Associate in Science, Emphasis in Secondary Education

Details

Field of Interest
Education
Degree Type
Associate in Science (AS)
Academic Plan
Associate in Science, Emphasis in Secondary Education (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8609
Effective Term
Fall 2026

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
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
MAT220 or
MAT221		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite. MA, QNR or MA, QNR 4–5
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 4–5

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
PHY121 University Physics I: Mechanics NSI, SQ 4
MAT230 or
MAT231		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA, QNR or MA, QNR 4–5
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 4

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 AHM 3
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences SCB 3
PHY131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism NSI, SQ 4
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU/POS113 or
(HIS103 and
POS221) or
POS220 or
(POS110 and
POS221)		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or (United States History to 1865 and Arizona Constitution) or U.S. and Arizona Constitution or (American National Government and Arizona Constitution) H, SB or H, HU, IAM, SB or None or IAM, SB 3–4
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences SCB 3
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 3–4

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
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC 3
MAT220 or
MAT221		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite. MA, QNR or MA, QNR 4–5
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
MAT230 or
MAT231		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA, QNR or MA, QNR 4–5

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 AHM 3
PHY121 University Physics I: Mechanics NSI, SQ 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences SCB 3
PHY131 University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism NSI, SQ 4

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AHM Arts and Humanities AHM 3
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 4–5

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
OCM Oral Communication OCM 3
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SCB Social and Behavioral Sciences SCB 3
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 4

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU/POS113 or
(HIS103 and
POS221) or
POS220 or
(POS110 and
POS221)		 United States and Arizona Social Studies or (United States History to 1865 and Arizona Constitution) or U.S. and Arizona Constitution or (American National Government and Arizona Constitution) H, SB or H, HU, IAM, SB or None or IAM, SB 3–4
IAM Institutions of the Americas IAM 3
Plan Elective Plan Course Elective 3–4

Courses Not Currently Offered

South Mountain Community College does not currently offer these courses. These courses may be offered by other Maricopa Community Colleges as indicated below. Alternative courses, as outlined in the term-by-term course listing above, may also meet the same requirements for your degree or certificate.

Courses listed in this pathway map that are not currently offered at South Mountain Community College
Course Number Course Name Offering Colleges
GCU/POS113 United States and Arizona Social Studies Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale
MAT220 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale
MAT230 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale
POS220 U.S. and Arizona Constitution Estrella Mountain, Glendale, Mesa, Rio Salado, Scottsdale

Plan Course Electives

In consultation with an academic, faculty, or program advisor, select the secondary education discipline below that best aligns with your academic and professional goals.

Chemistry
Credits: 16-17
+ 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

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

+ CHM235 General Organic Chemistry I 3
+ CHM235LL General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1
+ CHM236 General Organic Chemistry II 3
+ CHM236LL General Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1

Physics
Credits: 15-17
+ AST/GLG106 Life in the Universe 4

+ MAT240 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (5) OR
+ MAT241 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (4) 4-5

+ MAT276 Modern Differential Equations (4) OR
+ MAT277 Modern Differential Equations (3) 3-4

+ PHY241 University Physics III: Thermodynamics, Optics, and Wave Phenomena 4 

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 a faculty advisor, program director, and/or academic advisor to identify coursework that best aligns with academic and professional goals.

Recommend for Chemistry discipline:
GLG101 Physical Geology: Dynamic Earth Lecture (3) AND
GLG103 Physical Geology: Dynamic Earth Lab (1) OR
GLG101IN Physical Geology: Dynamic Earth (4) 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.