Associate in Science, Emphasis in Geography - Meteorology

The Associate in Science (AS), Emphasis in Geography - Meteorology provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution to study meteorology and/or climatology. This associate degree will prepare students for employment opportunities in a number of careers including forest and conservation workers and air traffic controllers. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree, students may pursue a career in several areas including broadcast meteorology, geography, hydrology, environmental science, and forest fire inspection and prevention. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a number of careers including atmospheric and space scientist, geoscientist, climate change analyst, and geography professor.

Details

Field of Interest
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Degree Type
Associate in Science (AS)
Academic Plan
Associate in Science, Emphasis in Geography - Meteorology (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8604
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

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

What You'll Learn
  • Recognize and explain the atmospheric processes that drive weather and climate patterns.
  • Evaluate spatial patterns and relationships within the framework of the scientific method.
  • Examine the interdependent relationships between the physical and human/cultural environment (such as landforms, climate, resources, political and economic systems, sociology, sustainability).
  • Critically assess and analyze real-world issues through application of geographic concepts, systems, principles, and theories.
  • Communicate geographic analyses through verbal, written, and/or geospatial techniques.
  • Recognize ethical considerations encompassing the professional activities of geographers.
  • Collaborate with diverse individuals, groups, and institutions to achieve common goals in the field of geography.

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 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.

Air Traffic Controllers

$118,890

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

$93,710

Climate Change Policy Analysts

$66,390

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

$66,390

Forest and Conservation Workers

$33,520

Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists

$66,710

Geographers

$70,410

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

$84,250

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers

$92,920

Hydrologists

$102,520

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

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 Degree Progress Report 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.

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
GCU102 Introduction to Human Geography Critical course Gateway course G, SB 3
(GPH111 and
GPH112) or
GPH113		 (Introduction to Physical Geography Lecture and Introduction to Physical Geography Lab) or Introduction to Physical Geography Critical course Gateway course SQ in combo w/ GPH112 and SQ in combo w/ GPH111 or SQ 4
MAT220 or
MAT221		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I MA or MA 4–5
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or 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
GPH212 and
GPH214		 Introduction to Meteorology I and Introduction to Meteorology Laboratory I SQ in combo w/ GPH214 and SQ in combo w/ GPH212 4
MAT230 or
MAT231		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA or MA 4–5
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GPH213 and
GPH215		 Climate and Weather and Climate and Weather Laboratory Fulfills CLAS Science and Society Elective at ASU SG in combo w/ GPH215 and SG in combo w/ GPH213 4
MAT240 or
MAT241		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III MA or MA 4–5
PHY115 or
PHY121		 University Physics I or University Physics I: Mechanics SQ or SQ 4–5
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GIS205 Geographic Information Technologies CS 3
PHY116 or
PHY131		 University Physics II or University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ or SQ 4–5
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
L or
Elective		 Literacy & Critical Inquiry or Elective Course Recommend selecting a course that satisfies [L] and [SB] or [L] and [HU] or [L] and (COM) or [L] and CRE101 requirements simultaneously. L or None 3

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
(GPH111 and
GPH112) or
GPH113		 (Introduction to Physical Geography Lecture and Introduction to Physical Geography Lab) or Introduction to Physical Geography SQ in combo w/ GPH112 and SQ in combo w/ GPH111 or SQ 4
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GCU102 Introduction to Human Geography Critical course Gateway course G, SB 3
MAT220 or
MAT221		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I Critical course MA or MA 4–5

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MAT230 or
MAT231		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II MA or MA 4–5

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT240 or
MAT241		 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III MA or MA 4–5
GPH212 and
GPH214		 Introduction to Meteorology I and Introduction to Meteorology Laboratory I SQ in combo w/ GPH214 and SQ in combo w/ GPH212 4

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PHY115 or
PHY121		 University Physics I or University Physics I: Mechanics SQ or SQ 4–5
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PHY116 or
PHY131		 University Physics II or University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism SQ or SQ 4–5
GPH213 and
GPH215		 Climate and Weather and Climate and Weather Laboratory Fulfills CLAS Science and Society Elective at ASU SG in combo w/ GPH215 and SG in combo w/ GPH213 4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
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 SB or L or SB 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GIS205 Geographic Information Technologies CS 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
L or
Elective		 Literacy & Critical Inquiry or Elective Recommend selecting a course that satisfies [L] and [SB] or [L] and [HU] or [L] and (COM) or [L] and CRE101 requirements simultaneously. L or None 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 official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=188787).

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 Science (AS) in Associate in Science, Emphasis in Geography - Meteorology