Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Political Science
The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Political Science degree provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in political science. With a bachelor`s degree, students may pursue a career as social science research assistants, city and regional planning aides, public relations specialists and managers, reporters, and social and community service managers. With a graduate degree, students may pursue employment opportunities in several careers, including political scientists, political science professors, and lawyers.
Details
Field of Interest
Behavioral Science and Human Services
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Political Science (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8120
Total credits required
60-64
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
- Develop and sustain a lifelong interest in local, national, and global civic engagement through active citizenship. (POS110, POS120, POS140)
- Define, cite examples of, differentiate between, and critique basic political concepts, systems, and theories. (POS110, POS120, POS140, POS210)
- Apply knowledge of politics by using the theoretical foundations and analytical tools of multiple sub-fields of political science. (POS110, [MA])
- Appraise a situation, formulate an argument; collect, evaluate, and utilize evidence about key issues of public policy and politics. ([FYC], [L], [MA])
- Demonstrate effective communication skills for a diverse, political world. (COM225, [FYC], [L])
- Collaborate effectively and ethically with diverse individuals and institutions to achieve common goals. (COM225, POS120, POS140)
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field. (FYE101, FYE103)
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 13-15 | |
| FYE101 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success (1) OR | |
| FYE103 | Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success (3) | 1-3 |
| POS110 | American National Government | 3 |
| POS120 | World Politics (3) OR | |
| POS140 | Comparative Government (3) | 3 |
| (Recommend POS140 for students intending to transfer to Grand Canyon University) | ||
| POS210 | Political Ideologies | 3 |
| COM225 | Public Speaking | 3 |
Course Sequence by Term
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 0-18 | |
| Complete requirements in the transfer option that best aligns with your academic and professional goals. If your intended transfer institution is not listed, then select a combination of courses from the transfer options listed in order to meet the minimum credits required in the Restricted Electives section. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor to prevent exceeding your university transfer program`s maximum transferable credits (typically 64). Courses selected in the Required Courses area cannot be used to satisfy Restricted Electives. | ||
| Transfer Plan 1: Arizona State University (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Political Science, Bachelor of Science and Arizona State University (College of Integrative Sciences and Arts), Political Science, Bachelor of Science | ||
| Political Science Elective Course Credits: | 6 | |
| Complete six (6) credits of coursework that transfer to ASU as direct equivalencies or departmental electives in the POS prefix. Recommended that students take POS130 State and Local Government AND (POS120 World Politics OR POS140 Comparative Government - whichever course is not already applied in Required Courses area) | ||
| Related Area Course Credits: | 0-12 | |
| Complete zero to twelve (0-12) credits of coursework that transfer to ASU as direct equivalencies or departmental electives in the following ASU course prefixes: AES, AFR, AIS, APA, ASB, ASM, COM, ECN, FAS, GCU, GPH, HST, JUS, MIS, PHI, PSY, REL, SGS, SOC, TCL, or WST. These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously. | ||
| Transfer Plan 2: Arizona State University (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Political Science, Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Political Science Elective Course Credits: | 6 | |
| Complete six (6) credits of coursework that transfer to ASU as direct equivalencies or departmental electives in the POS prefix. Recommended that students select from POS130 State and Local Government AND (POS120 World Politics OR POS140 Comparative Government - whichever course is not already applied in Required Courses area) | ||
| Related Area Course Credits: | 0-6 | |
| Complete zero to six (0-6) credits of coursework that transfer to ASU as direct equivalencies or departmental electives in the following ASU course prefixes: AES, AFR, AIS, APA, ASB, ASM, COM, ECN, FAS, GCU, GPH, HST, JUS, MIS, PHI, PSY, REL, SGS, SOC, TCL, or WST. These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously. | ||
| Second Language Requirement: | ||
| Completion of second language courses at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent) OR demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment is required for this university program. The second language requirement may be taken after transfer to avoid exceeding your program`s maximum transferable credits (typically 64). Please see the General Electives for more information. | ||
| Transfer Plan 3: Arizona State University (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Political Science, Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Social Justice Interdisciplinary Track Credits: | 3 | |
| SOC241 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| Identity and Place Interdisciplinary Track Credits: | 3 | |
| Select three (3) credits from the below list (POS140 Comparative Government cannot be applied to both the Required Courses area and the Identity and Place Interdisciplinary Track area). | ||
| ASB211 | Women in Other Cultures | 3 |
| POS140 | Comparative Government | 3 |
| SOC212 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| SOC270 | The Sociology of Health and Illness | 3 |
| Transfer Plan 4: Arizona State University (New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences), Political Science, Bachelor of Science | ||
| Social Justice Interdisciplinary Track Credits: | 3 | |
| SOC241 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| Identity and Place Interdisciplinary Track Credits: | 3 | |
| Select three (3) credits from the below list (POS140 Comparative Government cannot be applied to both the Required Courses area and the Identity and Place Interdisciplinary Track area but POS140 is recommended to fulfill the Identity and Place to partially fulfill the POS Interdisciplinary ASU requirement). | ||
| ASB211 | Women in Other Cultures | 3 |
| POS140 | Comparative Government | 3 |
| SOC212 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| SOC270 | The Sociology of Health and Illness | 3 |
| Transfer Plan 5: Northern Arizona University: Political Science, Bachelor of Science | ||
| Complete zero to fifteen (0-15) credits of coursework that transfer to NAU as POS electives. | ||
| Transfer Plan 6: Northern Arizona University: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Complete zero to fifteen (0-15) credits of coursework that transfer to NAU as POS electives. | ||
| Second Language Requirement: | ||
| Completion of second language courses at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent) OR demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment is required for this university program. The second language requirement may be taken after transfer to avoid exceeding your program`s maximum transferable credits (typically 64). Please see the General Electives for more information. | ||
| Transfer Plan 7: University of Arizona: Political Science (any emphasis), Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Second Language Requirement: | ||
| Completion of second language courses at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent) OR demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment is required for this university program. The second language requirement may be taken after transfer to avoid exceeding your program`s maximum transferable credits (typically 64). Please see the General Electives for more information. | ||
| Transfer Plan 8: Grand Canyon University: Government (State and Local Public Policy Emphasis), Bachelor of Arts | ||
| POS130 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POS285 | Political Issues and Public Policy | 3 |
| Transfer Plan 9: Grand Canyon University: Government (Legal Studies Emphasis), Bachelor of Arts | ||
| POS285 | Political Issues and Public Policy | 3 |
| AGEC-A | Credits: 26-32 | |
| A single course with an [L], [HU], [SB], [SG], or [SQ] designation may also be used to satisfy the Oral Communication, Critical Reading, and/or Awareness Area ([C], [G] and/or [H]) requirement(s). See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations. | ||
| First-Year Composition [FYC] | Credits: 6 | |
| ENG101 | First-Year Composition (3) OR | |
| ENG107 | First-Year Composition for ESL (3) AND | |
| ENG102 | First-Year Composition (3) OR | |
| ENG108 | First-Year Composition for ESL (3) | 6 |
| Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] | Credits: 0 | |
| Met by COM225 in Required Courses Area. | ||
| Mathematics [MA] | Credits: 3-6 | |
| MAT140 | College Mathematics (5) OR | |
| MAT141 | College Mathematics (4) OR | |
| MAT142 | College Mathematics (3) OR | |
| MAT145 | College Mathematics with Review (5) OR | |
| MAT146 | College Mathematics with Review (6) OR | |
| Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area (3-6) | 3-6 | |
| Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] | Credits: 3 | |
| Any approved general education courses in the Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] area. | 3 | |
| Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] | Credits: 6 | |
| Any approved general education courses in the Humanities, Arts and Design [HU] area. | 6 | |
| Social-Behavioral Sciences [SB] | Credits: 0 | |
| Met by POS110 and POS210 in the Required Courses area. | ||
| Natural Sciences [SG]/[SQ] | Credits: 8 | |
| Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area (4) AND | ||
| Any approved general education course in the Natural Sciences (Quantitative) [SQ] area or the Natural Sciences (General) [SG] area (4). | 8 | |
| Awareness Areas | Credits: 0-3 | |
| These requirements may be shared with other AGEC requirements. See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations. | ||
| Cultural Diversity in the US [C] | Credits: 0-3 | |
| 0-3 | ||
| Historical/Global Awareness [H]/[G] | Credits: 0 | |
| Met by POS120 or POS140 in the Required Courses area. | ||
| MCCCD Additional Requirements | ||
| MCCCD Additional Requirements | Credits: 0-3 | |
| Some courses in this area have [SB] and [L] designations and may also be applied to the corresponding AGEC requirements. See the AGEC matrix on aztransfer.com for course designations. | ||
| Oral Communication | Credits: 0 | |
| Met by COM225 in the Required Courses area. | ||
| Critical Reading | Credits: 0-3 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking (3) OR | |
| Equivalent as indicated by assessment (0) | 0-3 | |
Course Area Key
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 POS281AB Public Policy/Service Internship | 3 | |
| Recommended for Transfer Plan 2: Arizona State University (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Political Science, Bachelor of Arts OR | ||
| Transfer Plan 6: Northern Arizona University: Politics and Government, Bachelor of Arts OR | ||
| Transfer Plan 7: University of Arizona: Political Science (any emphasis), Bachelor of Arts | ||
| Completion of a language course at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent), with a C or better OR demonstrating proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. | ||
| ARB+++ Any ARB Arabic course(s) | ||
| ASL+++ Any ASL American Sign Language course(s) | ||
| CHI+++ Any CHI Chinese course(s) | ||
| FRE+++ Any FRE French course(s) | ||
| GER+++ Any GER German course(s) | ||
| ITA+++ Any ITA Italian course(s) | ||
| JPN+++ Any JPN Japanese course(s) | ||
| SPA+++ Any SPA Spanish course(s) | ||
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.