Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

This degree is designed to provide students with the technical and employability skills and knowledge necessary for a specific occupation/paraprofessional field. These degrees require 60 or more credits in courses numbered 100 or above, including technical and general education coursework. An AAS may contain one or more certificates, and the certificates may constitute a series that leads to completion of the AAS. Courses required in these degrees may apply to graduation requirements in applied science baccalaureate programs.

Certificate of Completion (CCL)

These certificates are designed to equip students to meet the minimum proficiency requirements in an occupational area. CCLs help prepare students for a defined job entry point, and include 100- and 200-level credit courses with occupational content designed to lead to employment, delivered generally through semester-based schedules (spring, summer, fall), and providing learning experiences in both cohort and non-cohort formats. A CCL may stack into a series of Certificates, an AAS program, or may stand alone.

Academic Certificate (AC)

These certificates are designed to develop specific, structured, non-technical professional skills or the opportunity for development of specialized knowledge within a disciplinary field. Academic Certificates are not designed for specific employment or transfer opportunities, although some academic certificates may align with emphasis areas of the Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), or Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA). Students interested in transferring to baccalaureate programs should refer to emphases within the AA, AS, and AAFA. Students interested in pursuing a pathway that aligns with a specific employment opportunity should refer to MCCCD’s Associate in Applied Science degrees, Certificates of Completion, Certificates of Competency.

Arizona General Education Curriculum - A (AGEC-A)

AGECs were designed to articulate with different academic majors at the state universities, and their particular requirements vary accordingly. In some major-specific pathways, students are allowed to choose from a broad list of courses to satisfy the AGEC requirements, and for others the courses are more restricted or even specified.

The AGEC-A is designed to satisfy General Education requirements in many liberal arts majors as well as other majors that articulate with an Associate in Arts degree (e.g., social sciences, fine arts, humanities, elementary education). AGEC-A requires a minimum of college mathematics or college algebra to satisfy the Mathematics [MA] requirement.

Arizona General Education Curriculum - B (AGEC-B)

AGECs were designed to articulate with different academic majors at the state universities, and their particular requirements vary accordingly. In some major-specific pathways, students are allowed to choose from a broad list of courses to satisfy the AGEC requirements, and for others the courses are more restricted or even specified.

The AGEC-B is designed to satisfy requirements in business majors that articulate with the Associate in Business. AGEC-B requires a minimum of brief calculus to satisfy the Mathematics [MA] requirement.

Arizona General Education Curriculum - S (AGEC-S)

AGECs were designed to articulate with different academic majors at the state universities, and their particular requirements vary accordingly. In some major-specific pathways, students are allowed to choose from a broad list of courses to satisfy the AGEC requirements, and for others the courses are more restricted or even specified.

The AGEC-S is designed to satisfy requirements in majors with more prescriptive mathematics and mathematics-based science requirements such as many in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. AGEC-S requires a minimum of the first course in a calculus sequence to satisfy the Mathematics [MA] requirement, and a minimum of eight credits of either university chemistry, university physics, general biology for majors, or physical and historical geology to satisfy the Natural Sciences [SQ/SG] requirement. In addition, students must select six to ten additional credits of Subject Options composed of math and/or science appropriate to their major.

Associate in Arts (AA)

This 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. 

Associate in Arts - Elementary Education (AAEE)

This degree is designed for the student who plans to transfer to an Elementary Education, Early Childhood, Multicultural/Multilingual, or Special Education program at an Arizona public higher education institution and/or who plans to become a classroom instructional aide. Generally, the degree transfers as a block without loss of credit to Arizona's public universities, and in most cases, its required courses apply to graduation requirements for these Education majors. 

Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA)

This 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 Fine Arts. The degree is designed to prepare students to meet selective admission criteria for programs such as the Bachelor of Fine Arts, which may also require a portfolio or performance.

Associate in Business, General Requirements (ABUS-GR)

This degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. In general, the components of this degree meet requirements for the various business majors (except Computer Information Systems) at Arizona’s public universities. Computer Information Systems majors should follow the Associate in Business Special Requirements (ABUS-SR) pathway instead. Generally, the degree transfers as a block without loss of credit to Arizona's public universities and other institutions with district-wide articulation agreements.

Associate in Business, Special Requirements (ABUS-SR)

This degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to four-year colleges and universities. In general, the components of this degree meet requirements for Business’ Computer Information Systems majors at Arizona’s public universities. Other Business majors should follow the Associate in Business General Requirements (ABUS-GR) pathway instead. Generally, the degree transfers as a block without loss of credit to Arizona's public universities and other institutions with district-wide articulation agreements.

Associate in General Studies (AGS)

This degree is recommended for students whose educational goals require flexibility. The degree allows students to apply any course numbered 100 or above, including some that are not transferable to the Arizona public universities and may not be transferable to other universities, toward the credits required for the degree. Therefore, for students who intend to transfer to another college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree, this degree may be less appropriate than other associate degrees offered (Associate in Arts; Associate in Arts, Elementary Education; Associate in Arts, Fine Arts; Associate in Business-General Requirements; 
Associate in Business-Special Requirements; Associate in Science; and all emphases under these degrees), by the Maricopa Community Colleges.

Associate in Science (AS)

This 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 with more stringent mathematics and mathematics-based science requirements. 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.

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)

This degree focuses on integrating hands-on experiences and job-related skills into a comprehensive plan of study. BAS programs provide opportunities primarily for students who have earned Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees or the equivalent to advance their education with minimal loss of credit. The upper division requirements typically build on the foundational applied sciences courses of a related AAS degree to add contextual, theoretical, analytical and/or managerial perspective to a specific field of study. The BAS degree requires completion of a minimum of 120 credits. The BAS degree is designed to prepare students for employment and career advancement and can provide the educational foundation for graduate studies.

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

This degree requires students to complete a core of general education courses along with requirements and electives related to a major such as fine arts, humanities, social sciences, business, or education. The BA degree requires completion of a minimum of 120 credits. The BA degree prepares students to continue their education at the graduate level, complete requirements for disciplinary certification, and/or pursue a wide variety of careers.