Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Geography

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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
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.

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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU102 Human Geography: Spatial Relationships Between Humans and Culture with Their Environment Critical course Gateway course G, SB, SCB 3
(GPH111 and
GPH112) or
GPH113		 (Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water and Hazards Lecture and Physical Geography: Climate, Landforms, Water and Hazards Laboratory) or Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water, and Hazards NSI in combo w/ GPH112; and NSI in combo w/ GPH111; or NSI, SQ 4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 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
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
GCU121WG World Geography: People, Places, and Culture G, SB, SCB 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
Elective General Electives 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
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) NSI, SQ or NSI in combo w/ GPH214; and NSI in combo w/ GPH212; or NSI in combo w/ GPH215; and NSI in combo w/ GPH213; 4
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
Elective General Electives 3
Elective General Electives 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GIS205 Geographic Information Technologies CS 3
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
Elective General Electives 3
Elective General Electives 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.

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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU102 Human Geography: Spatial Relationships Between Humans and Culture with Their Environment Critical course Gateway course G, SB, SCB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 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
MAT14+ College Mathematics OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved general education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206. QNR 3–6
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
(GPH111 and
GPH112) or
GPH113		 (Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water and Hazards Lecture and Physical Geography: Climate, Landforms, Water and Hazards Laboratory) or Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water, and Hazards NSI in combo w/ GPH112; and NSI in combo w/ GPH111; or NSI, SQ 4
Elective General Electives 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU121WG World Geography: People, Places, and Culture G, SB, SCB 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
Elective General Electives 0–3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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) NSI, SQ or NSI in combo w/ GPH214; and NSI in combo w/ GPH212; or NSI in combo w/ GPH215; and NSI in combo w/ GPH213; 4
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GIS205 Geographic Information Technologies CS 3
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
Elective General Electives 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Elective General Electives 3
Elective General Electives 3

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.

  • AHM = Arts and Humanities
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First-Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • IAM = Institutions of the Americas
  • NSI = Natural Sciences
  • OCM = Oral Communication
  • QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
  • WCM = Written Communication