Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science
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Attention: Rio Salado College does not offer the following courses for completion:
- CAP120 - This course is available at CGCC, EMCC, GWCC, PVCC, PC.
- CAP220 - This course is available at EMCC, MCC, PC, PVCC.
- CAP240 - This course is available at EMCC, MCC, PVCC, PC.
- CAP260 - This course is available at EMCC, MCC, PC.
Courses may be offered in-person, online, or in hybrid formats. Please contact a Rio academic advisor for the most current information. All courses completed at any Maricopa Community College are transferable to Rio based on District policy. Estimated additional costs would be consistent with your current tuition rate.
The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in counseling and applied psychological science or are preparing for graduate programs in counseling or related fields. The program provides a foundation in counseling theories, counseling skills, career and lifespan development, ethics and research methods, and multicultural competence. Graduates will not be license-eligible as professional counselors, but will be prepared to enter an undergraduate degree program in counseling and applied psychological science. Graduates of the associate's program may qualify for entry-level employment such as social and human service assistants or psychiatric technicians in community agencies, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and other behavioral healthcare delivery settings to support counselors and other mental health professionals.
Students who complete a bachelor's degree within the field may be prepared to enter a graduate program in counseling or pursue careers including but not limited to: social and community service managers, social science research assistants, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, and education administrators (postsecondary).
Upon completion of a graduate degree students may pursue a number of careers, including but not limited to: clinical, counseling, and school psychologists; educational, guidance, school, and vocational counselors; substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors; marriage and family therapists; mental health counselors; rehabilitation counselors; and college/university faculty.
Details
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
This program aligns with the requirements of the Counseling and Applied Psychological Science (BS) MyPath2ASU at Arizona State University (ASU), Polytechnic, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Applied Human Behavior 90/30 at Northern Arizona University (NAU).
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
- Describe foundational counseling theories, research methods, and data analysis.
- Demonstrate use of oral, written, and interpersonal communication and basic helping skills needed within the counseling field.
- Develop an awareness of self and others in a multicultural society.
- Explain fundamental-level ethical and professional considerations in practice and research common in the field.
- Develop a professional development plan for employment in the counseling or related fields.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$76,870 Show expanded career information for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Education Administrators, Postsecondary
$104,250 Show expanded career information for Education Administrators, Postsecondary
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
$54,280 Show expanded career information for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Marriage and Family Therapists
$58,360 Show expanded career information for Marriage and Family Therapists
Mental Health Counselors
$50,460 Show expanded career information for Mental Health Counselors
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$56,120 Show expanded career information for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Psychiatric Technicians
$35,370 Show expanded career information for Psychiatric Technicians
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
$77,770 Show expanded career information for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
Rehabilitation Counselors
$37,950 Show expanded career information for Rehabilitation Counselors
School Psychologists
$76,870 Show expanded career information for School Psychologists
Social and Community Service Managers
$69,700 Show expanded career information for Social and Community Service Managers
Social and Human Service Assistants
$39,460 Show expanded career information for Social and Human Service Assistants
Social Science Research Assistants
$54,200 Show expanded career information for Social Science Research Assistants
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
$50,460 Show expanded career information for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
MAT14+ | College Mathematics | Critical course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area
Note: Students planning to transfer to ASU for the BS in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science should take MAT187 Precalculus or equivalent or higher [MA] course for which MAT187 is a prerequisite. |
MA | 3–6 | |
CAP120 | Introduction to Counseling | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Critical course | SB | 3 | |
FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements simultaneously | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
BHS185 or CAP220 |
Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health or The Counselor in a Multicultural Society | C or C | 3 | ||
PSY230 or (PSY230 and PSY231) or PSY230WL |
Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab | Critical course | CS or CS or CS | 3–4 | |
Elective | Elective | 0–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
BHS165 or CAP240 |
Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills or Introduction to Counseling Skills | 3 | |||
PSY290AB or (PSY290AC (LEC) and PSY290AC) |
Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) | Critical course | L, SG or L, SG | 4 | |
Elective | Elective | 3 | |||
Elective | Elective | 0–3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BIO100 or BIO156++ or BIO181++ or SQ |
Biology Concepts or Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I or Natural Sciences Quantitative | Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area Students transferring to ASU's BS Counseling and Applied Psychology (Substance Abuse and Addictions) should take BIO181 or BIO181XT. Students transferring to ASU's BS Counseling and Applied Psychology (general) should select any BIO course that transfers to ASU as [SQ]-Science Quantitative. Check Find-a-Class on maricopa.edu or the Course Equivalency Guide on AZTransfer.com for [SQ] BIO options. |
SQ or SQ or SQ or SQ | 4 | |
CAP260 | Career and Professional Preparation for the Helping Professions | L | 3 | ||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Elective | Elective | 0–3 | |||
Elective | Elective | 0–3 | |||
Elective | Elective | 0–2 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
CAP120 | Introduction to Counseling | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAT14+ | College Mathematics | Critical course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area
Note: Students planning to transfer to ASU for the BS in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science should take MAT187 Precalculus or equivalent or higher [MA] course for which MAT187 is a prerequisite. |
MA | 3–6 | |
PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Critical course | SB | 3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
BHS185 or CAP220 |
Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health or The Counselor in a Multicultural Society | C or C | 3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements simultaneously | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
PSY230 or (PSY230 and PSY231) or PSY230WL |
Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab | Critical course | CS or CS or CS | 3–4 |
Term 5
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY290AB or (PSY290AC (LEC) and PSY290AC (LAB)) |
Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) | Critical course | L, SG or L, SG | 4 | |
BHS165 or CAP240 |
Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills or Introduction to Counseling Skills | 3 |
Term 6
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elective | Elective | 3 | |||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 |
Term 7
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BIO100 or BIO156++ or BIO181++ or SQ |
Biology Concepts or Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I or Natural Sciences Quantitative | Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area Students transferring to ASU's BS Counseling and Applied Psychology (Substance Abuse and Addictions) should take BIO181 or BIO181XT. Students transferring to ASU's BS Counseling and Applied Psychology (general) should select any BIO course that transfers to ASU as [SQ]-Science Quantitative. Check Find-a-Class on maricopa.edu or the Course Equivalency Guide on AZTransfer.com for [SQ] BIO options. |
SQ or SQ or SQ or SQ | 4 | |
CAP260 | Career and Professional Preparation for the Helping Professions | L | 3 |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Elective | Elective | 0–3 | |||
Elective | Elective | 0–3 |
Term 9
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elective | Elective | 0–3 | |||
Elective | Elective | 0–3 | |||
Elective | Elective | 0–2 |
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- C = Cultural Diversity in the US
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- FYC = First Year Composition
- G = Global Awareness
- H = Historical Awareness
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=189939).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.