Court Reporting, AAS

7 Semesters - 85 Credit Hours - 105 Academic Weeks

Program Objective: Graduates are educated for interesting and challenging positions of responsibility and trust as official, freelance, legislative and government reporters, and realtime reporters. They are employed by law firms, court reporting agencies, the government, universities and other educational bodies, and private businesses. Many court reporters work in the freelance field and are self employed. This skill is used in a variety of occupations within the legal field as well as CART for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Students receiving their Associate of Applied Science degree in Court Reporting must complete all classes as well as all graduation requirements.

This course of study meets or exceeds all requirements of the National Court Reporters Association and the National Verbatim Reporters Association. Students must take at least 12 credit hours per semester to qualify as a full-time student.

Graduation Requirements and Program Outcomes

To be eligible for an associate degree in court reporting, a student must meet the following requirements: 

1. Earn 85 hours of credit for court reporting, which includes theory, skill development, and other academic areas; 
2. Pass nine 5-minute dictation tests from unfamiliar material with at least 95 percent accuracy in the following categories: three 180 literary tests, three 200 jury charge tests, and three 225 two-voice testimony tests following the college’s exit speed requirement  policy; 
3. Transcribe simulated CSR/RPR/CVR skills tests at 180 literary, 200 jury charge, 225 testimony with no more than 3.75 hours transcription time (75 minutes per test); 
4. Transcribe a simulated Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) or Realtime Verbatim Reporter (RVR) test at 180-200 words per minute for five minutes; 
5. Produce a ten-page, first-pass transcript with 95 percent translation within two hours using CAT software; 
6. Complete a Practicum (internship) consisting of 60 actual hours of writing time on the shorthand machine and transcribe at least 50 pages from the internship experience; 
7. Pass Communications, Foundations of Language and Writing, Introduction to Realtime Technology, Medical Terminology, Foundations of Law, Court Reporting Transcript Production, Advanced Transcript Production, Court Reporting Procedures, Personal Finance, Culture & Society, Human Relations, Technology I, Vocabulary and Usage, CSR/RPR Preparation, and Courtroom/Court Reporting Practicum.

Students who repeat an SH (skill development) course or exceed the standard time frame may be required to take additional courses each semester. Such courses may include skill development courses or additional English\communications courses. 

Students must achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all courses completed.