The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety degree is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for work in: marketing, social media, libraries, editing, copywriting, public relations, online content creation, and communication. Students will examine their roles as content creators and consumers in a global society, critically engage with information, and communicate and collaborate across diverse populations and platforms. This program also provides university transfer options in addition to workforce preparedness.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Type
Associate Degree
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8131
Total Credits Required
60-64
Catalog Year
2020-2021
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
Notes
Students must earn a C or better in all courses within the program.
What You'll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Apply the principles and theories of information creation, information seeking behaviors, and digital communications.
- Analyze historical and cultural perspectives of information creation, access, and use.
- Articulate the roles of citizens as information creators and consumers in a sustainable global society.
- Create, implement, and modify a research plan to meet an information need.
- Critically evaluate information in a variety of formats for perspectives, gaps, and influence.
- Use information according to ethical, legal, copyright, and policy considerations.
- Practice collaborative working relationships across multiple platforms while taking into account communication opportunities and challenges.
- Employ appropriate digital tools and media to create professional works in various mediums for diverse audiences.
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 Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. 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.
Advertising and Promotions Managers
$86,540 Show expanded career information for Advertising and Promotions Managers
Editors
$50,980 Show expanded career information for Editors
Library Assistants, Clerical
$27,330 Show expanded career information for Library Assistants, Clerical
Library Technicians
$32,140 Show expanded career information for Library Technicians
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$57,480 Show expanded career information for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Media and Communication Workers, All Other
$65,290 Show expanded career information for Media and Communication Workers, All Other
Public Relations Specialists
$56,510 Show expanded career information for Public Relations Specialists
Technical Writers
$73,380 Show expanded career information for Technical Writers
Writers and Authors
$47,780 Show expanded career information for Writers and Authors
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 AAA/CPD150, AAA/CPD150AC, CPD104, and AAA115/CPD115. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
| Awareness Areas |
|---|
|
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS210 | Information Without Borders: Research in a Global Society | Critical course Gateway course | G, SB | 3 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC | 3 | |
| MAT14+ | College Mathematics | Or any approved general education course in the Mathematics area. | MA | 3–6 | |
| AAA/CPD115 or AAA/CPD150 | Creating College Success or Strategies for College Success | 0–3 | |||
| Lang or Elective | Any 101 Level Language course or Elective Course | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency. | 3–5 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS201 | Information in a Post-Truth World | L, SB | 3 | ||
| BPC110 or CIS105 or CSC180 | Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Computer Literacy | CS | 3 | ||
| ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | Or Equivalent 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 | 3 | ||
| Lang or Elective | Any 102 Level Language course or Elective Course | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency. | 3–5 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS213 | Hacking and Open Source Culture | SB | 3 | ||
| BIO100 or (CHM107 and CHM107LL) | Biology Concepts or (Chemistry and Society and Chemistry and Society Laboratory) | SQ | 4 | ||
| EDU/HUM/STO292 or HUM/THF210 | The Art of Storytelling or Contemporary Cinema | C, HU or HU | 3 | ||
| ECN212 or MCO120 or MKT110 or PHI105 or PSY132 or POS210 | Microeconomic Principles or Media and Society or Marketing and Social Networking or Introduction to Ethics or Psychology and Culture or Political Ideologies | SB or HU or C, G, SB | 3 | ||
| Lang or Elective | Any 201 Level Language Course or Elective | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. Related Area Course recommended. | 3–5 |
Term 4
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
| Awareness Areas |
|---|
|
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS210 | Information Without Borders: Research in a Global Society | Critical course Gateway course | G, SB | 3 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC | 3 | |
| Lang or Elective | Any 101 Level Language course or Elective Course | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency. | 3–5 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAT14+ | College Mathematics | Or any approved general education course in the Mathematics area. | MA | 3–6 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 | First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC | 3 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS201 | Information in a Post-Truth World | L, SB | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | Or Equivalent by assessment | L | 0–3 | |
| Lang or Elective | Any 102 Level Language course or Elective Course | See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency. | 3–5 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA/CPD115 or AAA/CPD150 | Creating College Success or Strategies for College Success | 0–3 | |||
| BPC110 or CIS105 or CSC180 | Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems or Computer Literacy | CS | 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 | 3 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS213 | Hacking and Open Source Culture | SB | 3 | ||
| EDU/HUM/STO292 or HUM/THF210 | The Art of Storytelling or Contemporary Cinema | C, HU or HU | 3 | ||
| Lang or Elective | Any 201 Level Language Course or Elective | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. Related Area Course recommended. | 3–5 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO100 or (CHM107 and CHM107LL) | Biology Concepts or (Chemistry and Society and Chemistry and Society Laboratory) | SQ | 4 | ||
| ECN212 or MCO120 or MKT110 or PHI105 or PSY132 or POS210 | Microeconomic Principles or Media and Society or Marketing and Social Networking or Introduction to Ethics or Psychology and Culture or Political Ideologies | SB or HU or C, G, SB | 3 | ||
| ECN212 or MCO120 or MKT110 or PHI105 or PSY132 or POS210 | Microeconomic Principles or Media and Society or Marketing and Social Networking or Introduction to Ethics or Psychology and Culture or Political Ideologies | SB or HU or C, G, SB | 3 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFS215 or MCO220 or COM263 or EDU/HUM/STO292 | Cultural Context of Health Information or Cultural Diversity and the Media or Elements of Intercultural Communication or The Art of Storytelling | Or equivalent as indicated by assessment | C or C, L or C, G, SB or C, HU | 3 | |
| Lang or Elective | Any 202 Level Language Course or Elective Course | If proficient at this level, see your program advisor to select an elective. Related Area Course recommended. | 3–5 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECN212 or MCO120 or MKT110 or PHI105 or PSY132 or POS210 | Microeconomic Principles or Media and Society or Marketing and Social Networking or Introduction to Ethics or Psychology and Culture or Political Ideologies | SB or HU or C, G, SB | 3 | ||
| BIO100 or (CHM107 and CHM107LL) or AST101 or (GPH213 and GPH215) or GLG105 | Biology Concepts or (Chemistry and Society and Chemistry and Society Laboratory) or Survey of Astronomy or (Climate and Weather and Climate and Weather Laboratory) or Introduction to Planetary Science | SQ or SG or SG | 4 | ||
| EDU/HUM/STO292 or ENH295 or HUM/THF210 | The Art of Storytelling or Banned Books and Censorship or Contemporary Cinema | C, HU or HU | 3 |
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 curriculum website for the Associate in Arts in Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety (http://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=143398).
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.
Other Versions
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. Other versions of this pathway map from different catalog years are available below:
| Catalog Year | Effective Dates |
|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 5/28/2019 – 5/25/2020 |