NAME_________________________                                   DATE________________

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

GRADUATING STUDENT SURVEY

Paralegal Studies Emphasis

The intent of this survey is to assess the Paralegal Studies Program curriculum and teaching methods.  There is no intention of assessing you or specific members of the faculty.  Please keep this in mind when you answer the survey.  The department will use the result of the survey to improve our course offerings and teaching methods. 

1.         Background Information

Gender:  ______ Female    ______ Male                  

            Age: ______

            High School Attended:  Urban ______ Suburban ______ Rural ______

                                                            Name of School _____________

Location of School (City and State) _____________

Were you a Transfer Student?: Yes _____ No _____ 

Transferred to Texas A&M University-Commerce from (school name/location):       

            __________________________________

Overall GPA: ______ 

            Political Science GPA _______

2.         How many years will it take you to graduate?   _____________________

How many of these years did you spend at Texas A&M University-Commerce? ____________

On average, how many courses did you take each semester? ____________

3.         What are your professional or vocational goals after graduation?

Have you already secured future employment in the paralegal field?  If so, in what capacity?

Are you planning on pursing an advanced degree in law or paralegal studies?

4.         List each course taken Paralegal Studies course you have taken, in the order taken, and your grade in the course.

5.         For each applicable Paralegal Studies course briefly describe the assignments that made connections between materials covered in one Paralegal Studies course with materials covered in another Paralegal Studies course.

6.         For each applicable upper level Paralegal Studies course briefly describe the

assignments that assisted you in developing legal research and writing skills such as research projects, papers, or group projects.

7.        Estimate the level of interaction with peers and faculty on topics related to specific courses.

Discussion Inside the classroom:                     Discussion Outside the classroom:

High ______                                                    High ______

            Moderate ______                                            Moderate ______

            Low ______                                                    Low ______

8.         Estimate the number of writing assignments/activities required in Paralegal Studies courses.

High ______

            Moderate ______

            Low ______

9.        Estimate your level of computer literacy skills and ability to use important legal resources.

High ______

            Moderate ______

            Low ______

10.       Describe the type of computer skills used in applicable Paralegal Studies, such as using search engines and data bases or accessing legal documents and data

11.       Briefly describe your experiences with your internship. 

What valuable knowledge or skills did you obtain from your internship?

Were you able to network or make contacts that were or will be helpful in securing future employment?

What are the positive and negative aspects of the current internship program? 

12.       Overall satisfaction with the Paralegal Studies program:

Very satisfied ______

            Satisfied ______

            Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied_____

            Dissatisfied_____

            Very dissatisfied_______

Comments (Please explain why you are or are not satisfied, being as specific as possible about what is good about the program and what could be improved).

13.       Overall satisfaction with the Paralegal Studies faculty:

Very satisfied ______

            Satisfied ______

            Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied_____

            Dissatisfied_____

            Very dissatisfied_______

Comments (Please explain why you are or are not satisfied, being as specific as possible about what is good about the program and what could be improved).

14.       Do you think the Paralegal Studies Program has been successful in preparing you

for success after graduation in the paralegal field?  Which particular classes or skills currently offered by the program do you think will be most beneficial as you pursue your career?  Please be as specific as possible in your comments so that the department can identify what is working in the program and what needs improvement.

15.       What useful courses or skills do you think the program should add or include?  Please be as specific as possible in your comments so that the department can identify what is working in the program and what needs improvement.

16.       In order to maintain the Program’s ABA approval, it is necessary to determine the placement success of our graduates.  Please provide a permanent address, telephone number, and/or e-mail address where the Program might be able to reach you in one year’s time to follow up on this information.