Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology
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
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
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.
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 Maricopa County-based annual median 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.
Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
$97,585 Show expanded career information for Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists
Human Resources Managers
$107,325 Show expanded career information for Human Resources Managers
Human Resources Specialists
$58,535 Show expanded career information for Human Resources Specialists
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
$84,281 Show expanded career information for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$57,999 Show expanded career information for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Mental Health Counselors
$46,652 Show expanded career information for Mental Health Counselors
Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
$72,704 Show expanded career information for Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
Postsecondary Psychology Teachers
$63,340 Show expanded career information for Postsecondary Psychology Teachers
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$58,415 Show expanded career information for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Psychiatric Technicians
$34,257 Show expanded career information for Psychiatric Technicians
Psychiatrists
$239,356 Show expanded career information for Psychiatrists
Social and Human Service Assistants
$35,687 Show expanded career information for Social and Human Service Assistants
Social Science Research Assistants
$43,934 Show expanded career information for Social Science Research Assistants
Statisticians
$94,047 Show expanded career information for Statisticians
Survey Researchers
$58,343 Show expanded career information for Survey Researchers
- Clinical, Counseling, and School 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.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
MA | Mathematics | Critical course Before enrolling into a math course, speak to your Academic Advisor to ensure you are selecting the correct math for your transfer goals as MAT14+ is not applicable to all transfer plans | 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 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements simultaneously. | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 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 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY230 or (PSY230 and PSY231) or PSY230WL | Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab | CS or CS or CS | 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 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY290AB or (PSY290AC (LEC) and PSY290AC (LAB)) | Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) | L, SG or 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 Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MA | Mathematics | Critical course Before enrolling into a math course, speak to your Academic Advisor to ensure you are selecting the correct math for your transfer goals as MAT14+ is not applicable to all transfer plans | MA | 3–6 | |
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–3 | |||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 |
Term 4
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 | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies COM and SB or COM and L requirements simultaneously. | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
SQ | Natural Sciences Quantitative | SQ | 4 |
Term 5
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Term 6
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Term 7
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY230 or (PSY230 and PSY231) or PSY230WL | Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab | CS or CS or CS | 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 |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PSY290AB or (PSY290AC (LEC) and PSY290AC (LAB)) | Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) | L, SG or 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 |
Term 9
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Term 10
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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
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/freeForm10?id=190014).
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.