Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Sustainability and Environmental Studies

Details

Field of Interest
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Sustainability and Environmental Studies (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8123
Effective Term
Fall 2025

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

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.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SOS111 Sustainable Cities AHM, G, HU, SB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
QNR Quantitative Reasoning Before enrolling into a math course, speak to your Academic Advisor to ensure you are selecting the correct math for your transfer goals as MAT14+ or MAT15+ are not applicable for all University program requirements. 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
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3
AHM Arts and Humanities Recommend PHI216 for students intending to complete the Academic Certificate in Sustainability. AHM 3
Plan Elective Plan Course Electives 3–5

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences May be met by SOS110 in the Plan Course Electives. SCB 3
NSI Natural Sciences May be met by BIO181, BIO182, CHM150 and CHM151LL, CHM150AA, CHM151 and CHM151LL, CHM151AA, ENV101, GLG101 and GLG103, or GLG101IN in the Plan Course Electives area. NSI 4
Plan Elective Plan Course Electives 0–4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Recommend for students intending to complete the Academic Certificate in Sustainability:
COM263, ECN212, PSY132, or SBU200 		SCB 3
NSI Natural Sciences Recommend for students intending to complete the Academic Certificate in Sustainability:
BIO105, CHM107 and CHM107LL, GPH113, ASM104, ENV101, GLG110, or GLG111 		NSI 4
Plan Elective Plan Course Electives 0–4

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.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SOS111 Sustainable Cities AHM, G, HU, SB 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, 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
QNR Quantitative Reasoning Before enrolling into a math course, speak to your Academic Advisor to ensure you are selecting the correct math for your transfer goals as MAT14+ or MAT15+ are not applicable for all University program requirements. QNR 3–6
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities Recommend PHI216 for students intending to complete the Academic Certificate in Sustainability. AHM 3
Plan Elective Plan Course Electives 3–5

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
NSI Natural Sciences May be met by BIO181, BIO182, CHM150 and CHM151LL, CHM150AA, CHM151 and CHM151LL, CHM151AA, ENV101, GLG101 and GLG103, or GLG101IN in the Plan Course Electives area. NSI 4

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences May be met by SOS110 in the Plan Course Electives. SCB 3
NSI Natural Sciences Recommend for students intending to complete the Academic Certificate in Sustainability:
BIO105, CHM107 and CHM107LL, GPH113, ASM104, ENV101, GLG110, or GLG111 		NSI 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences Recommend for students intending to complete the Academic Certificate in Sustainability:
COM263, ECN212, PSY132, or SBU200 		SCB 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Plan Elective Plan Course Electives 0–4
Plan Elective Plan Course Electives 0–4

Plan Course Electives

Complete requirements in the transfer option that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor to select the courses that align with your intended transfer program requirements.

Sustainability Option
SOS110 Sustainable World 3

Environmental Science Option
CHM107 Chemistry and Society (3) AND
+ CHM107LL Chemistry and Society Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM130 Fundamental Chemistry (3) AND
+ CHM130LL Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM130AA Fundamental Chemistry with Lab (4) OR
+ CHM150 General Chemistry I (4) AND
+ CHM151LL General Chemistry I Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM150AA General Chemistry I with Lab (5) OR
+ CHM151 General Chemistry I (3) AND
+ CHM151LL General Chemistry I Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM151AA General Chemistry I with Lab (4) 4-5

Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor to select up to eight (8) credits of additional science coursework that aligns with your intended transfer program requirements.
+ AGS260 Soils 4
+ BIO181++ General Biology (Majors) I 4
+ BIO182++ General Biology (Majors) II 4
+ BIO205 Microbiology 4

+ CHM152 General Chemistry II (3) AND
+ CHM152LL General Chemistry II Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM152AA General Chemistry II with Lab (4) 4

+ CHM230 Fundamental Organic Chemistry (3) AND
+ CHM230LL Fundamental Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM230AA Fundamental Organic Chemistry with Lab (4) OR
+ CHM235 General Organic Chemistry I (3) AND
+ CHM235LL General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM235AA General Organic Chemistry I with Lab (4) 4

ENV101 Introduction to Environmental Science 4
ENV225 Our Changing Planet 3

GLG101 Physical Geology: Dynamic Earth Lecture (3) AND
GLG103 Physical Geology: Dynamic Earth Lab (1) OR
GLG101IN Physical Geology: Dynamic Earth (4) 4

GLG102 Historical Geology: Primordial to Present Lecture (3) AND
GLG104 Historical Geology: Primordial to Present Lab (1) OR
GLG102IN Historical Geology: Primordial to Present (4) 4

GLG110 Geological Disasters and the Environment (3) AND
GLG111 Geological Disasters and the Environment Lab (1) OR
GLG110IN Geological Disasters and the Environment (4) 4

GPH111 Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water and Hazards Lecture (3) AND
GPH112 Physical Geography: Climate, Landforms, Water and Hazards Laboratory (1) OR
GPH113 Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water, and Hazards (4) 4

GPH210 Society and Environment 3

+ PHY101 Introduction to Physics (4) OR
+ PHY111 General Physics I (4) OR
+ PHY121 University Physics I: Mechanics (4) 4

+ PHY131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4

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