Online Paralegal Associate Degree

Does the legal world fascinate you? Have you been thinking about pursuing a legal career but don’t want to spend years attending law school? At University of the Cumberlands, our accredited associate degree in Paralegal Studies offers the legal insights and practical skills you need to become a legal support worker, legal assistant or paralegal.

• Can I Get a Paralegal Degree Online?
• Paralegal Associate Degree vs Paralegal Certificate
• What Careers Can You Do with an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies?
• Curriculum and Degree Requirements
• Tuition
• Admission Requirements
• Accreditation

Can I get a paralegal degree online?

University of the Cumberlands is dedicated to providing quality online programs. Our experienced faculty will teach you paralegal courses online and help you explore every aspect of this exciting field of study, providing the tools you need to be successful in entry level legal work. You’ll also develop essential professional skills that are applicable in any industry and every career path, from the ability to communicate in group settings to thinking more critically. 

Classes for the online paralegal degree are designed to give the student a full view of the applicable areas an associate degree in paralegal studies can be used. Get the expertise you need to succeed with courses in national government, legal writing, judicial procedure, criminal justice, legal terminology and more.

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Paralegal Associate Degree vs Paralegal Certificate

What’s the difference between a paralegal certificate and an associate degree in paralegal studies? Both a paralegal associate degree program and a certificate program take less time to complete than a bachelor’s degree program. And both can help you pursue career opportunities in the legal field. Credits obtained from a certification program, however, aren’t as easily transferable to other programs as those that come with an associate degree. Therefore, if you think you may want to pursue further education down the road, like a bachelor’s degree, it may make more sense for you to get your Associate of Arts (or AA degree) rather than a paralegal certificate.

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What careers can you do with an associate degree in paralegal studies?

When you get an associate degree in paralegal studies online, you’ll gain the professional essentials you need, such as team building and communication skills, as well as insights into the practical aspects of working in the legal world. An AA degree in paralegal studies is the education you need to pursue a career path in any number of legal settings—law offices, corporate legal departments, the court system and more! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 41,400 new legal support positions are expected to open by 2030, and that doesn’t count openings due to career changes, retirements and promotions. Paralegals and title examiners are two popular career paths for someone with an associate degree in paralegal studies.

Paralegals

Your paralegal studies degree from University of the Cumberlands can help you start your journey on a number of career paths in the legal world, including that of paralegal or legal assistant. The need for qualified legal support professionals is expected to grow 12 percent by 2030. Currently, the median annual salary for these professionals is $56,230.

Title Examiners

Title examiners provide a valuable service for different public and legal entities, from law firms to real estate agencies and insurance companies. These professionals carefully examine titles, search through real estate records and summarize legal or insurance documents. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, who puts these professionals in the same category as abstractors and searchers who perform similar duties, title examiners averaged a median annual salary of $50,750.

In addition, earning an associate degree in paralegal studies also means you will have met the requirements and earned the qualifications needed to become a:

• Corporate Law Assistant
• Law Associate
• Legal Assistant
• Litigation Paralegal
• Paralegal Specialist
• Legal Support Associate
• Abstractor

Or you could pursue a career path in other fields altogether. With the solid foundation of critical thinking, research and communication skills this education provides, you’ll be well prepared to pursue a variety of professional careers—from front-line sales to back-office management.

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Curriculum and Degree Requirements

As part of University of the Cumberlands' associate degree requirements, each student must complete at least 61 semester hours, including those within the major and the coursework required to fulfill the online associate degree in paralegal studies requirements.

• 31 semester hours required in the sections of General Education
• 18 semester hours required in Associate Core Requirements
• 12 semester hours required from Elective Courses

General Education Sections

• The English Language
• Christian Faith and Values
• Natural and Mathematical Sciences
• Cultural and Aesthetic Values
• Humanities
• Social Sciences

Associate Core Requirements

• ITSS 130 Application Software
• CRJS 131 Introduction to Criminal Justice
• COMM 332 Small Group Communication
• POLS 233 American National Government
• POLS 141 Legal Writing
• POLS 239 Legal Terminology
• POLS 337 Law and Legal Education
• POLS 430 Special Topics: Judicial Procedure

Elective Courses
You may choose any of the courses that are offered within UCumberlands Online. If a course has a pre-requisite, as long as you meet the requirements, and have not previously y taken it, you can take the class. Your elective choices are vast and not limited to your degree.

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Tuition

Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees.

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Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to this University of the Cumberlands online program students must complete the following:

• Apply online
• Submit official transcripts from all applicable colleges/universities attended; must be submitted directly to University of the Cumberlands from the issuing institution and must be sealed or unopened.
• If you have 0-11 hours of college credit, an official high school transcript must be submitted showing a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. GED students must provide official scores from the General Education Development Test (GED). Click here for the GED to GPA calculator. 
• If you have 12+ hours of college credit, you must submit an official college transcript with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. High school transcripts are not required if you have obtained 12+ hours of college credit.
• Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the 8 International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a report from Duolingo. This requirement is waived for students who have completed bachelor’s or master’s level coursework in the U.S. at an accredited institution. The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are: 
  • Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) - 550 
  • Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) - 79 
  • IELTS - 6
  • Duolingo - 95

All admissions materials should be submitted to:
University of the Cumberlands
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street
Williamsburg, KY 40769

Phone: 606.539.4372
Toll Free: 800.343.1609
Email: ucoadm@ucumberlands.edu

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Accreditation

Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information. 

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