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 degree is intended to meet the academic requirements for the Registered Behavior Technician and other micro-certifications. It is also intended to meet the qualifications for the Licensed Substance Abuse Technician through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. 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.
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
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within 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.
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- 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.
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 Show expanded career information for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
Healthcare Social Workers
$60,790 Show expanded career information for Healthcare Social Workers
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
$112,690 Show expanded career information for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
Marriage and Family Therapists
$58,360 Show expanded career information for Marriage and Family Therapists
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$43,720 Show expanded career information for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
Mental Health Counselors
$50,460 Show expanded career information for Mental Health Counselors
Physician Assistants
$121,490 Show expanded career information for Physician Assistants
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$56,120 Show expanded career information for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Psychiatric Technicians
$35,370 Show expanded career information for Psychiatric Technicians
Psychiatrists
$293,810 Show expanded career information for Psychiatrists
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
$77,770 Show expanded career information for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
School Psychologists
$76,870 Show expanded career information for School Psychologists
Social and Human Service Assistants
$39,460 Show expanded career information for Social and Human Service Assistants
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
$50,460 Show expanded career information for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
- Counseling Psychologists
- Counselors, All Other
- Psychologists, All Other
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.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
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 level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | 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
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
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 | |||
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 or COM263 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication or Elements of Intercultural Communication | Recommend COM225 | SB or SB or L or SB or C, G, SB | 3 | |
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Any approved general education course in the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] area. | L | 3 | |
RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
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 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | SQ | 4 | ||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Any approved general education course from the Humanities, Arts and Design area. Recommend HCR210. | HU | 3 | |
GE | General Elective | 3 |
Term 5
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS190 | Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services | 1 | |||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Any approved general education course from the Humanities, Arts and Design area. | HU | 3 | |
PSY230 | Introduction to Statistics | CS | 3 | ||
RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
SQ or SG | Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area or the Natural Sciences (General) [SG] area | 4 |
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
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 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 |
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 Social Services | 2 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 | |||
GE | General Elective | 2 |
Restricted Electives
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.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
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
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
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 level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA or MA or MA or MA or MA | 3–6 |
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
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS175 | Trauma-Informed Care and Recovery Treatment | SB | 3 | ||
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 or COM263 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication or Elements of Intercultural Communication | Recommend COM225 | SB or SB or L or SB or C, G, SB | 3 |
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
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS205 | Introduction to Individual Counseling Theories | 3 | |||
RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS210 | Addictions, Substance Use Disorders, and Recovery | SB | 3 | ||
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Any approved general education course in the Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] area. | L | 3 | |
RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
Term 9
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS215 | Introduction to Group Therapy | 3 | |||
BIO160 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | SQ | 4 |
Term 10
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GE | General Elective | 3 | |||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Any approved general education course from the Humanities, Arts and Design area. Recommend HCR210. | HU | 3 |
Term 11
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS190 | Supervised Practice in Behavioral Health and Human Services | 1 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 | |||
PSY230 | Introduction to Statistics | CS | 3 |
Term 12
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS300 | Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice | 4 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 |
Term 13
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS310 | Fundamentals of Family Systems Counseling | 3 | |||
SQ or SG | Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area or the Natural Sciences (General) [SG] area | 4 |
Term 14
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS320 | Behavioral Development Across the Lifespan | 3 | |||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Any approved general education course from the Humanities, Arts and Design area. | HU | 3 |
Term 15
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS340 | Psychopathology Across Cultures | 3 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 |
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
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BHS410 | Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Disorders | 3 | |||
BHS420 | Relational Approach to Trauma | 3 | |||
GE | General Elective | 3 |
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 Social Services | 2 | |||
GE | General Elective | 2 |
Restricted Electives
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.
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, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
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 (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.