Online criminal law curriculum

Our online course curriculum provides a specialized education in Criminal Law and Procedure. You'll gain practical knowledge of the law that you can apply to a lucrative paralegal career.

Curriculum Lessons

Criminal Law and Procedure Orientation

In this course, you’ll examine the goals and values of Ashworth College, time management, creating a realistic weekly and monthly study schedule, the nature and purpose of assessments, how to study effectively to prepare for and take an online examination, and developing the skill sets necessary for success in the twenty-first century. You’ll also review the fundamental concepts and processes concerning federal and state laws and court systems, as well as careers in the legal and criminal justice fields.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner.
Explain fundamental concepts and processes concerning federal and state laws and court systems.

Lesson Group 1: Criminal Law and Procedure Fundamentals

This course opens with a description of criminal law and its related procedures and terminology. You’ll review the elements of different types of crime, such as homicide, sex offenses, property and social crimes, treason, terrorism, and crimes against the state. You’ll also learn about the rights of the accused, common law defenses, trial proceedings, and post-conviction procedures.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

Identify procedures and terminology related to criminal law.
Describe the essential elements of different types of crimes.
Recognize common law defenses and the Constitutional rights of the accused.
Summarize the procedures that take place before, during, and after a criminal trial.

Program Description

The Criminal Law & Procedure certificate program is designed to provide you with the knowledge of fundamentals of criminal law and procedure. You’ll learn the constitutional rights that suspects have, as well as the criminal justice procedures associated with different types of crimes, including homicides, social crimes, terrorism, and more.

Program Objectives

After completing the Criminal Law and Procedure certificate program, you’ll be able to:

Describe the origins of criminal law in the United States, differentiate criminal law from civil law, and define and classify criminal acts.
Outline the structure of the US criminal justice system and describe how the rights of both victims and accused are protected.
Identify the key principles of criminal law and procedure and describe the basic conduct of a criminal case, from arrest through appeals.
Explain the roles and responsibilities of paralegals who are involved in assisting attorneys with criminal litigation, as part of either the prosecution or the defense team, and describe the ethical standards such paralegals must meet.
Identify career opportunities for students with the appropriate training in this specialty area.

Counsel for your career path

You'll gain job skills from every lesson in the Criminal Law and Procedure Career Certificate course and prep for your job search at the same time. The online tools available through the Ashworth College Central Network are integrated into your studies so you'll be ready to deliver a polished presentation of your qualifications to potential employers as soon as you graduate. You'll also be able to revisit the Ashworth College Central Network whenever you need to after you've earned your certificate. Learn more about it at the Ashworth College Career Services page.