Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Anthropology

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Anthropology provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to receive an education in the broad field of anthropology - an examination of the human experience. Depending on their preferred focus, students can pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Coursework in this program surveys both cultural and biological aspects of what it means to be human, and students will develop critical thinking skills through the analysis of real-world anthropological case studies. As such, students receive a holistic training in their worldview that is valued highly by employers in many fields, including health and human services, media, business, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and government agencies.

Details

Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Anthropology (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8109
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2023-2024
Effective Term
Fall 2022
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the program.

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

What You'll Learn

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

  1. Develop an understanding of anthropology and how the subfields interrelate.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of cultures, past and present, including ecological relationships, subsistence, social organization, and belief systems.
  3. Apply a holistic anthropological and culturally relativistic approach to understanding cultural similarities and differences and applying anthropology to local, national, and global human issues.
  4. Develop and apply critical thinking and observation skills through the analysis of real world anthropological case studies using the scientific method and multiple perspectives.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to obtain, critically read, analyze, summarize and critique anthropological research through use of appropriate source material.
  6. Utilize the scientific method to investigate the foundations of human biological variation through a critical evaluation of both ancient and recent human biological adaptation and evolution.
  7. Evaluate, through archaeological research, the processes of human cultural evolution, such as the origins of: language, agriculture, settled village and urban life, writing, religion, social inequalities and state formation.
  8. Apply anthropological ethical principles through the critical analysis of real world case studies.
  9. Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

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.

Anthropologists and Archeologists

$56,361

Community Health Workers

$45,324

Curators

$58,054

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

$64,889

Fundraisers

$56,571

Fundraising Managers

$102,516

Human Resources Specialists

$58,535

Interpreters and Translators

$47,318

Park Naturalists

$61,805

Postsecondary Anthropology and Archeology Teachers

$63,340

Postsecondary Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers

$63,340

Public Relations Managers

$102,516

Quality Control Systems Managers

$108,990

Social and Community Service Managers

$67,291

Social Science Research Assistants

$43,934

Technical Writers

$76,086

Urban and Regional Planners

$73,035

* 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 Pathway Planner 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.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the available transfer institutions and what degrees you may be able to transfer into.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

Full-time Sequence

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

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASB102 or
ASM104		 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or Bones, Stones, and Human Evolution Critical course Gateway course G, SB or SB, SG 3–4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3
MAT14+ or
MAT220 or
MAT221		 College Mathematics or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Math requirement is dependent on the transfer plan selected MA 3–6
Second Language or
Elective		 Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or Elective See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency
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
ASB102 or
ASM104		 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or Bones, Stones, and Human Evolution Critical course Gateway course G, SB or SB, SG 3–4
ASB222 or
ASB223		 Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: Old World or Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: New World Critical course Gateway course G, H, HU, SB 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
Second Language or
Elective		 Second Language Requirement, 102 Level or Elective See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or L 0–3
MAT206 or
PSY230 or
SWU225		 Elements of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government MAT206 OR PSY230 OR SWU225 required for ASU BA, MAT206 is required for NAU, MAT206 OR PSY230 is required for U of A CS 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design ASB course recommended HU 3
Transfer Option Transfer Option 0–3
Second Language Second Language Requirement, 201 Level See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences ASB course recommended SB 3
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry L 3
Transfer Option Transfer Option 0–4
Transfer Option Transfer Option 0–3
Second Language Second Language Requirement, 202 Level See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ASB102 or
ASM104		 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or Bones, Stones, and Human Evolution Critical course Gateway course G, SB or SB, SG 3–4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL 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
ASB102 or
ASM104		 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or Bones, Stones, and Human Evolution Critical course Gateway course G, SB or SB, SG 3–4
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT14+ or
MAT220 or
MAT221		 College Mathematics or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Math requirement is dependent on the transfer plan selected MA 3–6
ASB222 or
ASB223		 Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: Old World or Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: New World Critical course Gateway course G, H, HU, SB 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or L 0–3
MAT206 or
PSY230 or
SWU225		 Elements of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government MAT206 OR PSY230 OR SWU225 required for ASU BA, MAT206 is required for NAU, MAT206 OR PSY230 is required for U of A CS 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design ASB course recommended HU 3
SQ Natural Sciences Quantitative SQ 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences ASB course recommended SB 3
Second Language or
Elective		 Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or Elective See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
L Literacy & Critical Inquiry L 3
Transfer Option Transfer Option 0–4
Second Language or
Elective		 Second Language Requirement, 102 Level or Elective See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Transfer Option Transfer Option 0–3
Second Language Second Language Requirement, 201 Level See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Transfer Option Transfer Option 0–3
Second Language Second Language Requirement, 202 Level See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency

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 the Program Director or an Academic Advisor.

Recommended:
AFR/ASB/CCS202 Ethnic Relations in the United States
ASB100 Introduction to Global Health
ASB211 Women in Other Cultures
ASB214 Magic, Witchcraft and Healing: An Introduction to Comparative Religion
ASB220 Anthropology Goes to the Movies
ASB226 Human Impacts on Ancient Environments 
ASB230 Principles of Archaeology
ASB231 Archaeological Field Methods
ASB234 Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
ASB235 Southwest Archaeology
ASB245 Indians of the Southwest
ASB252 Sports and Culture
ASB253 Death and Dying Across Cultures
ASB282++ Service-Learning Experience in Anthropology
ASB298++ Special Projects
ASM/FOR275 Forensic Anthropology 4
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.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • H = Historical Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • 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.

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/freeForm10?id=176495).

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.

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 Anthropology