Paralegal Studies Program Transfer Policy and Practices

1. A student who transfers into the Paralegal Studies Program from another college(s) must have left their previous college(s) in good academic and disciplinary standing, must be eligible to return to the last college attended and:
   
   
   1. have received a College Ready or standard high school diploma or
   2. have received a GED or
   3. have earned a degree from an accredited college or university.
      
      
2. A student who has previously applied to, been accepted, and registered at an accredited college or university, is classified as "transfer" even if the student withdrew before earning any credits.
   
   
3. The Paralegal Studies Program accepts credits earned at an institution listed in the Transfer Credit Practices (TPC) Booklet and/or other guides published by the American Council on Education, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services and NAFSA: Association of International Educators and which represent collegiate coursework relevant to the degree, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of students enrolled in the College’s undergraduate degree programs, will be accepted by the College. In addition, the Paralegal Studies Program will honor credits granted through programmatic partnerships with secondary schools (dual credit and international articulation agreements) and the Statewide Common Course Numbering System Articulation Coordination Committee. Florida Statutes require that after a Florida university or community college has published its general education core, that the integrity of that curriculum shall be recognized by the College and the public universities and community colleges. Once a student has been certified by such an institution on an official transcript as having completed satisfactorily its prescribed general education core curriculum, regardless of whether the associate degree is conferred, the College shall require no further such general education courses. Official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions must be received by the Central Records' Office (to be sent directly from the institution) by the end of the first academic session in which the student is enrolled.
   


4. Paralegal Studies course work completed and transcripted from regionally accredited institutions or from American Bar Association approved programs outside the Florida Community College System or Florida University System will be evaluated by the Paralegal Studies Program Director or his/her designee for specific course equivalencies and how transferred credit will be applied toward specific degree requirements.
   
   
5. The Paralegal Studies Program does not evaluate or accept life experiences for credit.
   
   
6. Transfer of credit is allowed only for courses in which the student earned a grade of "C" or better.
   
   
7. At least 25% of the total credits for the degree must be earned at St. Petersburg College, of which 12 credit hours must carry the Paralegal Studies Program course rubric.