegal skills in an actual workplace environment, or at the discretion of the instructor, in a school practicum with simulated work experiences. Students are acquainted with occupational responsibilities through realistic work situations and are provided with insights into paralegal applications on the job. Topics include: problem solving, adaptability to the job setting, use of proper interpersonal skills, application of paralegal skills in a workplace setting, and professional development.
Prerequisite: RDG 0096 or equivalent test score
Introduces the fundamental concepts and operations necessary to use microcomputers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include: computer terminology, introduction to the Windows environment, introduction to networking, introduction to word processing, introduction to spreadsheets, introduction to databases, and introduction to presentation graphics.
