General Catalog - John F. Kennedy University

School of Management• Demonstrate proficiency in legal research.• Demonstrate clear and concise written communicationskills.• Be proficient in software applications used in legalenvironments.• Employ clear and concise oral communication skills.• Identify the legal questions triggered by specificfactual situations.• Practice analytical and critical thinking ability.• Appreciate cultural differences while working forsocial justice.Admission RequirementsApplicants with an associate’s degree or equivalent may beadmitted to the degree or certificate program. Applicantsmust have 54 quarter units (36 semester units) of college transferablecredit which include at least 24 quarter units (16 semesterunits) of general education.Freshman English or college composition must be completedwith a C or better prior to admission. In addition to composition,applicants must have completed courses from at least three of thefollowing disciplines prior to admission:Communication. Composition, rhetoric, literature, English, andsome journalism.Humanities. Art or music appreciation, art or music history,literature, religion, theater, philosophy, classics, music theory, filmhistory, logic, foreign language, sign language.Natural Science. Natural or physical science that is not vocationallyoriented.Mathematics. Any college-level mathematics course.Social Science. Government, economics, sociology, history,political science, anthropology, and psychology.State RegulationOur curriculum complies with California Business and ProfessionsCode §§6450–56 requiring paralegals to be educated at anaccredited institution offering a minimum of 37 quarter unitsof legal specialty coursework. Paralegals cannot provide legaladvice except as directed by an attorney, nor can they establish anattorney-client relationship or represent a client in court.AttendanceStudents are expected to attend all class meetings for the coursesin which they are enrolled and must attend at least nine of the 11scheduled class meetings. Students may not miss more than twoclass sessions per quarter. This is strictly enforced; students withexcessive absences will receive a failing mark for the course.Students who have extraordinary circumstances may petition thedean or assistant dean for an exception to this policy.Academic ProbationTo remain in good academic standing and to graduate, studentsmust maintain a 2.0 grade-point average (a C average). Studentswho fall below a 2.0 in their coursework will be placed onacademic probation. At that time, a probation letter will be sent tothe student requiring that the GPA be brought up to a 2.0 by thecompletion of the subsequent academic quarter. Students whodo not raise their grade-point average to 2.0 or higher in thesubsequent term are subject to dismissal from the university.Cases for academic dismissal are reviewed by the School ofManagement’s Academic Standards Committee.Credit by AssessmentThe Legal Studies programs do not accept credit by assessment.Students in these programs are not eligible to earn credit byassessment and existing credits by assessment may not be appliedto the degree or certificate programs in Legal Studies.Transfer of Previous Paralegal CourseworkStudents may transfer legal specialty courses if the transferredcourses were taken within the last five years, were from an ABAapprovedprogram, and carry upper-division credit. Students whowish to transfer their ABA-approved certificate for credit maybe required to take additional legal specialty courses. Applicantsshould consult with the Legal Studies department for specificinformation on transfer issues. Transfer students should notethat the Legal Studies department follows the university’s transfercredit policy with the following modifications:• Students beginning their JFKU career in the Legal Studiesprogram may only transfer courses with grades of C-or better.• Students who have previously completed courses atJFKU may transfer all JFKU courses and grades into thelegal Studies program regardless of the grade earned.Only passed courses may satisfy program and degreerequirements.• Students who have previously completed courses at JFKUwill have their transfer work reevaluated and may retaincourses with grades of C- or better. Transfer courses withgrades below C- may not be used toward Legal Studiesprograms and will be removed from the JFKU transcript.• Students who transfer out of the Legal Studies program toother JFKU programs must petition the registrar’s office tohave transfer work below a C reviewed for possible transfer.Applicants may consult with the Legal Studies department foradditional course transfer information.BA in Legal StudiesThe BA in Legal Studies builds upon the foundational legalspecialty courses by offering a curriculum that enhances students’critical thinking and analytical and theoretical skills. This combinationof legal specialty and liberal arts coursework ensuresthat each student develops an understanding of and respect fordifferent ways of knowing and a desire for lifelong learning.The Bachelor of Arts degree has two components—13 legal specialtycourses (37 quarter units) and 17 courses (48 quarter units)based in the theoretical study of law. Students must complete aminimum of 180 quarter units to graduate.School ofManagementJohn F. Kennedy UniversitySchool of Management 75