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
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
Notes

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

This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following transfer partners:

U of A, Law, BA

Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: U of A .

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

What You'll Learn
  • 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 US legal system with other legal systems.
  • 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 Statistics

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 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
$98,190
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
$73,420
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
$59,030
Compliance Managers
$121,290
Education Administrators, Postsecondary
$104,250
Human Resources Specialists
$64,110
Insurance Underwriters
$77,280
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
$100,330
Judicial Law Clerks
$63,860
Labor Relations Specialists
$81,510
Law Teachers, Postsecondary
$118,370
Lawyers
$126,600
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$56,120
Public Relations Specialists
$70,390
Regulatory Affairs Specialists
$67,680
Social and Community Service Managers
$69,700
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
$50,720

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:

  • Legislators

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

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.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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
Elective General Elective 0–3
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
PAD100 or
POS120 or
POS210		 21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Political Ideologies Policy Focus: Select two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credits from the following: PAD100, POS120, POS210 None or G, 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
Elective General 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
PAD100 or
POS120 or
POS210		 21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Political Ideologies Policy Focus: Select two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credits from the following: PAD100, POS120, POS210 None or G, SB or SB 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Recommend AJS123 HU 3
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 SQ 4
Elective General Elective 3–5
AJS101 or
AJS109 or
AJS201 or
AJS210 or
AJS212 or
AJS230 or
AJS260 or
LAS109 or
PAR101 or
PAR102 or
PAR112 or
POS223		 Introduction to Criminal Justice or Substantive Criminal Law or Rules of Evidence or Constitutional Law or Juvenile Justice Procedures or The Police Function or Procedural Criminal Law or Civil Procedures I or Introduction to the Paralegal Profession or Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I or Civil Litigation I or Civil Rights and Liberties Law Focus: Select one (1) course for a total of three (3) credits from the following: SB or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or C, SB 3

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 Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
SQ or
SG		 Natural Sciences Quantitative or Natural Sciences General Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 SQ or SG 4
Elective General Elective 0–3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences May be met by POS120 OR POS210 in the Required Courses area SB

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
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
POS110 American National Government Critical course Gateway course SB 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT15+ College Algebra/Functions OR Higher course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 3–6
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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
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
Elective General Elective 3–5
PAD100 or
POS120 or
POS210		 21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Political Ideologies Policy Focus: Select two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credits from the following: PAD100, POS120, POS210 None or G, 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
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
Elective General Elective 0–3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAD100 or
POS120 or
POS210		 21st Century Public Policy and Service or International Relations or Political Ideologies Policy Focus: Select two (2) courses for a total of six (6) credits from the following: PAD100, POS120, POS210 None or G, SB or SB 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design Recommend AJS123 HU 3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences May be met by POS120 OR POS210 in the Required Courses area SB

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 SQ 4
Elective General Elective 0–3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AJS101 or
AJS109 or
AJS201 or
AJS210 or
AJS212 or
AJS230 or
AJS260 or
LAS109 or
PAR101 or
PAR102 or
PAR112 or
POS223		 Introduction to Criminal Justice or Substantive Criminal Law or Rules of Evidence or Constitutional Law or Juvenile Justice Procedures or The Police Function or Procedural Criminal Law or Civil Procedures I or Introduction to the Paralegal Profession or Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I or Civil Litigation I or Civil Rights and Liberties Law Focus: Select one (1) course for a total of three (3) credits from the following: SB or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or None or C, SB 3
SQ or
SG		 Natural Sciences Quantitative or Natural Sciences General Recommend FOR105 OR FOR106 SQ or SG 4
Elective General 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
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 0–3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3

Restricted Electives 

Students should complete 3-6 credits from one or more of the categories below that best align with their academic and professional goals.

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:
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 
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.

Applications of Law:
AJS225 Criminology 
AJS230 The Police Function 
AJS240 The Correction Function 
AJS/EMT/FSC258 Victimology and Crisis Management in Public Safety
SWU258 Victimology and Crisis, a Social Services Perspective
GBS205 Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in Business
PAR102 Paralegal Research, Analysis, and Writing I 
PAR103 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 official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=16456311).

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.

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