Many colleges and universities offer certificate programs in paralegal studies. These programs typically consist of one or two semesters of courses which are completely vocation-specific. The certificate programs are usually offered only to students who already have a college degree, or are offered in conjunction with another degree program at the college or university. However, some schools offer paralegal certificate programs as a stand-alone program to students with a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Associate's degrees in paralegal studies are 2-year college degrees which typically consist of 60-70 credit hours of coursework. While the majority of the coursework for an associate's degree focuses on the tasks performed by paralegals, general education courses in subjects such as English, math, and business are also required. Students can typically earn an associate's degree in paralegal studies in four semesters.
Some colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in paralegal studies. A bachelor's degree is more rigorous than certificate and associate's degree programs. A bachelor's degree in paralegal studies consists of around 120 credit hours of coursework that typically takes four years to complete. The bachelor's degree normally requires 40 to 60 credit hours in general education courses, 15 to 30 credit hours of electives, and 40-50 credit hours in paralegal courses that provide in-depth training. Many students earn an associate's degree first before continuing on to earn their bachelor's degree. Credits earned in an associate's degree program can usually be transferred and applied towards a bachelor's degree.
Master's degrees in paralegal studies are offered by some universities. Before embarking on a master's degree in paralegal studies, a student will have to earn a bachelor's degree. That degree does not usually have to be in paralegal studies, but universities usually prefer experience in the field if the student's bachelor's degree related to the law or paralegal work. Master's degree programs typically take two years to complete.