Associate in Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture

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Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture program.

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Field of Interest

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Sustainable Agriculture program focuses on sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, and urban farming. This program is designed to prepare individuals for employment in Agribusiness.

Details

Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Type: Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan: Sustainable Agriculture (DEG)
Academic Plan Code: 3014
Total Credits Required: 60-70
Catalog Year: 2024-2025
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Notes: Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You’ll Learn

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

Utilize computer applications relevant to the field for communication, production decisions, business management and cost analysis.
Synthesize multiple sources of information to assist in decision making relative to agricultural business planning and operations.
Demonstrate professional behaviors and abide by norms and conventions appropriate to the field.
Employ effective oral, written, and visual communication skills in a culturally sensitive and responsive manner.
Evaluate sustainable food production systems in rural and urban settings.
Operate equipment adhering to proper safety, ethical, and environmental protocols.
Effectively plant, maintain and harvest crops by synthesizing principles of plant growth and responses to particular soils, climate, sun exposure, water availability, nutrients, and pests.
Apply environmentally and socially responsible agricultural practices.
Establish, select and maintain facilities for alternative crop production systems, including raising fish and vegetables in a closed-looped system.
[FYC]).
Use various media to market agricultural crops, including brand development, social networking, direct marketing, community supported agriculture.
Explain the physical and chemical properties of soil as they relate to pH, water, nutrients, and organic matter.
Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

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.

Agricultural Managers

$36,700 Show expanded career information for Agricultural Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities.

Typical Education Level

a Bachelor's degree

Hourly Median Wage

$17.64

Annual Median Wage

$36,700

Annual Job Openings

218

Number of People Employed

2,120

4-Year Employment Growth

Decrease by -5.8 %

Nursery and Greenhouse Managers

$62,865 Show expanded career information for Nursery and Greenhouse Managers

* 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.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

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
CHM130	Fundamental Chemistry	Prerequisites: C or better in [CHM090 or MAT090 or MAT091 or MAT092 or (MAT103AA & MAT103AB) or higher or satisfactory placement score] and [RDG100 or higher or eligibility for CRE101], or permission of the Instructor/Department/Division Chair.	Or permission of Program Director	NS	0–3
AGS182AA	Gardening Practices and Techniques				3
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	FYC or FYC	3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3
AGS164	Plant Growth and Development			SQ	4

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
AGB139	Agribusiness Computer Operations				3
AGB130	Establishing And Running An Agribusiness		Offered in the Spring Only		3
MAT112	Mathematical Concepts and Applications		OR Higher level mathematics course		3–6
AGS260	Soils	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM130 or permission of Instructor.	Offered in the Spring Only.	SQ	4
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC or FYC	3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107) and (appropriate reading placement test score or a grade of C or better in RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	CR	0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
Humanities and Fine Arts	Any approved general education course in the Humanities, Arts and Design area			HU	3
AGS217	Introduction to Hydroponics and Controlled Environment Agriculture	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in AGS164, or permission of Instructor.	Offered in the Fall Only		4
AGS262	Irrigation Design, Installation, Operation, and Trouble Shooting		Offered in the Fall only		3
SSH111	Sustainable Cities			G, HU, SB	3
AGS186	Greenhouse Management And Construction		Offered in the Fall Only		3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
AGS268	Integrated Pest Management in the Cultivated Environment		Offered in the Spring only.		4
AGS265	Sustainable Crop Production	A grade of C or better required in all Prerequisites. Prerequisites or Corequisites: AGS164 or permission of Instructor.	Offered in the Spring only.		3
AGB231	Marketing of Agricultural Products		Offered in the Spring only.		3
AGS166	Aquaponics				3
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		SB or SB or L or SB	3
GE	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.		0–1

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Program Information

Learn more about and find contact information for the Sustainable Agriculture program.

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Course Area Key

CR = Critical Reading
FYC = First Year Composition
G = Global Awareness
HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design

L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
NS = Natural Science
SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
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.

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/freeForm13?id=181788).

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 Applied Science (AAS) in Sustainable Agriculture

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