Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Geography
The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Geography provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in human and/or physical geography. Graduates of this associate degree program can work as cartographers, land surveyors, GIS analysts, and forest and conservation workers. With a bachelor`s degree, students can pursue a number of careers, including geographers, hydrologists, GIS technicians and technologists, and forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students can pursue careers as atmospheric and space scientists, environmental scientists, geoscientists, climate change analysts, urban planners, and geography professors.
Details
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Evaluate spatial patterns and relationships within the framework of the scientific method.
- Examine the interdependent relationships between the physical and human/cultural environment (such as landforms, climate, resources, political and economic systems, sociology, sustainability).
- Critically assess and analyze real-world issues through application of geographic concepts, systems, principles, and theories.
- Communicate geographic analyses through verbal, written, and/or geospatial techniques.
- Recognize ethical considerations encompassing the professional activities of geographers.
- Collaborate with diverse individuals, groups, and institutions to achieve common goals in the field of geography.
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.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
$93,710 Show expanded career information for Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
$63,420 Show expanded career information for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Climate Change Policy Analysts
$66,390 Show expanded career information for Climate Change Policy Analysts
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$66,390 Show expanded career information for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Forest and Conservation Workers
$33,520 Show expanded career information for Forest and Conservation Workers
Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
$66,710 Show expanded career information for Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists
Geographers
$70,410 Show expanded career information for Geographers
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
$84,250 Show expanded career information for Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
$92,920 Show expanded career information for Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Hydrologists
$102,520 Show expanded career information for Hydrologists
Surveyors
$64,450 Show expanded career information for Surveyors
Urban and Regional Planners
$75,250 Show expanded career information for Urban and Regional Planners
- Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists
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 |
---|
|
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GCU102 | Introduction to Human Geography | Critical course Gateway course | G, SB | 3 | |
(GPH111 and GPH112) or GPH113 | (Introduction to Physical Geography Lecture and Introduction to Physical Geography Lab) or Introduction to Physical Geography | SQ in combo w/ GPH112 and SQ in combo w/ GPH111 or SQ | 4 | ||
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
MAT14+ | College Mathematics | OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA | 3–6 | |
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency | |||
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GCU121 or GCU122 | World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere | G, SB or G, SB | 3 | ||
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 | Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 102 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GCU121 or GCU122 | World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere | G, SB or G, SB | 3 | ||
GPH211 or (GPH212 and GPH214) or (GPH213 and GPH215) | Landform Processes or (Introduction to Meteorology I and Introduction to Meteorology Laboratory I) or (Climate and Weather and Climate and Weather Laboratory) | SQ or SQ in combo w/ GPH214 and SQ in combo w/ GPH212 or SG in combo w/ GPH215 and SG in combo w/ GPH213 | 4 | ||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 201 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GIS205 | Geographic Information Technologies | CS | 3 | ||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
L or Elective | Literacy & Critical Inquiry or Elective | [L] required if not satisfied by CRE101 OR COM225 | L or None | 3 | |
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 202 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(GPH111 and GPH112) or GPH113 | (Introduction to Physical Geography Lecture and Introduction to Physical Geography Lab) or Introduction to Physical Geography | SQ in combo w/ GPH112 and SQ in combo w/ GPH111 or SQ | 4 | ||
ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GCU102 | Introduction to Human Geography | Critical course Gateway course | G, SB | 3 | |
ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAT14+ | College Mathematics | OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area | MA | 3–6 | |
GCU121 or GCU122 | World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere | G, SB or G, SB | 3 |
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 | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
GCU121 or GCU122 | World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere | G, SB or G, SB | 3 |
Term 5
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GPH211 or (GPH212 and GPH214) or (GPH213 and GPH215) | Landform Processes or (Introduction to Meteorology I and Introduction to Meteorology Laboratory I) or (Climate and Weather and Climate and Weather Laboratory) | SQ or SQ in combo w/ GPH214 and SQ in combo w/ GPH212 or SG in combo w/ GPH215 and SG in combo w/ GPH213 | 4 | ||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Term 6
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 102 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Term 7
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
GIS205 | Geographic Information Technologies | CS | 3 | ||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 201 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Transfer Option | Transfer Option | 0–4 | |||
Second Language or Elective | Second Language Requirement, 202 Level or Elective | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency |
Term 9
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
L or Elective | Literacy & Critical Inquiry or Elective | [L] required if not satisfied by CRE101 OR COM225 | L or None | 3 |
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
- H = Historical 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
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=190043).
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.