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Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Law and Policy

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

Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree 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.

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

What You'll Learn

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

  1. Use critical analysis and creative thinking to develop solutions.
  2. Formulate and defend arguments.
  3. Critically analyze complex textual material.
  4. Communicate complex ideas clearly with a purpose appropriate to the context or audience in written and oral forms.
  5. Demonstrate empathetic and active listening skills.
  6. Demonstrate information literacy by identifying a research need and accessing and critically evaluating information for the appropriate context.
  7. Synthesize multiple sources of information to achieve an objective within a given context.
  8. Apply professional guidelines for the ethical promotion of justice in the legal system.
  9. Explain the role of law in a free society.
  10. Demonstrate techniques and skills for developing and maintaining a collaborative environment with diverse internal and external agents.
  11. Compare and contrast the U.
  12. Apply legal concepts, doctrines, and theories appropriate to a given context.
  13. Utilize appropriate technology to accomplish objectives relevant to the context.
  14. Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

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.

Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers

$93,300

Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators

$67,650

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

$59,390

Compliance Officers

$61,350

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

$82,430

Human Resources Specialists

$61,630

Insurance Underwriters

$64,550

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

$82,790

Labor Relations Specialists

$92,860

Lawyers

$121,000

Managers, All Other

$119,410

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

$61,000

Public Relations Specialists

$62,210

Social and Community Service Managers

$64,520

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

$50,600

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:
  • Judicial Law Clerks
  • Law Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Legislators
 * Wage information sourced from the . Updated May 2022.

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 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.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Critical course Gateway course SB 3
OR Higher course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 3–6
or
 or Critical course FYC or FYC 3
or 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
or
 or 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
or
or
or
 or or or or Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: or or or or . Students may select or but not both. None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB 3
or
 or Critical course FYC or FYC 3
or
or
or
 or or or recommended SB or SB or L or SB 0–3
Critical course L 3
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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
or
or
or
 or or or or Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: or or or or . Students may select or but not both. None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB 3
Recommend HU 3
Recommend OR 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 0–3
HU 3
or
 or Recommend OR 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 ÁùºÏ²ÊÈ«Äêͼ¿â as part of their Paralegal Studies program. Students accepted into this program may use this course to satisfy this requirement.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
C, SB 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.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Critical course Gateway course SB 3
or
 or Critical course FYC or FYC 3
or
 or 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
or
or
or
 or or or or Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: or or or or . Students may select or but not both. None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB 3
or
 or Critical course FYC or FYC 3
Critical course 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
OR Higher course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 3–6
or
or
or
or
 or or or or Take 2 courses from the following Policy Focus Courses: or or or or . Students may select or but not both. None or G, SB or G, SB or SB or SB 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or 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
Recommend HU 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
or
or
 or or or recommended SB or SB or L or SB 0–3
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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Recommend OR SQ 4
RE Restricted Elective 0–3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU 3
or
 or Recommend OR SQ or SG 4

Law Focus Electives: 

Select one course from the following for a total of 3 credits.
Note: LAS109 is available at ÁùºÏ²ÊÈ«Äêͼ¿â as part of their Paralegal Studies program. Students accepted into this program may use this course to satisfy this requirement.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
C, SB 3

Restricted Electives 

Constitutional Foundations:
Constitutional Law 
Introduction to Law 
Introduction to the Paralegal Profession 
Legal Foundations for Paralegals 
Civil Rights and Liberties 

Criminal Law:
Introduction to Criminal Justice 
Substantive Criminal Law 
Rules of Evidence 
Juvenile Justice Procedures 
Procedural Criminal Law 

Civil Law:

Note: is available at ÁùºÏ²ÊÈ«Äêͼ¿â as part of their Paralegal Studies program. Students accepted into this program may use this course to satisfy this requirement.
Civil Procedures I 
Civil Procedures II 
Contract Law 
Legal Research 
Tort Law 
Business Organizations 
Civil Litigation I 
Civil Litigation II 

Applications of Law:
Criminology 
The Police Function 
The Correction Function 
AJS/EMT/FSC/ Victimology and Crisis Management 
Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in Business
Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I 
Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing II 

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.

View MCCCD’s for additional details regarding the requirements of this award .

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.