MCCCD Program Description

Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science

Major: 8137
Effective Term: 2024 Fall
Award Type: AA

CIP Code: 51.1508

Program Availability: CG EM GC GW MC PC PV RS SC SM
Instructional Council: Counseling
Total Credits: 60-64
GPA: 2.00

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:
19-3033.00 Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
19-3034.00 School Psychologists
21-1012.00 Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
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; 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.

Program Learning Outcomes
1. Describe foundational counseling theories, research methods, and data analysis. (BHS165, BHS185, CAP120, CAP220, CAP240, CAP260, PSY101, PSY230, PSY230WL, PSY231, PSY290AB, PSY290AC, (CRE), [FYC], [MA], [SQ]) 2. Demonstrate use of oral, written, and interpersonal communication and basic helping skills needed within the counseling field. (BHS165, BHS185, CAP120, CAP220, CAP240, CAP260, PSY101, PSY230, PSY230WL, PSY231, PSY290AB, PSY290AC, (COM), (CRE), [FYC], [HU], [SQ]) 3. Develop an awareness of self and others in a multicultural society. (BHS165, BHS185, CAP120, CAP220, CAP240, CAP260, PSY101, (COM), (CRE), [FYC], [HU]) 4. Explain fundamental-level ethical and professional considerations in practice and research common in the field. (BHS165, BHS185, CAP120, CAP220, CAP240, CAP260, PSY101, PSY230, PSY230WL, PSY231, PSY290AB, PSY290AC, (COM)) 5. Develop a professional development plan for employment in the counseling or related fields. (BHS165, CAP120, CAP240, CAP260) 6. Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field. (FYE101, FYE103)

Program Notes
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).

Program Prerequisites
None

Program Prerequisites
	Credits:

Required Courses
BHS165 Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills (3) OR + CAP240 Introduction to Counseling Skills (3) 3 BHS185 Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health (3) OR CAP220 The Counselor in a Multicultural Society (3) 3 CAP120 Introduction to Counseling 3 + CAP260 Career and Professional Preparation for the Helping Professions 3 FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1) OR FYE103 Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3) 1-3			Credits: 13-15

Restricted Electives
	Credits:

Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)
AGEC-A			Credits: 29-36
A single course with an [L], [HU], [SB], [SG], or [SQ] designation may also be used to satisfy the Oral Communication, Critical Reading, and/or Awareness Area ([C], [G] and/or [H]) requirement(s). See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations.


First-Year Composition [FYC]			Credits: 6
+ ENG101 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG107 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) AND + ENG102 First-Year Composition (3) OR + ENG108 First-Year Composition for ESL (3) 6

Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L]			Credits: 0
Met by CAP260 in the Required Courses area.

Mathematics [MA]			Credits: 3-6
+ MAT140 College Mathematics (5) OR + MAT141 College Mathematics (4) OR + MAT142 College Mathematics (3) OR MAT145 College Mathematics with Review (5) OR MAT146 College Mathematics with Review (6) OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area (3-6) 3-6 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.

Humanities, Arts and Design [HU]			Credits: 6
Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area. 6

Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB]			Credits: 3
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology 3 AND Met by CAP120 in Required Courses area.

Natural Sciences [SG]/[SQ]			Credits: 8
+ PSY290AB Research Methods (4) OR + PSY290AC Research Methods (4) 4 BIO100 Biology Concepts (4) OR + BIO156++ Introductory Biology for Allied Health (4) OR + BIO181++ General Biology (Majors) I (4) OR Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area (4) 4 Note: Students planning to transfer to ASU for the BS in Counseling and Applied Psychology (Substance Abuse and Addictions) should take BIO181++.

Awareness Areas			Credits: 0-3
These requirements may be shared with other AGEC requirements. See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations.

MCCCD Additional Requirements

Oral Communication (COM)			Credits: 0-3
COM100 Introduction to Human Communication (3) OR COM110 Interpersonal Communication (3) OR + COM225 Public Speaking (3) OR COM230 Small Group Communication (3) 0-3 Recommend COM225 for students transferring to Northern Arizona University.

General Electives
	Credits:
Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.

+ indicates course has prerequisites and/or corequisites.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: June 25, 2024

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.

Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS]			Credits: 3-4
+ PSY230 Introduction to Statistics (3) OR + PSY230 Introduction to Statistics (3) AND + PSY231 Laboratory for Statistics (1) OR + PSY230WL Introduction to Statistics with Lab (4) 3-4

Cultural Diversity in the US [C]			Credits: 0
Met by BHS185 OR CAP220 in Required Courses area.

Historical/Global Awareness [H]/[G]			Credits: 0-3
Any approved general education course with the Historical [H] or Global [G] awareness area designation. 0-3

MCCCD Additional Requirements			Credits: 0-6
Some courses in this area have [SB] and [L] designations and may also be applied to the corresponding AGEC requirements. See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations.

Critical Reading (CRE)			Credits: 0-3
+ CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (3) OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment (0) 0-3

Subject Options			Credits: