Academic Catalog

Associate in Arts (AA) Degree

Maricopa County Community Colleges District (MCCCD) 2024-2025

Description

The Maricopa County Community College District Associate in Arts (AA) degree requires a minimum of 60 semester credits for the program of study; minimum total credits vary by specific emphasis (for example, Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Psychology). Refer to curriculum.maricopa.edu (click on Current Programs) to search for the corresponding area of emphasis for credit minimums. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 and grades of “C” or better are required in all courses to earn the degree. The AA degree is governed by the MCCCD General Academic Policies for Degrees Designed for University Transfer.

The Associate in Arts degree includes the following components:

  1. Program Prerequisites (as specified by emphasis area)
  2. Required Courses 
  3. Restricted Electives (as specified by area of emphasis)
  4. Arizona General Education Curriculum for Arts (AGEC-A)
  5. MCCCD Additional Requirements (Oral Communication and Critical Reading)
  6. General Electives (if needed to reach minimum credits for degree)

Purpose of the Degree

The Associate in Arts (AA) degree is designed for students planning to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. In general, the components of the degree meet requirements for majors in the Liberal Arts or programs of study other than business or science. Generally, the degree will transfer as a block without loss of credit to Arizona’s public universities and other institutions with district-wide articulation agreements. 

In most cases, courses used to satisfy the MCCCD Associate in Arts (AA) will apply to general university graduation requirements of the majors that align with the AA degree; however, students need to be aware of any specific requirements of their intended major at the university to be sure they select courses that will meet them. Information regarding the articulation of the AA with majors at the Arizona public universities can be accessed via the following website: aztransfer.com/tools

Degree Requirements

The requirements for the Associate in Arts (AA) follow. The AA degree requires at least 60 credits; however, minimum credits for the AA vary for a specific area of emphasis. Refer to curriculum.maricopa.edu and click on Current Programs to search for the corresponding area of emphasis and credit minimums; review course sequence at maricopa.edu/degrees-certificates#programs. The following websites identify the courses that apply to the different General Education Core and Awareness Areas: AGEC-A and the AGEC matrix at aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/agec.

Degree Requirements
  1. Program Prerequisites - Credits: Number Varies
    Program prerequisites for the AA degree vary by specific emphasis, and are neither required for all emphases nor for the AA degree without a specific emphasis Refer to curriculum.maricopa.edu (click on Current Programs) to search for the corresponding area of emphasis and credit minimums.
  2. Required Courses - Credits: Number Varies

    Students must complete FYE 101 (1) or FYE 103 (3) and select the required courses for the specific AA degree emphasis. Refer to curriculum.maricopa.edu (click on Current Programs) to search for the corresponding area of emphasis for specific courses required and credit minimums.

  3. Restricted Electives - Credits: Number Varies
    Restricted electives for the AA degree vary by specific emphasis and are not required for the general AA degree without a specific emphasis. Refer to curriculum.maricopa.edu (click on Current Programs) to search for the corresponding area of emphasis for specific courses required and credit minimums.
  4. Arizona General Education Curriculum-Arts (AGEC-A) - Credits: up to 44
    The AGEC-A requires a minimum of 35 credits (32 if FYC is met by single transfer course)1.  Courses applied to meet AGEC-A requirements vary by emphasis. Refer to curriculum.maricopa.edu (click on Current Programs) to search for the corresponding area of emphasis and credit minimums. Any prerequisite/required/restricted elective courses that also have one or more AGEC designation(s) may be applied toward both requirements. Credits for such shared courses are only counted once toward the total credits for the degree. AGEC designations are subject to change. See AGEC matrix at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/agec for each course's value(s) in the semester it is taken. Some of the courses have been approved for more than one designation. Notes below will show how such courses may be used to meet multiple degree requirements.
  5. First-Year Composition (FYC) 1
    ENG101First-Year Composition 13
    or ENG107 First-Year Composition for ESL
    ENG102First-Year Composition 13
    or ENG108 First-Year Composition for ESL
    Literacy and Critical Inquiry (L)
    Select three credits3
    Mathematical Applications (MA)
    Select one of the following:3-6
    College Mathematics
    MAT140
    		College Mathematics
    MAT141
    		College Mathematics
    MAT142
    		College Mathematics
    MAT145
    		College Mathematics with Review
    MAT146
    		College Mathematics with Review
    College Algebra
    MAT150
    		College Algebra/Functions
    MAT151
    		College Algebra/Functions
    MAT152
    		College Algebra/Functions
    MAT155
    		College Algebra/Functions with Review
    MAT156
    		College Algebra/Functions with Review
    Precalculus
    MAT187
    		Precalculus
    MAT188
    		Precalculus
    Higher (MA)-approved Course
    Higher (MA)-approved general education course
    Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications (CS)
    Select three credits3
    Humanities, Arts and Design (HU)
    Students are encouraged to choose course work from more than one discipline.6
    Social-Behavioral Sciences (SB)
    Students are encouraged to choose course work from more than one discipline.6
    Natural Sciences (SQ/SG)
    The lecture courses selected for Natural Sciences must include or be accompanied by the corresponding laboratory courses for a total of four credits each. Credits for lecture and lab components may be combined or each may carry separate credit. At least four (4) credits must be designated as SQ-Science Quantitative. Eight (8) credits of SG-Science General will not satisfy this requirement.8
    Awareness Areas
    The same course(s) may be used to satisfy one or more Awareness Area(s) as well as other AGEC requirements. (See AGEC matrix for current course values). Credits for such shared courses may only be counted once. 20-6
    Cultural Diversity in the United States (C)
    Global Awareness (G) or Historical Awareness (H)
    1

    FYC may be met with fewer than 6 credits if student has transfer credit from ASU, NAU or UAZ for a single course that meets FYC in full.

    2

    See AGEC matrix at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/agec for current course values. May be met by [HU] and/or [SB] course depending on specific course(s) selected. (AGEC designations are subject to change. See AGEC matrix at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/agec for each course's value(s) in the semester it is taken.)

  6. MCCCD Additional Requirements  - Credits: 0-6
    As noted below, courses in this area may also be applied toward AGEC-A requirements.
    Oral Communication
    Select one of the following:0-3
    COM100
    		Introduction to Human Communication (SB)
    COM110
    		Interpersonal Communication (SB)
    COM225
    		Public Speaking (L)
    COM230
    		Small Group Communication (SB)
    or all of the following (SB):
    COM100AA
    & COM100AB
    & COM100AC
    		Introduction to Human Communication Part I
    and Introduction to Human Communication Part II
    and Introduction to Human Communication Part III
    or all of the following (SB):
    COM110AA
    & COM110AB
    & COM110AC
    		Interpersonal Communication Part I
    and Interpersonal Communication Part II
    and Interpersonal Communication Part III
    Critical Reading
    Select one of the following:0-3
    CRE101
    		College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (L)
    Equivalent as indicated by assessment
  7. General Electives - Credits: 0-28

    Select courses 100-level or higher if needed to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits, which is the maximum number of credits accepted toward most degree programs at Arizona’s public universities. Ideally, students should select courses that meet requirements for their major/area of interest and transfer institution. See General Associate Degree Academic Policies for further details, limitations, and guidelines. MCCCD has established recommended courses and sequencing to align with various “Emphasis Areas” in one of nine different “Fields of Interest.” See maricopa.edu/degrees-certificates for links to these transfer pathways.

    Maricopa courses and external courses evaluated as Maricopa equivalents, departmental electives (e.g., HISELC for a history elective), or general electives (GENELC) that are numbered 100 level or higher, and completed with a grade of "C" or higher, may be applied in the elective area, regardless of potential transferability to other institutions. It is recommended, however, that students planning to transfer to a baccalaureate-granting institution meet these general elective requirements with courses that are transferable and applicable to their intended university degree. Transfer and major guides are accessible on the following websites: aztransfer.com/tools, https://www.maricopa.edu/degrees-certificates/transfer/pathways-partners, as well as those of individual universities. For appropriate course selection, students should consult with an academic advisor.

Associate in Arts Total Credits: 60-641

1

64 semester credits is the maximum accepted toward most degree programs at Arizona’s public universities. Some exceptions apply; consult with an academic advisor for additional transfer pathways.