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Programs & Degrees

Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science

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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
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CAP120 Introduction to Counseling Critical course Gateway course SB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics Critical course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area

Note: Students planning to transfer to ASU for the BS in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science can take (MAT14+ OR MAT15+) AND PSY230++ prior to transfer to avoid taking a higher level math. 		MA 3–6
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology Critical course SB 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
CAP220 The Counselor in a Multicultural Society C 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
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
PSY230 or
(PSY230 and
PSY231) or
PSY230WL		 Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab Critical course CS or CS or CS 3–4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CAP240 Introduction to Counseling Skills Critical course 3
PSY290AB or
(PSY290AC (LEC) and
PSY290AC)		 Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) Critical course L, SG or L, SG 4
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
Elective Elective 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO100 or
BIO156++ or
BIO181++ or
SQ		 Biology Concepts or Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I or Natural Sciences Quantitative Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area
Note: BIO181++ recommended for students planning to transfer to ASU for the BS in Counseling and Applied Psychology (Substance Abuse and Addictions). 		SQ or SQ or SQ or SQ 4
CAP260 Career and Professional Preparation for the Helping Professions L 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
Elective Elective 0–3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
CAP120 Introduction to Counseling Critical course Gateway course SB 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
MAT14+ College Mathematics Critical course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area

Note: Students planning to transfer to ASU for the BS in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science can take (MAT14+ OR MAT15+) AND PSY230++ prior to transfer to avoid taking a higher level math. 		MA 3–6
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology Critical course SB 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CAP220 The Counselor in a Multicultural Society C 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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
PSY230 or
(PSY230 and
PSY231) or
PSY230WL		 Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab Critical course CS or CS or CS 3–4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CAP240 Introduction to Counseling Skills Critical course 3
PSY290AB or
(PSY290AC (LEC) and
PSY290AC (LAB))		 Research Methods or (Research Methods and Research Methods Laboratory) Critical course L, SG or L, SG 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
Elective Elective 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO100 or
BIO156++ or
BIO181++ or
SQ		 Biology Concepts or Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I or Natural Sciences Quantitative Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area
Note: BIO181++ recommended for students planning to transfer to ASU for the BS in Counseling and Applied Psychology (Substance Abuse and Addictions). 		SQ or SQ or SQ or SQ 4
CAP260 Career and Professional Preparation for the Helping Professions L 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
Elective Elective 0–3

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.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative