Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Community Health

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Community Health provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in community health, integrative health, health care coordination, and related health systems fields. Students planning to apply to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program should consult with a transfer specialist. Students seeking employment in the area of Community Health upon completion of a certificate or associate degree should refer to the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Integrated Public Health: Community Health Work or the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Integrated Public Health.

Details

Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Community Health (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8145
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
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 Nursing and Health Innovation), Community Health, BS

ASU (College of Nursing and Health Innovation), Health Care Coordination, BS

ASU (College of Nursing and Health Innovation), Integrative Health - Nursing & Gen Health Interest, BS

Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: ASU .

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

What You'll Learn
  • Describe the components of the United States health system and the professional roles typical in health care settings.
  • Interpret ethical, professional, and legal standards specific to the health care system.
  • Describe human health, behavior, and development across the life cycle.
  • Analyze individual and social determinants contributing to health outcomes and health inequities.
  • Summarize scientific information from diverse sources related to human health, wellness, and disease.
  • Evaluate sources of scientific health care data to support evidence-based practices.
  • Communicate health-related information to diverse groups in verbal, nonverbal, and written forms.
  • 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.

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
  • Healthcare Support Workers, All Other

* 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.

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
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
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology SB 3
HCR230 Culture And Health C, G 3
MAT140 or
MAT141 or
MAT142 or
MAT145 or
MAT146
College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review MA or MA or MA or MA or MA 3–6
CFS205 Human Development SB 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO156 or
BIO156XT or
BIO181 or
BIO181XT
Introductory Biology for Allied Health or Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I or General Biology (Majors) I OR One Year of
High School Biology
SQ or SQ or SQ or SQ 4
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR
Equivalent as indicated by assessment
L 3
ENG102 or
ENG108
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
(CHM130 and
CHM130LL)
or
CHM130AA
(Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab SQ in combo w/ CHM130LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM130 or SQ 4
COM225 Public Speaking L 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
GBS221 or
MAT206 or
SWU225
Business Statistics or Elements of Statistics or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government CS or CS or CS 3
BIO201 or
BIO201XT
Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology I SG or SG 4
BIO205 Microbiology SG 4
HCR210 Clinical Health Care Ethics HU 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
FON241 or
(FON241 and
FON241LL)
Principles of Human Nutrition or (Principles of Human Nutrition and Principles of Human Nutrition Laboratory) SG in combo w/ FON241LL or SG in combo w/ FON241LL and SG in combo w/ FON241 3–4
BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II SG 4
HCR220 Introduction to Nursing and Health Care Systems H 3
HCR240 or
(HCR240AA and
HCR240AB)
Human Pathophysiology or (Human Pathophysiology I and Human Pathophysiology II) 4
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 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
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
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology SB 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HCR230 Culture And Health C, G 3
MAT140 or
MAT141 or
MAT142 or
MAT145 or
MAT146
College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review MA or MA or MA or MA or MA 3–6
CFS205 Human Development SB 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR
Equivalent as indicated by assessment
L 3
ENG102 or
ENG108
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
(CHM130 and
CHM130LL)
or
CHM130AA
(Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab SQ in combo w/ CHM130LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM130 or SQ 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO156 or
BIO156XT or
BIO181 or
BIO181XT
Introductory Biology for Allied Health or Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I or General Biology (Majors) I OR One Year of
High School Biology
SQ or SQ or SQ or SQ 4
COM225 Public Speaking L 3
GBS221 or
MAT206 or
SWU225
Business Statistics or Elements of Statistics or Statistics for Social Research/Justice and Government CS or CS or CS 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO201 or
BIO201XT
Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology I SG or SG 4
BIO205 Microbiology SG 4
HCR210 Clinical Health Care Ethics HU 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
FON241 or
(FON241 and
FON241LL)
Principles of Human Nutrition or (Principles of Human Nutrition and Principles of Human Nutrition Laboratory) SG in combo w/ FON241LL or SG in combo w/ FON241LL and SG in combo w/ FON241 3–4
BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II SG 4
HCR220 Introduction to Nursing and Health Care Systems H 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HCR240 or
(HCR240AA and
HCR240AB)
Human Pathophysiology or (Human Pathophysiology I and Human Pathophysiology II) 4
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
Footnote

General Electives

Select 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.

Course Area Key
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses 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=16456291).

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 Arts (AA) in Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Community Health