Associate in Science, Emphasis in Chemistry

The Associate in Science (AS), Emphasis in Chemistry provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in chemistry or are preparing for graduate programs in the area. With an associate's degree, students may qualify as a chemical technician or chemical equipment operator and tender. With a bachelor's degree, students may pursue a career as a chemist, chemical engineer, or materials scientist. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a career as a chemistry professor.

Details

Field of Interest

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Degree Type

Associate in Science (AS)

Academic Plan

Associate in Science, Emphasis in Chemistry (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

8603

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 Liberal Arts and Sciences), Chemistry, BS

GCU, Chemistry, BS

NAU, Chemistry (Advanced Chemistry Emphasis), BS

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

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

What You'll Learn

Construct qualitative and quantitative models to draw conclusions concerning physical and chemical phenomena.
Using a fundamental understanding of scientific inquiry, solve problems within the discipline of chemistry.
Design experiments and collect data, using appropriate technology and equipment.
Analyze and interpret data, using technology as appropriate.
Report data, results, and analysis and the experimental processes used to generate those data in formal and informal settings.
Design a procedure that promotes safety and manages risk in a laboratory setting.
Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior appropriate to the chemistry discipline.
Analyze real world problems and synthesize real world solutions applying chemistry theory and principles.
Collaborate with diverse individuals and groups to solve problems.
Effectively communicate in an articulate, respectful, ethical and culturally responsive manner.
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.

Chemical Engineers

$132,450

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders

$42,540

Chemical Technicians

$54,180

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

$77,080

Chemists

$83,410

Materials Scientists

$79,740

* 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
Part-time

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
(CHM150 and CHM151LL) or CHM150AA or (CHM151 and CHM151LL) or CHM151AA	(General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I or (General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM130 & CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or 1 yr of high school chemistry taken within the last 5 yrs] & C or better in MAT151 or higher or satisfactory score on placemt exam, or permission of the Instructor or Dept or Div Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory placement), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		SQ and SQ in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151 or SQ or SQ and SQ in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151 or SQ	4–5
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in ESL097 or WAC101) or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C/better in ESL097 or WAC101),or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 and Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC or FYC	3
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or an appropriate District placement.	Critical course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite.	MA or MA	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	Area	Credits
(CHM152 and CHM152LL) or CHM152AA	(General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory) or General Chemistry II with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM152. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.	SQ in combo w/ CHM152LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM152 or SQ	4
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.	FYC or FYC	3
MAT230 or MAT231	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent.	MA or MA	4–5
PHY121	University Physics I: Mechanics	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or permission of Department or Division. One year of high school physics suggested but not required.	SQ	4
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or RDG111, or RDG112, or RDG113)], or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or an appropriate district placement, or permission of Instructor.	L	0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
CHM235	General Organic Chemistry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		3
CHM235LL	General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 or Corequisites: CHM235. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.		1
MAT240 or MAT241	Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III	Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231. or Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231.	MA or MA	4–5
PHY131	University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department or Division and PHY121. Corequisites: MAT241 or permission of Department or Division.	SQ	4
HU and L	Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design and Literacy & Critical Inquiry			3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
CHM236	General Organic Chemistry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM235 and CHM235LL) or CHM235AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		3
CHM236LL	General Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM236 or Corequisites: CHM236. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.		1
HU and C	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design and Cultural Diversity in the US		HU and C	3
COM100 or COM110 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Small Group Communication		SB or SB or SB	3
(SB and G) or (SB and H)	(Social and Behavioral Sciences and Global Awareness) or (Social-Behavioral Sciences and Historical Awareness)		G or SB and H	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
(CHM150 and CHM151LL) or CHM150AA or (CHM151 and CHM151LL) or CHM151AA	(General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I or (General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory) or General Chemistry I with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory score on placement exam), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. or Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM130 & CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or 1 yr of high school chemistry taken within the last 5 yrs] & C or better in MAT151 or higher or satisfactory score on placemt exam, or permission of the Instructor or Dept or Div Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM150 or CHM151. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM130 and CHM130LL), or CHM130AA, or one year of high school chemistry taken within the last five years] and (a grade of C or better in MAT151 or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory placement), or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		SQ and SQ in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151 or SQ or SQ and SQ in combo w/ CHM150 or CHM151 or SQ	4–5
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing placement or (C/ better in ESL097 or WAC101) or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C/better in ESL097 or WAC101),or (B/better in ALT100) or (C in ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (C/better in ESL202 and Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	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
(CHM152 and CHM152LL) or CHM152AA	(General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory) or General Chemistry II with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM152. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM150 or CHM151) and CHM151LL], or CHM150AA, or CHM151AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		SQ in combo w/ CHM152LL and SQ in combo w/ CHM152 or SQ	4
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC or FYC	3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or an appropriate District placement.	Critical course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite.	MA or MA	4–5
HU and L	Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design and Literacy & Critical Inquiry				3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or RDG111, or RDG112, or RDG113)], or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or an appropriate district placement, or permission of Instructor.		L	0–3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MAT230 or MAT231	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent.		MA or MA	4–5
PHY121	University Physics I: Mechanics	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or permission of Department or Division. One year of high school physics suggested but not required.		SQ	4

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
CHM235	General Organic Chemistry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM152 and CHM152LL), or CHM152AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		3
CHM235LL	General Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM235 or Corequisites: CHM235. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.		1
MAT240 or MAT241	Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III	Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231. or Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231.	MA or MA	4–5

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
HU and C	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design and Cultural Diversity in the US			HU and C	3
PHY131	University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department or Division and PHY121. Corequisites: MAT241 or permission of Department or Division.		SQ	4

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
CHM236	General Organic Chemistry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (CHM235 and CHM235LL) or CHM235AA, or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.		3
CHM236LL	General Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CHM236 or Corequisites: CHM236. Completion of prerequisites within the last two years recommended.		1
COM100 or COM110 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Small Group Communication		SB or SB or SB	3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
(SB and G) or (SB and H)	(Social and Behavioral Sciences and Global Awareness) or (Social-Behavioral Sciences and Historical Awareness)			G or SB and H	3

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.

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
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
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=16456041).

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 Chemistry