The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Sociology provides students with the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who intend to earn a bachelor's degree in Sociology and/or to pursue a graduate degree in Sociology or a related field. With a bachelor's degree, students may pursue a career in several areas including social, human, and community services, public relations, marketing, sustainability, human resources, education, community health, public relations, and social science research. With a graduate degree, students can pursue employment in several careers including sociologists, social scientists, sociology professors, lawyers, and statisticians.
Details
Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Sociology (DEG)
Total credits required
60-64
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following transfer partners:
ASU (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Sociology, BS
ASU (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Sociology, BS
ASU (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Sociology, BA
NAU, Sociology, BS
Refer to the for more information: , .
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
What You'll Learn
- Examine different situations using multiple lenses and sociological theories.
- Recognize some of the ways in which individuals` biographies and identities, including our own, are shaped through social institutions, patterns of social inequalities, privileges, cultural practices, and biases.
- Explain the uniqueness of sociology as a social science discipline.
- Apply the sociological perspective about the social world.
- Evaluate the diversity of the US, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, ability, gender, and sexualities, and their place in the global context.
- Critically evaluate diverse social, cultural, and political perspectives and ideas using evidence- based data.
- Communicate in a manner that demonstrates empathy, self-awareness, open mindedness and responsiveness.
- Formulate effective and convincing written, oral and visual arguments that integrate sociological evidence.
- Employ ethical standards and social responsibility to guide decisions and behaviors.
- Locate and evaluate quantitative and qualitative research to analyze social outcomes, behaviors and problems.
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Statistics
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.
Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.
Entry Level Salary
$59,590
Expert Level Salary
$130,670
Average Hourly Wage
$47.77
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$28.65
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$47.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$62.82
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
200
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
Entry Level Salary
$34,980
Expert Level Salary
$59,360
Average Hourly Wage
$20.99
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$16.82
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$18.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$28.54
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
7,860
Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.
Entry Level Salary
$29,060
Expert Level Salary
$61,740
Average Hourly Wage
$21.27
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$13.97
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$18.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$29.68
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
1,690
Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Entry Level Salary
$38,480
Expert Level Salary
$122,840
Typical Education Level
Doctoral Degree
Projected Job Openings
1,290
Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Entry Level Salary
$38,350
Expert Level Salary
$77,250
Average Hourly Wage
$26.10
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$18.44
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$23.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$37.14
Typical Education Level
Masters Degree
Projected Job Openings
9,850
Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Entry Level Salary
$38,170
Expert Level Salary
$101,760
Average Hourly Wage
$32.54
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$18.35
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$30.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$48.92
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
9,340
Develop quantitative techniques to inform securities investing, equities investing, pricing, or valuation of financial instruments. Develop mathematical or statistical models for risk management, asset optimization, pricing, or relative value analysis.
Entry Level Salary
$47,310
Expert Level Salary
$103,670
Average Hourly Wage
$35.51
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$22.75
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$33.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$49.84
Typical Education Level
Masters Degree
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
Entry Level Salary
$66,020
Mid Level Salary
$119,400
Expert Level Salary
$189,830
Average Hourly Wage
$59.06
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$31.74
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$57.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$91.27
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
3,690
Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.
Entry Level Salary
$37,570
Expert Level Salary
$100,060
Average Hourly Wage
$30.82
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$18.06
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$29.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$48.11
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
18,540
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
Entry Level Salary
$63,330
Mid Level Salary
$102,390
Average Hourly Wage
$60.87
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$30.45
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$49.00
Typical Education Level
First Professional Degree
Projected Job Openings
14,640
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.
Entry Level Salary
$30,830
Expert Level Salary
$105,800
Average Hourly Wage
$32.11
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$14.82
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$29.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$50.87
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
22,790
Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.
Entry Level Salary
$38,370
Expert Level Salary
$104,020
Average Hourly Wage
$33.84
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$18.45
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$30.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$50.01
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
5,550
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.
Entry Level Salary
$44,610
Expert Level Salary
$100,450
Average Hourly Wage
$33.51
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$21.45
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$29.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$48.29
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
4,400
Assist other social and human service providers in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
Entry Level Salary
$29,000
Expert Level Salary
$56,780
Average Hourly Wage
$18.97
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$13.94
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$17.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$27.30
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
10,670
Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.
Entry Level Salary
$48,870
Expert Level Salary
$130,030
Average Hourly Wage
$38.61
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$23.49
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$29.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$62.51
Typical Education Level
Doctoral Degree
Projected Job Openings
70
Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.
Entry Level Salary
$49,080
Expert Level Salary
$156,710
Average Hourly Wage
$46.85
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$23.60
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$47.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$75.34
Typical Education Level
Masters Degree
Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.
Entry Level Salary
$47,200
Expert Level Salary
$128,190
Average Hourly Wage
$38.02
Entry Level Hourly Wage
$22.69
Mid Level Hourly Wage
$29.00
Expert Level Hourly Wage
$61.63
Typical Education Level
Bachelors Degree
Projected Job Openings
260
There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data 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 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.
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.
|
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
|
|
|
Critical course Gateway course |
SB |
3 |
or
|
or |
Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in or ) or (B/better in ) or (C in & Corequisites: or or or ) or (C/better in & Corequisites: or or or ). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C/better in or ),or (B/better in ) or (C in & Corequisites: or or or ) or (C/better in and Corequisites: or or or ). |
Critical course |
FYC or FYC |
3 |
|
|
|
OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area |
MA |
3–6 |
or
|
or |
|
|
|
1–3 |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
0–3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
or or
|
or or |
|
|
C, SB or C, SB or SB |
3 |
or
|
or |
Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in . or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in . |
|
FYC or FYC |
3 |
|
|
Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [( or ) and ( or or or or or )] or a grade of B or better in or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor. |
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment |
L |
0–3 |
or or or
|
or or or |
No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in , or , or equivalent. or No requisites |
|
SB or SB or L or SB |
0–3 |
|
|
|
|
L |
3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
or or
|
or or |
|
|
C, SB or C, SB or SB |
3 |
|
|
|
|
CS |
3 |
|
|
|
|
HU |
3 |
|
|
|
|
SQ |
4 |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
|
|
|
|
HU |
3 |
or
|
or |
|
|
SG or SQ |
4 |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
3 |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
3 |
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.
|
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
|
|
|
Critical course Gateway course |
SB |
3 |
or
|
or |
Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in or ) or (B/better in ) or (C in & Corequisites: or or or ) or (C/better in & Corequisites: or or or ). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C/better in or ),or (B/better in ) or (C in & Corequisites: or or or ) or (C/better in and Corequisites: or or or ). |
Critical course |
FYC or FYC |
3 |
or
|
or |
|
|
|
1–3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
or
|
or |
Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in . or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in . |
|
FYC or FYC |
3 |
|
|
|
OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area |
MA |
3–6 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
or or
|
or or |
|
|
C, SB or C, SB or SB |
3 |
|
|
Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [( or ) and ( or or or or or )] or a grade of B or better in or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor. |
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment |
L |
0–3 |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
0–3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
or or or
|
or or or |
No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in , or , or equivalent. or No requisites |
|
SB or SB or L or SB |
0–3 |
|
|
|
|
HU |
3 |
|
|
|
|
L |
3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
or or
|
or or |
|
|
C, SB or C, SB or SB |
3 |
|
|
|
|
CS |
3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
|
|
|
|
SQ |
4 |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
|
|
|
|
HU |
3 |
or
|
or |
|
|
SG or SQ |
4 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
3 |
Elective |
General Electives |
|
|
|
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
- 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 for additional details regarding the requirements of this award .
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.