Behavioral Sciences

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Behavioral Sciences provides students with an advanced study of human behavior and the skills necessary to develop and implement specialized and comprehensive behavioral health and social services to individuals and families dealing with mental illness, substance use disorders and addiction, trauma, developmental disabilities, comorbid medical conditions, and challenging behaviors.

The Bachelor of Science program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners as meeting the curriculum requirements for the Licensed Addiction Counselor Technician (LACT). It is also intended to meet the academic requirements for the Registered Behavior Technician and other micro-certifications. Certificates of Completion (CCL) in Foundations of Behavioral Sciences and Advanced Behavioral Sciences, as well as the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Behavioral Sciences are also available and embedded within this degree.

Licensing Disclosures

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Behavioral Sciences provides students with an advanced study of human behavior and the skills necessary to develop and implement specialized and comprehensive behavioral health and social services to individuals and families dealing with mental illness, substance use disorders and addiction, trauma, developmental disabilities, comorbid medical conditions, and challenging behaviors.

The Bachelor of Science program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners as meeting the curriculum requirements for the Licensed Addiction Counselor Technician (LACT). It is also intended to meet the academic requirements for the Registered Behavior Technician and other micro-certifications. Certificates of Completion (CCL) in Foundations of Behavioral Sciences and Advanced Behavioral Sciences, as well as the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Behavioral Sciences are also available and embedded within this degree.

Licensing Disclosures

This program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure or certification in the State of Arizona. Granting licensure and certification is the sole responsibility of the state board or approval agency. This program is only offered and available to students located in the State of Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District and colleges define student location within Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(7).

Details

Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Academic Plan
Behavioral Sciences (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
9300
Total credits required
120
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the program.

The following courses will be considered an equivalent substitute if successfully completed by a student in a previous associate degree or certificate program before entering the bachelor’s degree program. These substitutions apply only to this degree, 9300, and should not be taken in lieu of the required BHS, Behavioral Health Services, course.

ASD102 for BHS165
ASD120 for BHS160
ASD161 for BHS170
ASD250 for BHS215
CAP120 for BHS205
CAP220 for BHS185
CAP240 for BHS165
PSY132 for BHS185
SWU130 for BHS210
SWU171 for BHS150
SWU183 for BHS160

Course credits for the identified substitutes may vary, requiring a student to complete additional general elective coursework to achieve the degree minimum of 120 semester credits.

What You'll Learn
  • Compose academic and professional materials as well as clinical documentation utilizing advanced writing and communication skills.
  • Develop therapeutic alliances utilizing interpersonal, communication, critical thinking, and microcounseling skills.
  • Synthesize theories, knowledge, and skills through a critical examination of literature and research to address diverse behavioral health needs using evidence-based practice.
  • Develop a code of ethics and behavior consistent with legal and professional standards and requirements.
  • Evaluate patients’ diverse needs through an understanding of health, wellness, and psychopathology within and across cultures.
  • Collaborate on multidisciplinary teams to meet individual, family, and community needs in a variety of behavioral health and social service settings.
  • Compare and contrast approaches to trauma and recovery with an emphasis on fostering health, wellness, and resilience.
Career Statistics

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.

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
$54,280
Healthcare Social Workers
$60,790
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
$113,320
Marriage and Family Therapists
$58,360
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$43,720
Mental Health Counselors
$63,830
Physician Assistants
$121,490
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$56,120
Psychiatric Technicians
$35,370
Psychiatrists
$293,810
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
$77,770
School Psychologists
$76,870
Social and Human Service Assistants
$39,460
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
$63,830

There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:

  • Counseling Psychologists
  • Counselors, All Other
  • Psychologists, All Other

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

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 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.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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 or FYC 3
MAT140 or
MAT141 or
MAT142 or
MAT145 or
MAT146		 College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206. MA or MA or MA or MA or MA 3–6
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology SB 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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
BHS205 Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
Plan Course Elective Plan Course Elective 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS210 Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery SB 3
BHS215 Introduction to Group Therapy 3
BIO160 or
BIO201		 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I NSI, SQ or NSI, SG 4
AHM Arts and Humanities HCR210 recommended AHM 3
General Elective General Elective 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS190 Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services 1
GBS221 or
MAT206 or
PSY230++ or
SWU225		 Business Statistics or Elements of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government CS or CS or CS or CS 3
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
NSI Natural Sciences Students who select BIO201 should take BIO202 for their second Natural Sciences [NSI] course. NSI 4
Plan Course Elective Plan Course Elective 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS300 Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice 4
BHS310 Fundamentals of Family Systems Counseling 3
BHS320 Behavioral Development Across the Lifespan 3
BHS340 Psychopathology Across Cultures 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS385 Multicultural Approaches to Behavioral Health Care 3
BHS400 Biological and Environmental Bases of Behavior 3
BHS410 Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorders 3
General Elective General Elective 3
General Elective General Elective 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS420 Relational Approach to Trauma 3
BHS430 Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis 3
BHS490 Advanced Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services 2
General Elective General Elective 3
General Elective General Elective 3

Plan Course Electives

Complete six (6) credits from the following prefixes. Selected courses will not apply in both Plan Course Requirements and Plan Course Electives areas. Students should consult with their college’s Program Director or their faculty or academic advisor to select courses that best align with academic and professional goals.
A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASD+++ Any ASD Addictions and Substance Use Disorders course(s) 3
BHS+++ Any BHS Behavioral Health Services Technology course(s) 3
PSY+++ Any PSY Psychology course(s) 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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 or FYC 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS165 Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills 3
MAT140 or
MAT141 or
MAT142 or
MAT145 or
MAT146		 College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206. MA or MA or MA or MA or MA 3–6

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS170 Case Management and Clinical Documentation 3
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology SB 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS175 Trauma-Informed Care and Recovery Treatment SB 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS180 Child, Family, and Adult Advocacy 3
BHS185 Cultural Competence in Behavioral Health C 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS205 Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories 3
Plan Course Elective Plan Course Elective 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS210 Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery SB 3
Plan Course Elective Plan Course Elective 3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS215 Introduction to Group Therapy 3
BIO160 or
BIO201		 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I NSI, SQ or NSI, SG 4

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities HCR210 recommended AHM 3
General Elective General Elective 3

Term 11

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 11
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS190 Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services 1
GBS221 or
MAT206 or
PSY230++ or
SWU225		 Business Statistics or Elements of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government CS or CS or CS or CS 3
General Elective General Elective 3

Term 12

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 12
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS300 Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice 4
General Elective General Elective 3

Term 13

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 13
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS310 Fundamentals of Family Systems Counseling 3
NSI Natural Sciences Students who select BIO201 should take BIO202 for their second Natural Sciences [NSI] course. NSI 4

Term 14

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 14
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS320 Behavioral Development Across the Lifespan 3
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3

Term 15

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 15
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS340 Psychopathology Across Cultures 3
General Elective General Elective 3

Term 16

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 16
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS385 Multicultural Approaches to Behavioral Health Care 3
BHS400 Biological and Environmental Bases of Behavior 3

Term 17

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 17
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS410 Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorders 3
BHS420 Relational Approach to Trauma 3

Term 18

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 18
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BHS430 Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis 3
BHS490 Advanced Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services 2
General Elective General Elective 3

Plan Course Electives

Complete six (6) credits from the following prefixes. Selected courses will not apply in both Plan Course Requirements and Plan Course Electives areas. Students should consult with their college’s Program Director or their faculty or academic advisor to select courses that best align with academic and professional goals.
A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASD+++ Any ASD Addictions and Substance Use Disorders course(s) 3
BHS+++ Any BHS Behavioral Health Services Technology course(s) 3
PSY+++ Any PSY Psychology course(s) 3

General Electives

Select courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 120 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.

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
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First-Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts & Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • NSI = Natural Sciences
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses 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 at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=175103.

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.

Previous Catalog Years

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.

Previous catalog years for Bachelor of Science (BS) in Behavioral Sciences