Legal Studies (Paralegal) BA
The Legal Studies program at Southern Miss offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with the choice of two concentrations: Paralegal or Pre-Law.
The Paralegal* degree concentration is the oldest American Bar Association-approved paralegal education program in Mississippi. This degree track prepares students, upon graduation, to work as paralegals in private law firms, government offices, banks, and corporations. For nearly fifty years, the Paralegal track in Legal Studies has prepared thousands of students for success in one of the fastest growing career opportunities in the United States.
In contrast, the Pre-Law degree concentration is designed for students with different career goals within the legal community. It is an ideal course of study for students who plan to attend law school after earning an undergraduate degree. Since most classes in the major are taught by experienced attorneys, students in this Pre-Law track attain an unmatched level of readiness for law school.
(Because the Pre-Law degree track emphasizes law school preparation, it is not considered a paralegal education program and is not part of the American Bar Association approval process.)
Intakes
- Jan
- May
- Aug
Application Processing Time in Days: 20
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
As a Southern Miss employee, you will be eligible for a range of benefits, including health insurance, state retirement and educational benefits. Employees can also purchase athletic and arts tickets at discounted rates, gain access to fitness centers at a low rate, and have many opportunities for professional growth through on-campus programs, as well as participate in university-wide advocacy groups such as Faculty Senate and Staff Council.
The University of Southern Mississippi is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.
PSW Opportunity
3 Years PSW
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
Strong Freshman applicants will present a 2.5 minimum GPA in core academic subjects. Freshman applicants must complete a required core curriculum of courses during their secondary school education to be admitted to the university. The basic core requirements are:
4 units of English
3 units of mathematics
3 units of sciences
3 units of social studies
2 units of advanced electives
1/2 unit of computer applications
It is understood that most foreign education systems do not follow the same core curriculum as taught in U.S. high schools. Therefore, each applicant will be evaluated on criteria particular to the educational system of the country in which they completed their studies.
Standardized tests are required for most applicants to any academic program at the graduate and undergraduate level. All applicants who are from countries other than the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and certain Caribbean Islands, must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), The International English Language Testing System (Academic) (IELTS) or International Test of English Proficiency Exam (Academic) (iTEP), Pearson Test of English (PTE), or meet one of the qualifying exceptions (see below).
Minimum score requirements:
TOEFL score of 71 (IBT), 525 (PBT)
IELTS (Academic) Overall 6.0
iTEP (Academic) Overall 4.0
PTE (Academic) Overall 54
Official scores are accepted directly from the testing agency. TOEFL ETS code: 1479, IELTS scores should be sent to the address below, iTEP will be sent directly to us upon request.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Bachelors/UG Degree
- Duration: 04 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
80409 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 45 USD
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