Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Nursing (RN to BSN

This is a Bachelor of Science degree program in Legal Studies, approved by the American Bar Association, that is designed for students who have an interest in receiving an advanced education as paralegals. Paralegals assist lawyers in providing legal services in a private law firm, corporate law office, or government agency. The Legal Studies program is ideal for students looking for a career as paralegals, and for students planning to attend law school.

While most courses in the Paralegal Program run online as well as on campus, the ABA requires all students to take at least 9 credits on campus, either in the daytime or evening. Paralegals are not legally permitted to give legal advice or provide legal services directly to the public.

The Central Penn Legal Studies Program is widely known for its academic rigor and enjoys a reputation of excellence within the legal community. With few exceptions, all courses are taught by licensed attorneys, providing graduates of this program with instruction from those who are most academically and experientially qualified. Students also participate in a wide variety of hands-on learning activities including field trips, a mock trial, guest lecturers, and an internship.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Apply practical methods to solve legal research problems and draft well-written memoranda, briefs, and pleadings using print and online legal resources. • Demonstrate knowledge of terminology, principles and procedure within substantive legal areas including torts, contracts, criminal law, and constitutional law. • Describe the ethical responsibilities of paralegals, the rules of professional conduct governing lawyers, and the application of these rules to paralegals. • Demonstrate oral and written communications skill appropriate to the legal profession. • Formulate and create documents relating to litigation, including pleadings and motions, and demonstrate the proper form, use and presentation of evidence obtained through discovery and depositions. • Demonstrate adequate preparation for career development and conduct expected of paralegals in various legal settings. • Demonstrate an appropriate level of technical knowledge expected of individuals possessing an associate’s degree in paralegal studies.

General Education Requirements – 42 credits

Students are required to take 42 credit hours of general education coursework within a bachelor’s degree program. These 42 credit hours came from 27 credits of Foundation courses, 12 credits within a declared intersection, and 3 credits of experiential learning.

Program Requirements

In addition to the 42 credits of general education coursework, students are required to take a core group of courses and open electives associated with their major to total 120 credits.

Legal Studies Core Courses – 60 credits

LGS110 Foundations of Law LGS130 Principles of Legal Research LGS135 Legal Research and Writing I LGS140 Civil Litigation I LGS170 Criminal Procedure LGS180 Historical Perspectives of the Constitution LGS200 Contracts LGS210 Evidence LGS217 Employment Law LGS220 Torts LGS230 Civil Litigation II LGS260 Administrative Law LGS265 Criminal Law LGS280 Legal Research and Writing II LGS285 Legal Seminar LGS310 Legal Communications LGS340 Advanced Legal Research and Writing LGS370 Alternative Dispute Resolution LGS410 Advanced Constitutional Law INT499 Bachelor Degree Internship or IDS490 Bachelor Degree Capstone

Open Elective Requirements - 18 credits

Students must take 18 additional credits. Any course not fulfilling another degree requirement may be used. Alternatively, a non-legal studies minor may be declared to meet this requirement.

Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Nursing (RN to BSN)

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) Program is an online RN to BSN program designed to meet the educational needs of the Registered Nurse (RN). All courses are 100% online and practice experiences to support professional nursing expertise and career development are accomplished in the student’s local area, if available. The BSN degree provides a base for nurses to assume professional nursing roles in a variety of healthcare settings and to meet requirements for enrollment in advanced practice and specialty graduate nursing education programs.

Mission

The Central Penn College Nursing Program mission is to provide nursing education that prepares graduates to assume professional nursing roles in a variety of settings and achieve expanded career goals, including entry into graduate programs in nursing.

Program Learning Objectives

• Analyze principles, models, and research studies from nursing and related disciplines to support evidence-based practice (EBP) decisions, patient care safety, and quality improvement in clinical practice. • Incorporate the use of appropriate patient care technology to facilitate management and provision of interdisciplinary care. • Evaluate current issues and trends in healthcare policies and participate in actions that advance the nursing profession and individual professional development.

• Collaborate effectively with nursing colleagues, other disciplines, patients and families to create safe and culturally competent health care outcomes. • Apply the nursing process to address health promotion and complex care issues of diverse populations across the life span in a variety of health care environments. • Share and assume responsibility for leadership in monitoring and ensuring high quality care as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team. • Demonstrate professional, ethical and legal accountability in the provision and delegation of nursing care.

Admission Requirements

• Validation of current unencumbered RN license validation in state of residence and state where student expects to complete courses that involve practice experiences. • Graduation from an ACEN, formerly NLNAC, approved associate degree or diploma in nursing program with grade point average of 2.5 or better, confirmed by review of official transcripts. • Submission of Central Penn College application and official transcripts of previous college education for transfer credit evaluation. • Letters of Reference: Two (2) professional/academic references (former educator, professional colleague or supervisor at place of employment) to Central Penn

College Admissions Department. • Essay: Submission of a written paper that addresses professional experience (past work and education experience) and goals for completion of the BSN degree.

Credit for Professional Credentials

In recognition of the life experience learning associated with achievement of licensure and practice as an RN, 15 credits applicable to General Education credit requirements are granted on admission for validation of a current unencumbered RN license in the state of residence and the state where the student expects to complete practice experience requirements while enrolled in the program.

Compliance Requirements for Clinical Agencies

Compliances that are required by clinical agencies need to be completed prior to enrollment in courses with practice experiences. Requirements e.g. Professional Liability Insurance, documentation of CPR certification for Health Care Provider, etc. are presented in the Nursing Program Student Handbook and completed as part of meeting the course requirements for NUR300 Philosophy of Professional Nursing, the first nursing course in the RN to BSN program. The Practice Experiences Compliances Policy is published in the Nursing Program Handbook available at the Nursing Program home page, on the Central Penn College’s website. Practice experiences are an expected part of all BSN programs, including RN to BSN to meet national standards. Experiences are focused on application of new skills acquired to support BSN practice roles and not like clinical in pre-licensure programs.

Program Requirements

Central Penn requires a minimum of 124 credits for a Bachelor’s degree. A potential of 60 credits willbe accepted by transfer for an Associate degree in nursing and 15 credits will be granted for validation of a current RN license. Students will complete 49 credits at Central Penn College: Nursing Program Core Courses - 37 credits and General Education - 12 credits. Students who fail to meet the requirements for graduation with a Bachelor’s degree at Central Penn College through transfer credits will be required to take additional courses.