The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Psychology provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in psychological sciences or are preparing for graduate programs in psychology or related fields. With a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue numerous careers such as mid and top-level managers, market research analysts/specialists, human resources specialists/managers, social and human service assistants, psychiatric technicians, survey researchers, and probation officers/correctional treatment specialists. Most careers in psychology require graduate work. With a graduate degree, students may pursue a number of careers, including but not limited to: psychologists (industrial-organizational, clinical, counseling, and school), research scientists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, statisticians, teachers, and human factors engineers.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:
Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology (DEG)
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses in the program.
What You'll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Explain how Psychology is a science and interdisciplinary.
- Identify interrelationships between biological, psychological and socio-cultural processes.
- Apply Psychological science to everyday life and career goals.
- Utilize a systematic method of investigation, design and conduct a psychology research project.
- Locate, interpret and evaluate research findings.
- Analyze and interpret data using quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Utilize scientific findings and theories to generate new ideas.
- Evaluate the impact of socio-cultural diversity and societal inequality on social and psychological issues and research.
- Interact effectively with others using an understanding of the role culture, values and biases play in communication.
- Utilize effective written, oral and visual communication skills in varied contexts, in accordance with the professional conventions within the field of psychology.
- Apply ethical standards and social responsibility to evaluate psychological science and practice.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Opportunities
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.
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:
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
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.
Pathway Map Options
There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the available transfer institutions and what degrees you may be able to transfer into.
These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.
- Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology
- Arizona State University (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts), Psychology, Bachelor of Arts
- Arizona State University (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts), Psychology, Bachelor of Science
- Arizona State University (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Psychology, Bachelor of Arts
- Arizona State University (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Psychology, Bachelor of Science
- Arizona State University (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Psychology, Bachelor of Arts
- Arizona State University (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Psychology, Bachelor of Science
- Arizona State University (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Psychology (Forensic Psychology), Bachelor of Arts
- Arizona State University (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Psychology (Forensic Psychology), Bachelor of Science
- Northern Arizona University, Psychological Sciences, Bachelor of Science
- University of Arizona, Psychological Sciences, Bachelor of Science
- University of Arizona, Psychology, Bachelor of Arts
- Full-time
- Part-time
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
|
PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). | Critical course | FYC | 3 |
MA | Mathematics | Critical course | MA | 3–6 | |
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 101 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency | |||
FYE101 or FYE103 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107. | FYC | 3 | |
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements simultaneously. | SB or L | 0–3 |
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095, or RDG100, or RDG100LL, or RDG111, or RDG112, or RDG113, or an appropriate district placement, or permission of Instructor). | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
MAT182 | Plane Trigonometry | Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT15+, OR an appropriate district placement. Corequisites: MAT15+. | Only needed for certain Transfer Plans and if MAT15+ was taken in Term 1 | MA | 0–3 |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 102 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
PSY230 or (PSY230 and PSY231) | Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) | Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (PSY101 and eligibility for MAT14+ or higher as indicated by appropriate district mathematics placement) or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (PSY101 and eligibility for MAT14+ or higher as indicated by appropriate district mathematics placement) or permission of Instructor. and Corequisites: PSY230. | CS or CS and | 3–4 | |
SQ | Natural Sciences Quantitative | SQ | 4 | ||
SB | Social & Behavioral Sciences | Students who select the ASU Tempe BA transfer option must select a Related Area course that satisfies the SB requirement | SB | 3 | |
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 201 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
PSY290AB or (PSY290AC and PSY290AC) | Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) | Prerequisites: ENG101 or ENG107. Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: ENG101 or ENG107 Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: PSY290AC lab course. and Prerequisites: ENG101 or ENG107. Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or PSY230WL or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: PSY290AC lecture course. Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or PSY230WL or permission of Instructor. | L, SG | 4 | |
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
SG or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | May be met by Transfer Plan requirements or met by PSY290AB OR PSY290AC unless used to meet L; Recommend PSY275 | SG or SQ | 0–4 | |
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | May be met by PSY290AB OR PSY290AC if not used to meet SG | L | 0–3 | |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 202 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
|
PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+). | Critical course | FYC | 3 |
FYE101 or FYE103 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
MA | Mathematics | Critical course | MA | 3–6 | |
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107. | FYC | 3 | |
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095, or RDG100, or RDG100LL, or RDG111, or RDG112, or RDG113, or an appropriate district placement, or permission of Instructor). | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
MAT182 | Plane Trigonometry | Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT15+, OR an appropriate district placement. Corequisites: MAT15+. | Only needed for certain Transfer Plans and if MAT15+ was taken in Term 1 | MA | 0–3 |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 |
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements simultaneously. | SB or L | 0–3 |
SQ | Natural Sciences Quantitative | SQ | 4 |
SB | Social & Behavioral Sciences | Students who select the ASU Tempe BA transfer option must select a Related Area course that satisfies the SB requirement | SB | 3 | |
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 |
SG
or SQ | Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative | May be met by Transfer Plan requirements or met by PSY290AB OR PSY290AC unless used to meet L; Recommend PSY275 | SG or SQ | 0–4 | |
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 |
PSY230 or (PSY230 and PSY231) | Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) | Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (PSY101 and eligibility for MAT14+ or higher as indicated by appropriate district mathematics placement) or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (PSY101 and eligibility for MAT14+ or higher as indicated by appropriate district mathematics placement) or permission of Instructor. and Corequisites: PSY230. | CS or CS and | 3–4 | |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 101 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
PSY290AB or (PSY290AC and PSY290AC) | Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) | Prerequisites: ENG101 or ENG107. Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: ENG101 or ENG107 Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: PSY290AC lab course. and Prerequisites: ENG101 or ENG107. Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or PSY230WL or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: PSY290AC lecture course. Prerequisites or Corequisites: PSY230 or PSY230WL or permission of Instructor. | L, SG | 4 | |
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | May be met by PSY290AB OR PSY290AC unless used to meet SG | L | 0–3 | |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 102 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 201 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 202 Level | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Pathway Map Option Details
No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.
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, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
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.