Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Family Life Education

Family Studies
Become a Student

Program Information

Learn more about the Family Studies program.

General Help

Ask general questions at our support center.

Print icon   Print this page

Course Sequence

Field of Interest

Field of Interest: Behavioral Science and Human Services

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Family Life Education provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to study in fields related to family life education, human development, or child and family studies. The program includes study of child and adult development, marriage and family relationships, and the intersections of school, community, and family. Students can pursue careers in public, private, and human service agencies working with children, youth, and families. A Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Child and Family Organizations, Management and Administration is available and can be fully embedded in this AA.

Details

Details icon Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Family Life Education (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8139
Total Credits Required
60-64
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

For some occupations within this field, students may be required to have a current Identity Verified Print (IVP) Fingerprint Clearance Card and a current TB vaccination. Please consult with your faculty mentor to discuss these and other occupational requirements.

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges to earn a degree with this emphasis.

What You’ll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Describe the developmental framework, processes, and contexts of human development.
  2. Describe basic research methods, ethical considerations, and cross-cultural research in the family and human development field.
  3. Describe major theories of human development.
  4. Describe the foundations of the family life education field as well as its historical, contemporary, and future contexts.
  5. Evaluate current national and global policies and dynamics that impact family systems.
  6. Analyze emerging issues that impact the development of family social policy.
  7. Compare and contrast historical, social, and political factors, values, and practices that impact diverse family groups.
  8. Describe diverse human behaviors throughout the life cycle.
  9. Apply theories and methodologies used when studying human behavior.
  10. Evaluate the context and the issues of work experiences that impact the family and human development professional.
  11. 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 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.

Government Program Eligibility Interviewers

$37,979

Religious Activities and Education Directors

$44,584

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

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.

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: This pathway represents the 60 credits required to complete the Associate of Arts at MCCCD. Students in the NAU 90/30 program should consult with their NAU advisor to determine the additional 30 credits they should complete.

NOTE: This pathway represents the 60 credits required to complete the Associate of Arts at MCCCD. Students in the NAU 90/30 program should consult with their NAU advisor to determine the additional 30 credits they should complete. Recommend a four (4) credit or higher math course to complete at least twelve (12) credits of natural science and mathematics.

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
CFS205 Human Development SB 3
CFS210 Family Life Education Critical course Gateway course 3
ENG101 or
ENG107
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
MAT14+ or
MAT15+
College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area.
Recommend MAT15+ for students transferring to UofA.
Recommend a four (4) credit or higher course be completed for students transferring to NAU`s BIS in Applied Human Behavior science track to complete at least twelve (12) credits of natural science and mathematics.
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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS112 Personal Growth and Family Relations SB 3
ENG102 or
ENG108
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
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 if CRE101 is not required SB or L 0–3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
CS Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application CS 3
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry L 3
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SG or
SQ
Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

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: This pathway represents the 60 credits required to complete the Associate of Arts at MCCCD. Students in the NAU 90/30 program should consult with their NAU advisor to determine the additional 30 credits they should complete.

NOTE: This pathway represents the 60 credits required to complete the Associate of Arts at MCCCD. Students in the NAU 90/30 program should consult with their NAU advisor to determine the additional 30 credits they should complete. Recommend a four (4) credit or higher math course to complete at least twelve (12) credits of natural science and mathematics.

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
CFS210 Family Life Education Critical course Gateway course 3
ENG101 or
ENG107
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 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
ENG102 or
ENG108
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3
MAT14+ or
MAT15+
College Mathematics or College Algebra/Functions OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area.
Recommend MAT15+ for students transferring to UofA.
Recommend a four (4) credit or higher course be completed for students transferring to NAU`s BIS in Applied Human Behavior science track to complete at least twelve (12) credits of natural science and mathematics.
MA 3–6

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS205 Human Development SB 3
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CFS112 Personal Growth and Family Relations SB 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
CS Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application CS 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
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 if CRE101 is not required SB or L 0–3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry L 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SG or
SQ
Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

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

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

General Electives

Recommend that students choose general electives from the CFS prefix, specifically the following (if not already required by a student`s chosen transfer subplan):
CFS210 Family Life Education 3
CFS240 Human Behavior in Context 3
CFS243 Cross-cultural Parenting 3
CFS250 Social Policy and Families 3
CFS258 Families in Society 3
CFS259 Sexuality Over the Life Span 3

Students who complete the following courses will satisfy the requirements for the Certificate of Completion (CCL) (5401) in Child and Family Organizations Management and Administration:
CFS206 Child and Family Organizations: Management and Administration 3
CFS207 Organization and Community Leadership in Child and Family Organizations 3
CFS208 Child and Family Organizations: Fiscal Management and Grant Writing 3
CFS209 Child and Family Organizations: Project Management 3
FCS250 Portfolio Development and Professional Writing 3
FCS260 Family and Consumer Science Internship 1

Ready to get started?

Follow one of the options below to get started on your personal career pathway.

Become a Student

Click here for MCC’s easy-to-use Enrollment Steps.

Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Family Studies program.

General Help

Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.

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.

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, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

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=183255).

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Arts (AA) in Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Family Life Education