Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Social Work

Details

Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Social Work (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8117
Effective Term
Fall 2026

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

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SWU171 Introduction to Social Work Critical course Gateway course H, SB, SCB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
PSY101 or
SOC101		 Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology SB, SCB or SB, SCB 3
Plan Electives Plan Course Electives Students must choose two classes from at least two of the three options 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
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
POS110 or
SWU182		 American National Government or A Social Services Perspective of Government IAM, SB or SB, SCB 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206. QNR 3–6
PHI101 or
PHI105 or
SWU183		 Introduction to Philosophy or Introduction to Ethics or Introductory Ethics: A Social Service Perspective AHM, HU or AHM, HU or HU, AHM 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ECN211 or
SWU181		 Macroeconomic Principles or Economics: A Social Issues Perspective SB, SCB or None 3
IAM Institutions of the Americas Can be met by POS110 in the Plan Course Requirements section. IAM 3
SWU291 Social Service Delivery Systems 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4
MAT206 or
PSY230 or
(PSY230 and
PSY231) or
PSY230WL or
SWU225		 Elements of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government SWU225 is recommended. QNR, CS or CS, QNR or CS, QNR or CS, QNR or CS 3–4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SWU295 Foundations of Social Work Practice C, SB, SCB 3
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Can be met by SWU182 in the Plan Course Requirements section. SCB 3
Plan Electives Plan Course Electives Students must choose two classes from at least two of the three options 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)

Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include:

  • Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits)
  • Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits)
  • Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits)

Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:

  • Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits)
  • Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits)
  • Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits)
  • Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits)

For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SWU171 Introduction to Social Work Critical course Gateway course H, SB, SCB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC, WCM or WCM, 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, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206. QNR 3–6

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PSY101 or
SOC101		 Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology SB, SCB or SB, SCB 3
Plan Electives Plan Course Electives Students must choose two classes from at least two of the three options 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
PHI101 or
PHI105 or
SWU183		 Introduction to Philosophy or Introduction to Ethics or Introductory Ethics: A Social Service Perspective AHM, HU or AHM, HU or HU, AHM 3
Plan Electives Plan Course Electives Students must choose two classes from at least two of the three options 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ECN211 or
SWU181		 Macroeconomic Principles or Economics: A Social Issues Perspective SB, SCB or None 3
POS110 or
SWU182		 American National Government or A Social Services Perspective of Government IAM, SB or SB, SCB 3
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Can be met by SWU182 in the Plan Course Requirements section. SCB 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SWU291 Social Service Delivery Systems 3
MAT206 or
PSY230 or
(PSY230 and
PSY231) or
PSY230WL or
SWU225		 Elements of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics or (Introduction to Statistics and Laboratory for Statistics) or Introduction to Statistics with Lab or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government SWU225 is recommended. QNR, CS or CS, QNR or CS, QNR or CS, QNR or CS 3–4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SWU295 Foundations of Social Work Practice C, SB, SCB 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
IAM Institutions of the Americas Can be met by POS110 in the Plan Course Requirements section. IAM 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4

Courses Not Currently Offered

Glendale Community College does not currently offer these courses. These courses may be offered by other Maricopa Community Colleges as indicated below. Alternative courses, as outlined in the term-by-term course listing above, may also meet the same requirements for your degree or certificate.

Courses listed in this pathway map that are not currently offered at Glendale Community College
Course Number Course Name Offering Colleges
ENG107 First-Year Composition for ESL Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, Mesa, Phoenix, Rio Salado, South Mountain
ENG108 First-Year Composition for ESL Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, Mesa, Phoenix, Rio Salado, South Mountain
PSY230 Introduction to Statistics Chandler-Gilbert, GateWay, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale, South Mountain
PSY231 Laboratory for Statistics Mesa, Rio Salado
SWU182 A Social Services Perspective of Government Mesa, Paradise Valley
SWU183 Introductory Ethics: A Social Service Perspective Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix
SWU225 Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government Mesa

General Electives

Select additional courses 100-level or higher to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits. Consult with a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.

Students may be required to complete a language course at the elementary or intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about your transfer-specific world language requirement.

Plan Course Electives:

Complete two (2) classes from at least two (2) of the three (3) options below:
Option One (1):
HRM110 Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Management (3) OR
HRM145 Events Management (3) OR
HRM150 Hospitality and Tourism Information Systems I (3) OR
HRM160 Tourism Principles and Practices (3) OR
HRM170 Hospitality in Healthcare and Life Care Management (3) OR
+ HRM260 Hospitality Human Resource Management (3) OR
+ HRM265 Financial Management for Hospitality and Tourism (3) OR
REC120 Leisure and the Quality of Life (3) OR
REC230 Programming of Recreation Services (3) OR
REC250 Recreation Leadership (3) OR
RPM150AB Outdoor Adventure Skills (3) OR
RPM210 Leisure Delivery Systems (3) OR
RPM240 Wilderness First Responder (3) 3

Option Two (2):
AJS101 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3) OR
AJS109 Substantive Criminal Law (3) OR
AJS113 Criminal Justice Crime Control Policies and Practices (3) OR
AJS123 Ethics and the Administration of Justice (3) OR
AJS124 Correctional Institutions (3) OR
AJS131 Police Management Techniques I (3) OR
AJS162 Domestic Violence (3) OR
AJS170 Fire and Arson Investigation for Law Enforcement (3) OR
AJS192 Serial Killers and Mass Murderers (3) OR
AJS195 International and Domestic Terrorism (3) OR
AJS200 Current Issues in Criminal Justice (3) OR
AJS201 Rules of Evidence (3) OR
AJS205 Effective Communication and Report Writing in Criminal Justice (3) OR
AJS211 Police Planning (3) OR
AJS212 Juvenile Justice Procedures (3) OR
AJS219 Crime Scene Technology: Physical Evidence (3) OR
AJS220 Transnational Organized Crime (3) OR
AJS230 The Police Function (3) OR
AJS240 The Correction Function (3) OR
AJS/EMT/FSC258 Victimology and Crisis Management in Public Safety (3) OR
AJS260 Procedural Criminal Law (3) OR
AJS270 Community Relations (3) OR
AJS275 Criminal Investigation I (3) OR
SWU258 Victimology and Crisis, a Social Services Perspective (3) 3

Option Three (3):
+ CIS143 Introduction to Critical Infrastructure Protection (3) OR
PAD100 21st Century Public Policy and Service (3) OR
+ PAD200 Public Affairs Economics (3) 3 

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.