Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety

Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety
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Program Information

Learn more about the Information Studies and eSociety program.

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Course Sequence

Field of Interest

Field of Interest: Culture and Society

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for work in: marketing, social media, libraries, editing, copywriting, public relations, online content creation, and communication. Students will examine their roles as content creators and consumers in a global society, critically engage with information, and communicate and collaborate across diverse populations and platforms. This program also provides university transfer options in addition to workforce preparedness.

Details

  Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8131
Total Credits Required
60-64
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Available Online
Yes
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.

This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following transfer partners:
U of A, Information Sciences and eSociety, BA
U of A Global Campus, Liberal Arts, BA
U of A Global Campus, Organizational Management, BA
U of A Global Campus, Information Technology, BS

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

What You’ll Learn

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

  1. Apply the principles and theories of information creation, information seeking behaviors, and digital communications.
  2. Analyze historical and cultural perspectives of information creation, access, and use.
  3. Articulate the roles of citizens as information creators and consumers in a sustainable global society.
  4. Create, implement, and modify a research plan to meet an information need.
  5. Critically evaluate information in a variety of formats for perspectives, gaps, and influence.
  6. Use information according to ethical, legal, copyright, and policy considerations.
  7. Practice collaborative working relationships across multiple platforms while taking into account communication opportunities and challenges.
  8. Employ appropriate digital tools and media to create professional works in various mediums for diverse audiences.

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.

Advertising and Promotions Managers
$99,518
Editors
$62,327
Library Assistants
$38,859
Library Technicians
$37,228
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$68,774
Public Relations Specialists
$65,912
Search Marketing Strategists
$68,774
Technical Writers
$82,173
Writers and Authors
$49,541
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, with links to salary information for the United States as a whole (if available):
  • Media and Communication Workers, All Other
* 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 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
IFS150 Social Media, Society, and Ourselves Critical course Gateway course SCB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course 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
Elective General Elective 0–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
IFS210 Digital Information and Access in a Global Society G, SB, SCB 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
Elective General Elective 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
IFS201 Information in a Post-Truth World L, SB, SCB 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
Elective General Elective 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
IFS213 Hacking and Open Source Culture H, SB, SCB 3
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4
Elective General Elective 0–3

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
IFS150 Social Media, Society, and Ourselves Critical course Gateway course SCB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course 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
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 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
IFS210 Digital Information and Access in a Global Society G, SB, SCB 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
Elective General Elective 0–3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
IFS201 Information in a Post-Truth World L, SB, SCB 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
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
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
NSI Natural Sciences NSI 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
IFS213 Hacking and Open Source Culture H, SB, SCB 3
Elective General Elective 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
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
Elective General Elective 0–3

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.

Recommended:
COM263 Elements of Intercultural Communication
MKT110 Marketing and Social Networking
+ MCO120 Media and Society
POS210 Political Ideologies
PSY132 Psychology and Culture
PSY230 Introduction to Statistics
SOC241 Race and Ethnic Relations

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.

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Information Studies and eSociety 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.

  • AHM = Arts and Humanities
  • FYC = First-Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • NSI = Natural Sciences
  • OCM = Oral Communication
  • QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • WCM = Written Communication

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 at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/acres.woa/wa/customView?id=16461592.

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 Information Studies and eSociety