Program Information
Learn more about the Law and Policy program.
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Course Sequence
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Field of Interest
The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Law and Policy degree provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in law and policy or are preparing for graduate programs in law or other related fields. With a bachelor`s degree, students may work in areas where a license to practice law is not required. These areas include, but are not limited to compliance, contracts, risk management, human resources, public policy, probation, insurance, finance, real estate, city planning and administration.
Details
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 Law and Policy (DEG)
- Academic Plan Code
- 8141
- Total Credits Required
- 60-64
- Catalog Year
- 2024-2025
- Effective Term
- Fall 2024
- Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
The Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Law and Policy aligns with the University of Arizona Bachelor of Arts in Law.
What You’ll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Use critical analysis and creative thinking to develop solutions.
- Formulate and defend arguments.
- Critically analyze complex textual material.
- Communicate complex ideas clearly with a purpose appropriate to the context or audience in written and oral forms.
- Demonstrate empathetic and active listening skills.
- Demonstrate information literacy by identifying a research need and accessing and critically evaluating information for the appropriate context.
- Synthesize multiple sources of information to achieve an objective within a given context.
- Apply professional guidelines for the ethical promotion of justice in the legal system.
- Explain the role of law in a free society.
- Demonstrate techniques and skills for developing and maintaining a collaborative environment with diverse internal and external agents.
- Compare and contrast the U.
- Apply legal concepts, doctrines, and theories appropriate to a given context.
- Utilize appropriate technology to accomplish objectives relevant to the context.
- 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.
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
$113,740 Show expanded career information for Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
$70,732 Show expanded career information for Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Compliance Managers
$92,221 Show expanded career information for Compliance Managers
Human Resources Specialists
$63,715 Show expanded career information for Human Resources Specialists
Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
$54,003 Show expanded career information for Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Insurance Claims Examiners
$54,003 Show expanded career information for Insurance Claims Examiners
Insurance Underwriters
$74,237 Show expanded career information for Insurance Underwriters
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
$87,680 Show expanded career information for Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Judicial Law Clerks
$43,381 Show expanded career information for Judicial Law Clerks
Labor Relations Specialists
$84,464 Show expanded career information for Labor Relations Specialists
Lawyers
$130,899 Show expanded career information for Lawyers
Legislators
$39,947 Show expanded career information for Legislators
Postsecondary Education Administrators
$99,852 Show expanded career information for Postsecondary Education Administrators
Postsecondary Law Teachers
$72,944 Show expanded career information for Postsecondary Law Teachers
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$65,870 Show expanded career information for Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Public Relations Specialists
$64,304 Show expanded career information for Public Relations Specialists
Regulatory Affairs Specialists
$65,499 Show expanded career information for Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Social and Community Service Managers
$70,822 Show expanded career information for Social and Community Service Managers
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
$60,723 Show expanded career information for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
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.
| Awareness Areas |
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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
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS110 | American National Government | Critical course Gateway course | SB | 3 | |
| MAT15+ | College Algebra/Functions | OR Higher course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA | 3–6 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| CS | Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application | BPC110 or CIS105 required for students taking certain LAS and PAR course options. | CS | 3 | |
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or elective | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 | ||
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAD100 or POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or POS285 |
21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Comparative Government or Political Ideologies or Political Issues and Public Policy | Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or PAD100 or POS285. Students may select PAD100 or POS285 but not both. | None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB | 3 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | 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 | COM225 recommended | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
| L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Critical course | L | 3 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | Critical course OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 102 Level | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAD100 or POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or POS285 |
21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Comparative Government or Political Ideologies or Political Issues and Public Policy | Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or PAD100 or POS285. Students may select PAD100 or POS285 but not both. | None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB | 3 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommend AJS123 | HU | 3 | |
| SQ | Natural Sciences Quantitative | Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 | SQ | 4 | |
| Law Focus Elective | Law Focus Elective | 3 | |||
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 201 Level | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 0–3 | |||
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
| SQ or SG |
Natural Sciences Quantitative or Natural Sciences General | Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 | SQ or SG | 4 | |
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 202 Level | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 |
Law Focus Electives:
Select one course from the following for a total of 3 credits.
Note: LAS109 is available at Phoenix College as part of their Paralegal Studies program. Students accepted into this program may use this course to satisfy this requirement.
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJS101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | SB | 3 | ||
| AJS109 | Substantive Criminal Law | 3 | |||
| AJS201 | Rules of Evidence | 3 | |||
| AJS210 | Constitutional Law | 3 | |||
| AJS212 | Juvenile Justice Procedures | 3 | |||
| AJS230 | The Police Function | 3 | |||
| AJS260 | Procedural Criminal Law | 3 | |||
| LAS109 | Civil Procedures I | 3 | |||
| PAR101 | Introduction to the Paralegal Profession | 3 | |||
| PAR102 | Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I | 3 | |||
| PAR112 | Civil Litigation I | 3 | |||
| POS223 | Civil Rights and Liberties | C, SB | 3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
| Awareness Areas |
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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
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS110 | American National Government | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAD100 or POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or POS285 |
21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Comparative Government or Political Ideologies or Political Issues and Public Policy | Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or PAD100 or POS285. Students may select PAD100 or POS285 but not both. | None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB | 3 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | Critical course OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAT15+ | College Algebra/Functions | OR Higher course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA | 3–6 | |
| PAD100 or POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or POS285 |
21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Comparative Government or Political Ideologies or Political Issues and Public Policy | Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: POS120 or POS140 or POS210 or PAD100 or POS285. Students may select PAD100 or POS285 but not both. | None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB | 3 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application | BPC110 or CIS105 required for students taking certain LAS and PAR course options. | CS | 3 | |
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or elective | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 | ||
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommend AJS123 | HU | 3 |
Term 5
| 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 | COM225 recommended | SB or SB or L or SB | 0–3 | |
| L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Critical course | L | 3 | |
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 102 Level | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Focus Elective | Law Focus Elective | 3 | |||
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 201 Level | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| Second Language | Second Language Requirement, 202 Level | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. | 3–5 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQ | Natural Sciences Quantitative | Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 | SQ | 4 | |
| RE | Restricted Elective | 0–3 |
Term 9
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
| SQ or SG |
Natural Sciences Quantitative or Natural Sciences General | Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 | SQ or SG | 4 |
Law Focus Electives:
Select one course from the following for a total of 3 credits.
Note: LAS109 is available at Phoenix College as part of their Paralegal Studies program. Students accepted into this program may use this course to satisfy this requirement.
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJS101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | SB | 3 | ||
| AJS109 | Substantive Criminal Law | 3 | |||
| AJS201 | Rules of Evidence | 3 | |||
| AJS210 | Constitutional Law | 3 | |||
| AJS212 | Juvenile Justice Procedures | 3 | |||
| AJS230 | The Police Function | 3 | |||
| AJS260 | Procedural Criminal Law | 3 | |||
| LAS109 | Civil Procedures I | 3 | |||
| PAR101 | Introduction to the Paralegal Profession | 3 | |||
| PAR102 | Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I | 3 | |||
| PAR112 | Civil Litigation I | 3 | |||
| POS223 | Civil Rights and Liberties | C, SB | 3 |
Restricted Electives
Constitutional Foundations:
AJS210 Constitutional Law
LAS101 Introduction to Law
PAR101 Introduction to the Paralegal Profession
PAR106 Legal Foundations for Paralegals
POS223 Civil Rights and Liberties
Criminal Law:
AJS101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
AJS109 Substantive Criminal Law
AJS201 Rules of Evidence
AJS212 Juvenile Justice Procedures
AJS260 Procedural Criminal Law
Civil Law:
Note: LAS109 is available at Phoenix College as part of their Paralegal Studies program. Students accepted into this program may use this course to satisfy this requirement.
LAS109 Civil Procedures I
LAS110 Civil Procedures II
LAS204 Contract Law
LAS211 Legal Research
LAS212 Tort Law
LAS214 Business Organizations
PAR112 Civil Litigation I
PAR114 Civil Litigation II
Applications of Law:
AJS225 Criminology
AJS230 The Police Function
AJS240 The Correction Function
AJS/EMT/FSC/SWU258 Victimology and Crisis Management
GBS205 Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in Business
PAR102 Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I
PAR103 Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing II
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Program Information
Learn more about and find contact information for the Law and Policy 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.
- C = Cultural Diversity in the US
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- FYC = First Year Composition
- G = Global 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
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=188770).
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 Law and Policy