Foundations of Behavioral Sciences

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Foundations of Behavioral Sciences is designed to provide students with a foundational 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, comorbid medical conditions, and challenging behaviors. The program includes courses designed to provide students with the skills necessary to deliver essential behavioral health and social services. The core focus of the program is practical training and service learning experiences. This program prepares students for industry certification and is embedded in the CCL in Advanced Behavioral Sciences, the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Behavioral Sciences, and the Bachelor’s of Science (BS) in Behavioral Sciences available at MCCCD.

Details

Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Foundations of Behavioral Sciences (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5522
Total credits required
18
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Spring 2024
Admissions criteria

None

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:

  1. Determine the role, function, and responsibilities of various mental health professions.
  2. Examine the comprehensive bio-psycho-social needs of diverse client populations in behavioral health and social service settings.
  3. Identify methods to resolve current symptoms and prevent future effects of burnout, traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue.
  4. Manage individual cases as part of a multidisciplinary team in a fashion that best serves the patient and simultaneously protects the practitioner.
  5. Document treatment plans in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
  6. Practice evidence-based behavioral health interventions using assessment and outcome measures.
  7. Demonstrate ethical interpersonal and communication skills important in establishing and maintaining relationships.

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.

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

$50,030

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

$41,560

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

$61,000

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

$50,460

There are additional career opportunities associated with this certificate that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
  • Counseling Psychologists
  • Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

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

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
BHS165 Applied Therapeutic Communication Skills 3
BHS170 Case Management and Clinical Documentation 3
BHS180 Child, Family, and Adult Advocacy 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

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

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
BHS180 Child, Family, and Adult Advocacy 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.

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/freeForm11?id=186015).

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.