Behavioral Sciences
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Behavioral Sciences provides a general education as well as focused coursework in human behavior to prepare students 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, comorbid medical conditions, and challenging behaviors. Focuses on the skills necessary to deliver specialized and comprehensive behavioral health and social services. This program prepares students for industry certification and is embedded in the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Behavioral Sciences available at MCCCD.
Details
Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Behavioral Sciences (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3067
Total credits required
63-71
Catalog Year
2023-2024
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
What You'll Learn
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.
- Evaluate 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.
- Practice methods to resolve current symptoms and prevent future effects of burnout, traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue.
- Manage 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.
- Implement treatment plans developed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
- 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 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
$43,060 Show expanded career information for Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$82,210 Show expanded career information for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
$41,360 Show expanded career information for Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
Community Health Workers
$43,660 Show expanded career information for Community Health Workers
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
$50,030 Show expanded career information for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Health Education Specialists
$50,670 Show expanded career information for Health Education Specialists
Healthcare Social Workers
$61,770 Show expanded career information for Healthcare Social Workers
Marriage and Family Therapists
$46,860 Show expanded career information for Marriage and Family Therapists
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$41,560 Show expanded career information for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$61,000 Show expanded career information for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Psychiatric Aides
$31,720 Show expanded career information for Psychiatric Aides
Psychiatric Technicians
$38,200 Show expanded career information for Psychiatric Technicians
Psychologists, All Other
$111,220 Show expanded career information for Psychologists, All Other
Rehabilitation Counselors
$40,180 Show expanded career information for Rehabilitation Counselors
School Psychologists
$79,610 Show expanded career information for School Psychologists
Social and Community Service Managers
$64,520 Show expanded career information for Social and Community Service Managers
Social and Human Service Assistants
$37,020 Show expanded career information for Social and Human Service Assistants
Social Science Research Assistants
$50,470 Show expanded career information for Social Science Research Assistants
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$93,340 Show expanded career information for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
Social Workers, All Other
$58,830 Show expanded career information for Social Workers, All Other
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
$50,460 Show expanded career information for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
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.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
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 | Critical course | SB | 3 | |
| BHS160 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling Services | Critical course | 3 | ||
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 | ||
| MAT112 | Mathematical Concepts and Applications | OR Satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course. MAT142 College Mathematics (3) or MAT151 College Algebra/Functions (4) recommended for those planning to transfer. | 3–6 | ||
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS165 | Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills | 3 | |||
| BHS170 | Case Management and Clinical Documentation | 3 | |||
| BHS175 | Trauma-Informed Care and Recovery Treatment | SB | 3 | ||
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or L | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | 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 | ||
| BHS190 | Professional Portfolio: Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Social Services | Can be taken Term 3 or Term 4 | 0–1 | ||
| BHS205 | Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories | 3 | |||
| ENG102 or ENG108 or ENG111 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL or Technical and Professional Writing | ENG102 or ENG108 recommended for those planning to transfer | FYC or L | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS190 | Professional Portfolio: Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Social Services | Can be taken Term 3 or Term 4 | 0–1 | ||
| BHS210 | Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery | SB | 3 | ||
| BHS215 | Introduction to Group Therapy | 3 | |||
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HCR210 recommended | HU | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| SG or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | Recommend PSY275 OR BIO156 OR BIO160 OR (FON241 AND FON241LL) | SG or SQ | 4 |
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 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS155 | Professional Resiliency and Well-Being | Critical course | SB | 3 | |
| BHS160 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling Services | Critical course | 3 | ||
| BHS165 | Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS170 | Case Management and Clinical Documentation | 3 | |||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | SB | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS175 | Trauma-Informed Care and Recovery Treatment | SB | 3 | ||
| ENG102 or ENG108 or ENG111 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL or Technical and Professional Writing | ENG102 or ENG108 recommended for those planning to transfer | FYC or L | 3 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HCR210 recommended | HU | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAT112 | Mathematical Concepts and Applications | OR Satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course. MAT142 College Mathematics (3) or MAT151 College Algebra/Functions (4) recommended for those planning to transfer. | 3–6 | ||
| BHS180 | Child, Family, and Adult Advocacy | 3 | |||
| BHS190 | Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services | 1 |
Term 6
| 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 | SB or L | 3 | ||
| BHS185 | Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health | C | 3 | ||
| BHS205 | Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories | 3 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS210 | Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery | SB | 3 | ||
| BHS215 | Introduction to Group Therapy | 3 | |||
| Restricted Elective | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Elective | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| SG or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | Recommend PSY275 OR BIO156 OR BIO160 OR (FON241 AND FON241LL) | SG or SQ | 4 |
Restricted Electives
Students must choose six (6) 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
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
Course Area Key
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
- FYC = First Year Composition
- H = Historical Awareness
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer
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/freeForm13?id=178819).
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.