Just wandering if anyone knows which online school is the best for an AAS in Paralegal studies. I've done some research, but I really can't decide. Need some insight and expertise! Thanks
There's more to it than meets the eye If the AAS (associate of applied science) is as far as you think you'll ever go, then, fine, perhaps it is all to which you should aspire. But remember that a typical AAS contains roughly only half of the lower division "general education" coursework that is required for either an AS (associate of science) or a BA or BS (bachelor of arts or bachelor of science) degree. In other words, if you think you'll ever want to go on to a BA or BS using your AAS as transfer credit and wishing same to adequately cover the first two years (the lower division) of said four-year BA or BS program, you'll find yourself needing to take at least 15 to 20 hours of additional lower division "general education" coursework... that is, in addition to the sixty or so hours required for your AAS in the first place; and in addition to the sixty or so hours required for your BA or BS. Said another way, while everyone else graduating alongside of you will have roughly 120 hours of lower- and upper-division coursework under their belts to get their BA or BS degrees, you'll have had to endure roughly 135 to 140 hours, all told, to get your BA or BS... and all because your associates was an AAS instead of an AS or AA and, therefore, was around 15 to 20 hours deficient in "general education" required coursework. My point is, one should pursue an AAS (as opposed to an AS) with eyes wide open; and realizing that if one intends to transfer said AAS into a BA or BS program, it will mean additional "catch-up" coursework to make said AAS equivalent to an AS for transfer purposes. So, knowing this, why not get an AS (or AA) in paralegal studies instead of an AAS so that you will emerge therefrom with a sixty-hour associates degree that almost certainly contains the full complement of 40-something hours of "general education" coursework that will satisfy nearly any BA or BS program to which you might one day apply? Even if you're pretty certain that you'll never go on to a BA or BS degree, life is long and things change. What you're certain you might never do today could, one day in the future, be something you regret not having done as time and age makes you wiser. Now... assuming I've convinced you to abandon pursuit of the AAS in favor of an AS (or AA), then what you're looking for is a good distance learning AS (or AA) in paralegal studies... and one that will qualify you as a paralegal in states where there is a statutory or bar-administered educational requirement. Right? The first thing you need to do is figure out what your state requires. Some states allow just anyone to be a paralegel, even without much of a formal education; still others require that the paralegal education be not only formal, but that it also be approved by the American Bar Association (ABA); and everything in between. California, for example, requires that all paralegals must have completed a program of formal study that is either ABA approved or, absent that, that the paralegal educational program contains a certain number of hours (I think it's either 24 or 28 hours, if memory serves... but I'd have to go look at the statute to be sure) of coursework directly related to the study of law. Other states will have other requirements, some more rigid, some less. You need to find out what your state requires before entering a paralegal program. If your state requires that the program be ABA approved, then you may or may not have alot of luck finding a program that's either mostly or fully via distance learning. I haven't researched that, but if the ABA is as pig-headed about distance learning paralegal training as it is about distance learning lawyer training, then there won't be many (or maybe any) fully (or even mostly) distance learning ABA-approved paralegal programs out there. That said, it can't hurt to look around and more fully investigate that yourself. First you need to find a list of the ABA-approved paralegal programs out there; and if there is one out there that's fully distance learning, then it won't matter what state it's in. The ABA's official listing of its approved paralegal programs would be the first place to look. Click here to see that. If your state doesn't require that the training be ABA-approved; and/or if, like California, it would prefer that it be, but it will allow any training as long as a certain number of hours of law is covered therein, then your choices open-up considerably. Ashworth College, for example, offers a fully-distance-learning AS (associate of science) degree in paralegal studies which, by my cursory count, contains 11 courses (33 hours) of coursework that directly relates to law, legal studies, or specifically-paralegal studies. I believe it would, therefore, satisfy California's statutory paralegal educational requirements. It's also DETC-accredited, which means that if your state requires, in addition, that the paralegal education program be accredited by an agency approved by the US Department of Education (USDE) and/or its Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), Ashworth's AS in Paralegal Studies qualifies there, as well. And, of course, Ashworth's program is 100% via distance learning. The cost, as with most Ashworth associates degrees, is, I believe, around $3,000... which, unlike other colleges, includes all books and other required materials. But I'm sure that Ashworth's is not the only fully distance learning associates in paralegal studies. Education Direct, for example, has an Associate in Specialized Business Degree in Paralegal Studies. Because of the way Education Direct modularizes its studies, it's more difficult to count, with precision, the number of hours of legal studies, but I'm virtually certain that if you and someone from Education Direct broke it all down it would come out to at least 30 hours or so... which, again, would satisfy the requirement of states like California. And Education Direct is also DETC accredited, with the added benefit of its coursework being ACE approved (which can make said nationally-accredited coursework more attractive to regionally-accredited institutions in the event of your ever attempting to transfer them into a bachelors program); and Education Direct, as I recall, is a candidate for regional accreditation... which makes it even more attractive. Its costs, I believe, are roughly the same as Ashworth's... more or less. Others here who know more about it than I can probably chime-in with other associates degrees in paralegal studies that are: fully distance learning; and, accredited by a USDE- and/or CHEA-approved agency; and, contain at least 30 hours of coursework that is clearly and unambiguously related to the study of law and/or paralegal studies. In states that do not absolutely require that the paralegal coursework be ABA-approved, a paralegal education that meets the three criteria I've listed above will probably (and I stress the word "probably') be okay... ...but, again, before even searching for such programs, you must find out what kind of education your state requires of its paralegals, and then go from there. Finally -- and this can be important -- you must be mindful of some accreditation details as you conduct your search. If ABA approval is not a requirement of your state, accreditation by a USDE- and/or CHEA-approved agency probably will be. If you've been reading these fora for long, you know that USDE- and/or CHEA-approved accreditors come in three flavors: Regional accreditors National accreditors Specialized accreditors Regional accreditation is the most common. It's the kind of accreditation, no doubt, that accredited your high school; and it's what nearly all state-run/owned and community colleges have. Some say it's the "gold standard" of accreditation. Most big colleges or universities that most people aspire to attend are regionally-accredited. National accreditation is what DETC accreditation is. It's still USDE/CHEA approved, but some regionally-accredited colleges/universities turn their noses up at it when and if it's presented to them as transfer credit into a bachelors program. That said, there are many regionally-accredited bachelors programs that will accept nationally-accredited coursework as transfer credit... so don't get too worried about that. Just know that it could be an issue and bother to check with any bachelors program into which you believe you might one day transfer your associates degree before you pursue said associates degree. Specialized accreditation is what ABA approval/accreditation is. It's also USDE/CHEA-approved, but it tends to be very narrowly-focused, profession-specific and, therefore, very limited. For your purposes, don't worry about it. My point is, both the paralegal programs I've mentioned here are DETC accredited (nationally accredited). Because DETC accreditation, like regional accreditation, is USDE/CHEA-approved, it won't be an issue for most states or state bar associations; but your associates degree may not be as transferable into as many regionally-accredited bachelors programs as you might one day like. You need not worry too awfully much about that, in my opinion, but it's something of which you should be nevertheless mindful as you search for paralegal programs, specifically; and plan your future, generally. Hope that helps!
Good summary, DesElms! You might look at the ABA's site; I think they list accredited paralegal programs. www.abanet.org Here in the Land of Enchantment we actually grant associate membership in the State Bar Association to qualified paralegals. If you are curious as to how that works, go to www.nmbar.org and look under "paralegal division". Good luck!
Okay, I took a few minutes and found a few more fully distance learning paralegal programs. Just click on whichever one(s) interest you: Colorado State University (non-credit certificate) (regionally accredited) University of Maryland University College (certificate) (regionally accredited) Mount Wachusett Community College (certificate and associates) (regionally accredited) Pierce College (associates, bachelors and post-baccaleaueate certificate) (regionally accredited) American Institute for Paralegal Studies (certificate/diploma) (nationally accredited) American Public University (associates and certificate) (nationally accredited) Kaplan University (certificate, associates, bachelors) (nationally accredited) Crown College (associates) (nationally accredited) Florida Metropolitan University (associates and bachelors) (nationally accredited) ...plus whatever else you can get from this Google search.
