Advanced Behavioral Health Sciences
The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Advanced Behavioral Health Sciences is designed to provide students with a comprehensive study of human behavior and prepare them to assist, as part of a clinical team, in the care of individuals and families dealing with mental illness, addictions and substance use, trauma, developmental disabilities, co-morbid medical conditions, and challenging behaviors. The program includes courses designed to provide students with the skills necessary to deliver specialized and comprehensive behavioral health and social services. This program also provides university transfer options in addition to preparation for industry certifications and supervised field experience.
Details
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students should select courses in one (1) of the following specializations:
Trauma and Crisis Stabilization
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Addiction and Substance Use Disorders
Developmental Disabilities
Criminal Justice and Forensic Science
Mental Health
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Distinguish the role, function, and responsibilities of various mental health professions.
- Assess the comprehensive bio-psycho-social needs of diverse client populations in behavioral health and social service settings.
- Practice methods to resolve current symptoms and prevent future effects of burnout, traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue.
- Manage and prevent crisis/trauma situations while engaging in appropriate self care to promote professional resilience and personal safety.
- Manage individual cases as part of a multidisciplinary team, in a fashion that best serves the patient and simultaneously protects the practitioner.
- Develop, implement, and document treatment plans in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
- Evaluate and practice evidence-based behavioral health interventions using assessment and outcome measures.
- Demonstrate ethical interpersonal and communication skills important in establishing and maintaining relationships.
- Assist clients with substance use and co-occurring disorders in their recovery.
- Apply the principles of trauma-informed care with diverse client populations.
Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. 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.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$38,980 Show expanded career information for Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
$46,990 Show expanded career information for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
Community Health Workers
$38,990 Show expanded career information for Community Health Workers
Health Education Specialists
$48,460 Show expanded career information for Health Education Specialists
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$38,590 Show expanded career information for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Psychiatric Technicians
$36,610 Show expanded career information for Psychiatric Technicians
Rehabilitation Counselors
$38,270 Show expanded career information for Rehabilitation Counselors
Social and Community Service Managers
$62,280 Show expanded career information for Social and Community Service Managers
Social and Human Service Assistants
$36,900 Show expanded career information for Social and Human Service Assistants
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$93,120 Show expanded career information for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
Social Workers, All Other
$60,510 Show expanded career information for Social Workers, All Other
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
$48,930 Show expanded career information for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Psychiatric Aides
Course Sequence by Term
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 Pathway Planner 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.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS150 | Introduction to Behavioral Health and Social Services | Critical course Gateway course | H, SB | 3 | |
| BHS155 | Professional Resiliency and Well-Being | SB | 3 | ||
| BHS160 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling Services | 3 | |||
| BHS165 | Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills | 3 | |||
| BHS170 | Case Management and Clinical Documentation | 3 | |||
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Students choosing Developmental Disabilities, Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, or Mental Health may also need to complete PSY101 as it is a requisite to courses in these emphases. PSY101 can be counted towards General Education requirement in most Associate degrees | SB | 0–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS175 | Trauma-Informed Care and Recovery Treatment | SB | 3 | ||
| BHS180 | Child, Family, and Adult Advocacy | 3 | |||
| BHS185 | Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health | C | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS190 | Professional Portfolio: Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Social Services | 1 | |||
| BHS205 | Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories | 3 | |||
| BHS210 | Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery | SB | 3 | ||
| BHS215 | Introduction to Group Therapy | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS150 | Introduction to Behavioral Health and Social Services | Critical course Gateway course | H, SB | 3 | |
| BHS160 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling Services | 3 | |||
| BHS165 | Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS155 | Professional Resiliency and Well-Being | SB | 3 | ||
| BHS170 | Case Management and Clinical Documentation | 3 | |||
| BHS175 | Trauma-Informed Care and Recovery Treatment | SB | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS180 | Child, Family, and Adult Advocacy | 3 | |||
| BHS185 | Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health | C | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Students choosing Developmental Disabilities, Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, or Mental Health may also need to complete PSY101 as it is a requisite to courses in these emphases. PSY101 can be counted towards General Education requirement in most Associate degrees | SB | 0–3 | |
| BHS205 | Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS190 | Professional Portfolio: Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Social Services | 1 | |||
| BHS210 | Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery | SB | 3 | ||
| BHS215 | Introduction to Group Therapy | 3 |
Restricted Electives
Student must choose six credits from one of the following areas of emphasis:
Emphasis in Trauma and Crisis Stabilization
BHS230 Crisis and Trauma Stabilization 3
BHS235 Emergency Mental Health Crisis Response and Recovery 3
Emphasis in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
BHS275 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (3) OR
CFS177 Parent-Child Interaction (3) 3
BHS272 Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Interventions 3
CFS235 Developing Child: Theory into Practice, Prenatal to Age Eight 3
+ EED210 Creative and Cognitive Play 3
(If EED210 is selected, CFS235 will need to be selected (unless another requisite option has been met.)
Emphasis in Addiction and Substance Use Disorders
ASD110 Pharmacology of Substances of Abuse and Dependency 3
ASD245 Co-Occurring Disorders (2) AND
ASD120 Professional Ethics in Addictions and Substance Use Disorders (1) OR
ASD145 AIDS and Addiction (1) 3
BHS251 Harm Reduction in Addiction, Substance Use, and Social Services 3
Emphasis in Developmental Disabilities
BHS271 Developmental Disabilities Assistance Training 3
+ PSY241 Understanding and Changing Behavior 3
+ PSY243 The Psychology of Developmental Disabilities 3
Emphasis in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science
+ PSY267 Introduction to Forensic Psychology 3
AJS101 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3) OR
AJS200 Current Issues In Criminal Justice (3) OR
AJS225 Criminology (3) 3
Emphasis in Mental Health
BHS230 Crisis and Trauma Stabilization (3) OR
BHS235 Emergency Mental Health Crisis Response and Recovery (3) 3
BHS251 Harm Reduction in Addiction, Substance Use, and Social Services 3
BHS255 Health and Wellness Coaching in Professional Resiliency 3
BHS262 Behavioral Health Service Techniques for the Elderly 3
BHS266 Violence and Abuse Services 3
BHS269 Grief Support Techniques 3
BHS271 Developmental Disabilities Assistance Training 3
BHS272 Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Interventions 3
BHS275 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 3
CPD180 Human Resilience: Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Applications 3
+ PSY266 Abnormal Psychology 3
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
- H = Historical Awareness
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
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 curriculum website for the Certificate of Completion in Advanced Behavioral Health Sciences (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=172104).
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.