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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science
Major: 8137
Effective Term: 2020 Fall   
Award Type: AA

CIP Code: 51.1508
 Program Availability: CG   EM   GC   GW   MC   PC   PV   RS   SC   SM  
Instructional Council: Counseling (23)
Total Credits: 60-66
GPA: 2.0
SOC Code: Upon completion of this degree, students may pursue a career as:
21-1093.00 Social and Human Service Assistants
29-2053.00 Psychiatric Technicians

Upon completion of a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue a career as:
11-9033.00 Education Administrators, Postsecondary
11-9151.00 Social and Community Service Managers
19-4061.00 Social Science Research Assistants
21-1092.00 Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Upon completion of a graduate degree or higher, students may pursue a career as:
19-3031.00 Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
19-3031.01 School Psychologists
19-3031.03 Counseling Psychologists
21-1012.00 Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
21-1011.00 Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
21-1013.00 Marriage and Family Therapists
21-1014.00 Mental Health Counselors
21-1015.00 Rehabilitation Counselors
25-1066.00 Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary


Description: 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, counseling psychologists, educational, guidance, school, and vocational counselors, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and psychology teachers (postsecondary).

Program Learning Outcomes
1. Describe foundational counseling theories, research methods, and data analysis. (CPD120, CPD220, CPD240, CPD260, CRE101, PSY101, PSY230, PSY231, PSY290AB, PSY290AC, [FYC], [MA], [SQ])
2. Demonstrate use of oral, written, and interpersonal communication and basic helping skills needed within the counseling field. (CPD120, CPD220, CPD240, CPD260, CRE101, PSY101, PSY230, PSY231, PSY290AB, PSY290AC, (COM), [FYC], [HU], [SQ])
3. Develop an awareness of self and others in a multicultural society. (CPD120, CPD220, CPD240, CPD260, CRE101, PSY101, (COM), [FYC], [HU])
4. Explain fundamental-level ethical and professional considerations in practice and research common in the field. (CPD120, CPD220, CPD240, CPD260, PSY101, PSY230, PSY231, PSY290AB, PSY290AC, (COM))
5. Develop a professional development plan for employment in the counseling or related fields. (CPD120, CPD240, CPD260)
Required Courses
CPD120 Introduction to Counseling 3
CPD220 The Counselor in a Multicultural Society 3
+ CPD240 Introduction to Counseling Skills 3
+ CPD260 Career and Professional Preparation for the Helping Professions 3
Credits: 12

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 10, 2019

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.