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Academics
Judicial Court Reporting

Judicial Court Reporting

This program is available at the Online location.

This online program is a “Shared Program” between Clark State and Stark State College, offering a unique opportunity for providing excellence in teaching and learning.

The vital, exciting, and rewarding IT profession of judicial court reporting provides opportunities in multiple realtime career paths. Judicial court reporters are the guardians of the record, providing a verbatim record of the proceedings of a courtroom, deposition, hearing, arbitration, or meeting and producing an accurate transcript of the proceedings, using state-of-the-art technology.  This technology allows court reporters to provide instantaneous translation referred to as realtime for all parties involved in the proceedings, whether present on site or at a distance via the Internet.  The ability to create word-for-word accounts and provide realtime translation opens the career opportunities beyond the courtroom and depositions to closed captioning and beyond. 

Clark/Stark students learn to write realtime using a computerized machine and to prepare transcripts using computer-aided (CAT) software.  Students’ writing skills are perfected by utilizing a realtime learning practice and testing web environment along with many additional specialized drills, and students have access to an on-campus mock courtroom, as well as on-campus realtime labs.  Students are required to complete a significant internship prior to graduating, providing exposure to the judicial court reporting field in a real-world environment.

According to the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), Court reporters earn an average of nearly $45,000 a year, though many earn much more. Income varies according to the area in which a person lives, certifications earned, the kinds of reporting jobs, and experience of individual reporters.

Are you interested in learning more about the world of court reporting? Listen to what graduates had to say! Access their stories now from Discover Court Reporting.

Students with little or no computer background should enroll in a computer fundamentals course (consult with academic advisor) as a preparatory course before taking other computer courses. 

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Outcomes and Curriculum

Upon completion of an Associate of Applied Business degree in Judicial Court Reporting, a graduate will be able to:

  • Write a realtime translation theory.
  • Read aloud from shorthand notes quickly and accurately.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic hardware care, maintenance, and setup of a realtime system.
  • Demonstrate an understanding and application of law and legal terminology, anatomy and/or medical terminology, and current events.
  • Perform skills in reporting procedures, transcript production, and operating practices in the role of the realtime reporter.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of professional issues, continuing education, and the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics.
  • Write and transcribe testimony at 225 wmp with at least 95 percent accuracy.
  • Write and transcribe jury charge at 200 wpm with at least 95 percent accuracy.
  • Write and transcribe literary at 180 wpm with at least 95 percent accuracy.
  • Perform 75 hours of verified internship, preparing a 40-page complete, accurate transcript, and summarizing the experience in a written narrative.
Course Title Credits
Fall
JCR 1001 Realtime Theory I 3
JCR 1002S Realtime Theory II (SS) 3
AOT 121S Keyboarding/Formatting (SS) 3
AOT 130S Editing, Proofreading, & Language Skills (SS) 3
ENG 1111 English I 3
FYE 1101 College Success 1
 
Spring
JCR 1003 Realtime Theory Applications 3
JCR 1101 Skill Building I 3
JCR 131S Legal Terminology (SS) 3
ITD 122S Computer Applications for Professionals (SS) 3
MTH 1060 Business Mathematics 3
 
Summer
JCR 1102S Skill Building II (SS) 3
BIO 125S Medical Terminology (SS) 3
 
Fall
JCR 2103 Skill Building III 3
JCR 2104S Skill building IV (SS) 3
JCR 2200 Realtime Business Procedures 3
ENG 2211 Business Communication 3
PHL 122S Ethics (SS) 3
 
Spring
JCR 2105 Skill Building V 3
JCR 2106S Skill Building VI (SS) 3
JCR 2300 CAT Transcript Production 2
JCR 2400S JCR Internship (SS) 2
-- *Social/Behavioral Science Elective 3
 
  Total credit hours 65
Courses with an "S" in the course number denotes a Stark State course.

^Proficieny test available

*Students with little or no computer background should enroll in ITS 0700 before taking other computer courses.  Students without adequate keyboarding skills should enroll in ITS 0710 before taking a computer class.

*PLS 1100, Introduction to American Politics (prereq:  ENG 1111), PSY 1111, Psychology I (GA)  (Prerequisite(s): ENG 0850 grade of C or higher; Pre/Corequisite(s): ENG 0900 grade C or higher (An appropriate NextGen Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT score will satisfy the respective requirement); SOC 1110, Introduction to Sociology (GA)  (prereq:  ENG 1111).

The program schedule that follows is designed for full-time students who have completed all prerequisites and who have no college preparatory recommendations.  Many individuals, especially part-time students and those taking college preparatory courses, will require additional semesters of study.  Students should consult their academic advisor for help in planning their schedules.

A complete listing of humanities and social science electives is available in the Clark State Community College catalog.

Academic Preparation

Prospective students should be disciplined, self-motivated, computer-literate, and possess above-average language skills.  They also need to be able to meet deadlines, work well under pressure, and concentrate for long periods of time.

Academic Requirements

The Judicial Court Reporting program is approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).  This association’s requirements are met or exceeded with the following standards:

  • The student shall pass three five-minute tests with a minimum of 95-percent accuracy at each of the following speeds: 225 words per minute (wpm) testimony (two-voice), 200 wpm jury charge, and 180 wpm literary.
  • The student shall complete at least 75 verified hours of internship under the supervision of a practicing professional judicial court reporter, composing a summary of complete experience as well as preparing a 40-page complete, accurate transcript from internship experience.
  • The student shall prepare a five-page, first-pass transcript with a minimum of 95-percent accuracy.

Clark State and Stark State reserve the right to change these standards when determined educationally expedient.

Transfer Information

Students enrolled in Associate of Applied Business and Associate of Applied Science degree programs are preparing for employment upon graduation from the program. However, at some point many of these students are also interested in completing a bachelor’s degree. A number of colleges or universities have designed bachelor’s completion programs designed for students completing applied degrees. See the Transfer section of the appropriate college catalog for more information.

Questions? We're here to help!

Robyn M. Hennigan, RPR, CRI Senior Technical Professor and Coordinator, Judicial Court Reporting

937.328.8080 henniganr@clarkstate.edu