Paralegal Studies Pathway (full-time)
Associate in Science Degree
Meta-Major: Public Safety
Specialization: Paralegal Studies
Catalog: 2025 - 2026
Planning Your Degree Pathway
This document outlines the courses needed to complete your Associate in Science (A.S.) degree and prepare you for employment in a specialized career upon degree completion. These courses include general education requirements as well as courses specific to your field. Please connect with your Student Success Coach if you need introductory coursework, have earned college credit, industry certifications, have completed an articulated program at a technical college, or would like to modify when you take certain courses and/or how many courses you take in a term. A Success Coach can also provide guidance on how to transition or transfer to a bachelor's degree program at Valencia or another Florida state college in case you decide to earn a bachelor's degree in the future.
Additional Degree Requirements
- Introductory Coursework: Required courses based on placement tests including developmental education
- Civic Literacy Exam: must satisfy Florida Civic Literacy Exam or appropriate scores in AP or CLEP exams
- Grade Point Average (GPA): Need to maintain 2.0 or higher for both Overall GPA and Valencia GPA
- Valencia Residency: Must complete at Valencia at least 25% of the college-level credits required for a degree
* Class has a prerequisite
+ Class requires “C” grade or higher
^ Course may require a specific grade for transfer institution
GESC General Education Student Choice
- Classes fill quickly, make plans with the Class Schedule Search for early registration
- For registration instructions, review our How-To Videos
- Meet with your Student Success Coach to create an education plan.
Sample Term-by-Term Plan | Full-Time (12+ credits)
Introductory Coursework
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
Term 1
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENC 1101 - Freshman Composition I+* | 3 |
| Math Core+* | 3 |
| POS 2041 - U.S. Government+ | 3 |
| PLA 1003 - Intro to Paralegal Practices & Ethics+ | 3 |
Term 2
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENC 1102 - English Composition II+* | 3 |
| SPC 1017 - Interpersonal Communications+ | 3 |
| PLA 1058 - Foundations of Law for Paralegals* | 3 |
| PLA 2203 - Civil Litigation Fundamentals+ | 3 |
Term 3
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLA 1104 - Legal Research & Theory I+* | 3 |
| PLA 1611 - Real Property Fundamentals+* | 3 |
| PLA 2433 - Business Organization+* | 3 |
| PSY 2012 - General Psychology | 3 |
| PLA 2732 - Legal Technology* | 3 |
Term 4
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLA 1114 - Legal Research & Theory II+* | 3 |
| Paralegal Elective* | 3 |
| PLA 1730 - Computer Assisted Legal Research* | 1 |
| PLA 2223 - Advanced Civil Litigation* | 3 |
| Humanities Core | 3 |
Term 5
| Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| PLA 2192 - Legal Research & Theory III* | 3 |
| Paralegal Elective* | 3 |
| APA 1111C - College Accounting | 3 |
| Science Core | 3 |
Pathway-Specific Information
- If choosing Internship, must be final term after completing PLA 1114.
- For Math core: MGF 1130 is recommended.
- Program electives are not offered every term. Consult with your Student Success Coach.
- PLA 1104, PLA 1114, and PLA 2192 are only offered in Fall and Spring terms.
- Per American Bar Association (ABA) requirements for approved paralegal studies programs, students must take at least nine (9) semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction includes traditional face-to-face courses as well as RTV (Real Time Virtual) courses. Valencia College has identified PLA 1104 LEGAL RESEARCH AND THEORY I, PLA 1114 LEGAL RESEARCH AND THEORY II, and PLA 2192 LEGAL RESEARCH AND THEORY III CAPSTONE which will be offered in these formats every semester. Students will be required to take these three classes synchronously and at Valencia College. These three courses will not be accepted as transfer or transient courses from any other institution.
- Per ABA Guidelines Valencia College will allow its students to transfer up to 6 credits of “legal specialty” (PLA) courses completed with a “C” or higher at other institutions. Before this credit is accepted at Valencia College, the program director or qualified faculty member (in consultation with the Dean) will evaluate the transferring course to ensure its academic equivalency to a Valencia College Paralegal Studies A.S. course.
Program Electives
- PLA 2465 Debtor-Creditor/Bankruptcy*
- PLA 2560 Case Management for Paralegals*
- PLA 2601 Wills, Trusts & Estate Admin*
- PLA 2612 Advanced Real Property*
- PLA 2841 Immigration Law for Paralegals*
- PLA 2800 Family Law*
- PLA 2930 Selected Topics in Paralegal Studies*
- PLA 2942 Internship in Paralegal Studies*
General Education Course Requirements
Courses listed below are 3 credit hours each unless otherwise stated.
See key for the meaning of symbols
See pathway-specific information
Communications Requirements
These courses need to be completed with a C or higher.
- ENC 1101 – Freshman Composition I*+
Humanities Core (3 Credits)
Select one of the following Humanities courses.
- ARH 1000 – Art Appreciation
- HUM 1020 – Introduction to Humanities
- LIT 1000 – Introduction to Literature
- MUL 1010 – Music Appreciation
- PHI 2010 – Philosophy
- THE 1000 – Introduction to Theater
Math Core (3 Credits)
These courses need to be completed with a C or higher.
Select one course from core
- MAC 1105 – College Algebra*+
- MGF 1130 – Mathematical Thinking*+
- MAC 2311 – Calculus with Analytic Geometry I*+ (4 Credits)
- STA 2023 – Statistical Methods*+
Science Core (3 Credits)
Select one of the following Science courses.
- AST 1002 – Astronomy
- BSC 1005 – Biological Science
- BSC 1005L – Lab in Applied Biology (1 credit)
- BSC 1005C – Biological Science Combined w/ Lab (4 credits)
- BSC 1010C – General Biology I (4 credits)
- BSC 2085C – Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- CHM 1020 – Chemistry in Everyday Life
- CHM 1045C – General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis I* (4 credits)
- ESC 1000 – Earth Science
- EVR 1001 – Introduction to Environmental Science
- GLY 2010C – Physical Geology (4 credits)
- OCE 1001 – Introduction to Oceanography
- PHY 1020 – Conceptual Physics*
- PHY 2048C – General Physics with Calculus I* (4 credits)
- PHY 2053C – College Physics I with Algebra and Trigonometry* (4 credits)
Social Sciences (3 Credits)
Select one of the following Social Science Courses. These courses need to be completed with a C or higher.
- AMH 2010 – U.S. History to 1877+
- AMH 2020 – U.S. History 1877 to Present+
- POS 2041 – U.S. Government+
Financial Aid Notice
Federal Financial Aid will only pay for courses for the required Associate in Science Degree. Work closely with your assigned Student Success Coach to verify the degree on your record and to develop a customized plan that includes the required classes each term.
Career ready? Let's check!
- Resume and Cover Letter
- Employment Readiness
- Practice Interview and Job Shadowing
- Internships