The primary goal of the Paralegal Studies Program is to prepare students for positions as paralegals as a means of improving the accessibility, quality, and affordability of legal services. West Valley’s Paralegal Studies Program is responsive to the needs of the State of California and contributes to the advancement of legal professionals.

"A paralegal may perform the same functions as as attorney except those that only a licensed attorney may perform. Paralegals cannot give legal advice, appear in court, or otherwise engage in the unauthorized practice of law. The practice of law by non-attorneys is strictly prohibited by law." California Business and Professions Code Section 6450 (a)

WVC Paralegal Program List of ABA Approved General Education – Revised May 2019

Area A - Language and Rationality

ENGL 001A, 001B, 001C

MATH 000D, 000G, 001, 002, 003A/B, 004A/B/C, 008, 010, 012, 019, 106, 106R

PHIL 002, 003, 017

COMM 001, 010, 020

Area B - Natural Sciences

ANTH 001

ASTR 002, 010, 011, 014, 020, 021

BIOL 002, 010, 011, 013, 014, 018, 022, 023, 024, 036, 037, 041, 042, 045, 046, 048

CHEM 001A/B, 002, 012A/B, 030A/B

GEOG 001

GEOL 001A/B, 002B, 015, 020

OCEA 010

PSCI 010, 020, 040

PHYS 002A/B, 004A/B/C, 010

PSYC 002, 007

Area C – Humanities

ASLA 060A/B

ARTS 001A/B/D, 004, 007, 010, 012A/B, 013, 014

ENGL 005A/B, 006A/B, 007A/B, 012, 013, 018, 043, 044, 046, 047, 048, 049

FRNC 001A/B, 002A/B, 050A/B, 051A/B

GERM 001A/B, 002A/B

HUMN 001A/B, 002, 003

ITAL 001A/B, 002A/B, 050A/B, 051A/B

JPNS 001A/B, 002A/B, 050A/B, 051A/B

LATN 050A

MUSC 001, 002, 009, 010

PHIL 001, 003, 004, 005, 006, 008, 012

SPAN 001A/B, 002A/B, 003A/B, 050A/B, 051A/B

THEA 002, 010, 014A/B, 015

Area D – Social Science

Series 1

ADMJ 001

ANTH 002, 003, 004

ECON 001A/B, 010

GEOG 002, 006

HIST 004B, 012, 014, 016, 020

POLI 002, 003, 004

PSYC 001, 017, 025

SOCI 001, 045

Series 2

HIST 017B

POLI 001

Area E – Lifelong Learning and Development

COMM 004, 008

LIBR 004

PSYC 012, 025

Area F – Cultural Diversity

COMM 012

CHST 005

COUN 050

ENGL 012, 013, 018, 046

PHIL 021

PSYC 009

SOCI 020

WGQS 001

ABA Legal Specialty

At least 9 units of Legal Specialty must be taken in the synchronistic modality

PARA 018

PARA 019

PARA021

PARA 022

PARA 023

PARA 025

PARA 027

PARA 029A

PARA 029B

PARA 032

PARA 043

PARA 037

PARA 036

PARA 068