Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Geography

Geography
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Learn more about the Geography program.

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Course Sequence

Field of Interest

Field of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

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

Details icon Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Geography (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8113
Total Credits Required
60-64
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

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 to earn a degree with this emphasis.

What You’ll Learn

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

  1. Evaluate spatial patterns and relationships within the framework of the scientific method.
  2. Examine the interdependent relationships between the physical and human/cultural environment (such as landforms, climate, resources, political and economic systems, sociology, sustainability).
  3. Critically assess and analyze real-world issues through application of geographic concepts, systems, principles, and theories.
  4. Communicate geographic analyses through verbal, written, and/or geospatial techniques.
  5. Recognize ethical considerations encompassing the professional activities of geographers.
  6. Collaborate with diverse individuals, groups, and institutions to achieve common goals in the field of geography.

Career Opportunities

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 Maricopa County-based annual median 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.

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

$66,808

Geographic Information Systems Technicians

$77,925

Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists

$77,925

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

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 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.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the available transfer institutions and what degrees you may be able to transfer into.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

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.

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 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 3
MAT14+ College Mathematics OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 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
GCU121 or
GCU122
World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere G, SB 3
ENG102 or
ENG108
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL 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 L 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during 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 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 SG 4
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 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
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 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.

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
(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 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
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 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking 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
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 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 SB or L 3
GCU121 or
GCU122
World Geography I: Eastern Hemisphere or World Geography II: Western Hemisphere G, SB 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) SQ or SG 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GIS205 Geographic Information Technologies CS 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Geography program.

General Help

Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.

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.

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.

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, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

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=183423).

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 Geography