Field of Interest
The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for work in: marketing, social media, libraries, editing, copywriting, public relations, online content creation, and communication. Students will examine their roles as content creators and consumers in a global society, critically engage with information, and communicate and collaborate across diverse populations and platforms. This program also provides university transfer options in addition to workforce preparedness.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:
- Field of Interest
- Culture and Society
- Type
- Associate in Arts (AA)
- Academic Plan
- Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety (DEG)
- Academic Plan Code
- 8131
- Total Credits Required
- 60-64
- Catalog Year
- 2025-2026
- Effective Term
- Fall 2024
- Available Online
- Yes
- 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 to earn a degree with this emphasis.
What You’ll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Apply the principles and theories of information creation, information seeking behaviors, and digital communications.
- Analyze historical and cultural perspectives of information creation, access, and use.
- Articulate the roles of citizens as information creators and consumers in a sustainable global society.
- Create, implement, and modify a research plan to meet an information need.
- Critically evaluate information in a variety of formats for perspectives, gaps, and influence.
- Use information according to ethical, legal, copyright, and policy considerations.
- Practice collaborative working relationships across multiple platforms while taking into account communication opportunities and challenges.
- Employ appropriate digital tools and media to create professional works in various mediums for diverse audiences.
Career Opportunities
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 Maricopa County-based annual median 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.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$48.30
Annual Median Wage
$100,483
Number of People Employed
178
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 15.2 %
Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$28.54
Annual Median Wage
$59,379
Number of People Employed
1,229
4-Year Employment Growth
Decrease
by -1.4 %
Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm. Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title. Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials.
Typical Education Level
a high school diploma or less
Hourly Median Wage
$18.85
Annual Median Wage
$39,223
Number of People Employed
819
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 7.7 %
Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference. Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process. Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$17.92
Annual Median Wage
$37,276
Number of People Employed
504
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 11.7 %
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.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$34.59
Annual Median Wage
$71,962
Annual Job Openings
1,675
Number of People Employed
13,832
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 13.2 %
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.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$30.91
Annual Median Wage
$64,304
Number of People Employed
4,128
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 11.1 %
Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$22.81
Annual Median Wage
$47,453
Number of People Employed
1,472
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 4.7 %
Originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$22.24
Annual Median Wage
$46,263
Number of People Employed
1,803
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 14.2 %
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, with links to salary information for the United States as a whole (if available):
-
Media and Communication Workers, All Other
* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data,
reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s
proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers
including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer
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.
The list of courses below has been updated
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.
|
Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device,
some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this
page on a device with a larger screen.
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Term 4
Term 4
Term 4
Term 4
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
| IFS213 |
Hacking and Open Source Culture |
|
|
H, SB |
3 |
| CS |
Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application |
|
PSY230 recommended for University of Arizona, Information Studies and eSociety, Bachelor of Arts.
|
CS |
3 |
| HU |
Humanities, Fine Arts & Design |
|
EDU/HUM/STO292 or ENH295 recommended.
|
HU |
3 |
SG or
SQ |
Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative |
|
|
SG or SQ |
4 |
| Transfer Option |
Transfer Option |
|
|
|
0–3 |
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 202 Level or Elective |
|
See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency
|
|
|
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 202 Level or Elective |
|
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).
|
|
3–5 |
HIS102 or
HIS103 or
HIS111 |
History of Western Civilization 1789 to Present or United States History to 1865 or World History 1500 to the Present |
|
These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously.
|
G, H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or G, H, HU |
3 |
HIS102 or
HIS103 or
HIS111 |
History of Western Civilization 1789 to Present or United States History to 1865 or World History 1500 to the Present |
|
These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously.
|
G, H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or G, H, HU |
3 |
HIS102 or
HIS103 or
HIS111 |
History of Western Civilization 1789 to Present or United States History to 1865 or World History 1500 to the Present |
|
These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously.
|
G, H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or G, H, HU |
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.
|
Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device,
some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this
page on a device with a larger screen.
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Term 5
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
| IFS201 |
Information in a Post-Truth World |
Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.View requisites |
|
L, SB |
3 |
| HU |
Humanities, Fine Arts & Design |
|
EDU/HUM/STO292 or ENH295 recommended.
|
HU |
3 |
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or Elective |
|
See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency
|
|
|
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or Elective |
|
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).
|
|
0–5 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Term 6
Term 6
Term 6
Term 6
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
| SQ |
Natural Sciences Quantitative |
|
|
SQ |
4 |
| Transfer Option |
Transfer Option |
|
|
|
0–3 |
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 102 Level or Elective |
|
See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency
|
|
|
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 102 Level or Elective |
|
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).
|
|
3–5 |
HIS102 or
HIS103 or
HIS111 |
History of Western Civilization 1789 to Present or United States History to 1865 or World History 1500 to the Present |
|
These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously.
|
G, H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or G, H, HU |
3 |
HIS102 or
HIS103 or
HIS111 |
History of Western Civilization 1789 to Present or United States History to 1865 or World History 1500 to the Present |
|
These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously.
|
G, H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or G, H, HU |
3 |
HIS102 or
HIS103 or
HIS111 |
History of Western Civilization 1789 to Present or United States History to 1865 or World History 1500 to the Present |
|
These courses may be used to fulfill any outstanding AGEC requirements simultaneously.
|
G, H, HU, SB or H, HU, SB or G, H, HU |
3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Term 7
Term 7
Term 7
Term 7
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
| IFS213 |
Hacking and Open Source Culture |
|
|
H, SB |
3 |
| HU |
Humanities, Fine Arts & Design |
|
EDU/HUM/STO292 or ENH295 recommended.
|
HU |
3 |
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 201 Level or Elective |
|
See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency
|
|
|
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 201 Level or Elective |
|
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).
|
|
3–5 |
| Elective |
Elective |
|
|
|
3 |
| Elective |
Elective |
|
|
|
3 |
| Elective |
Elective |
|
|
|
3 |
A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Term 8
Term 8
Term 8
Term 8
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
SG or
SQ |
Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative |
|
|
SG or SQ |
4 |
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 202 Level or Elective |
|
See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency
|
|
|
Second Language or
Elective |
Second Language Requirement, 202 Level or Elective |
|
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).
|
|
3–5 |
| Elective |
Elective |
|
|
|
3 |
| Elective |
Elective |
|
|
|
3 |
| Elective |
Elective |
|
|
|
3 |
Pathway Map Option Details
No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway
map options listed above.
Ready to get started?
Follow one of the options below to get started on your personal career pathway.
Click here for MCC’s easy-to-use Enrollment Steps.
Learn more about and find contact information for the Information Studies and eSociety program.
Ask general questions over the phone at 480-461-7400 or via online chat.
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.
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, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
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=190044).
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 Information Studies and eSociety
