Field of Interest
The Associate in Science (AS), Emphasis in Geography - Meteorology provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who intend to transfer to a four-year institution to study meteorology and/or climatology. This associate degree will prepare students for employment opportunities in a number of careers including forest and conservation workers and air traffic controllers. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree, students may pursue a career in several areas including broadcast meteorology, geography, hydrology, environmental science, and forest fire inspection and prevention. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a number of careers including atmospheric and space scientist, geoscientist, climate change analyst, and geography professor.
Details
Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:
- Field of Interest
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
- Type
- Associate in Science (AS)
- Academic Plan
- Associate in Science, Emphasis in Geography - Meteorology (DEG)
- Academic Plan Code
- 8604
- Total Credits Required
- 60-64
- Catalog Year
- 2025-2026
- 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 to earn a degree with this emphasis.
What You’ll Learn
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Recognize and explain the atmospheric processes that drive weather and climate patterns.
- Evaluate spatial patterns and relationships within the framework of the scientific method.
- Examine the interdependent relationships between the physical and human/cultural environment (such as landforms, climate, resources, political and economic systems, sociology, sustainability).
- Critically assess and analyze real-world issues through application of geographic concepts, systems, principles, and theories.
- Communicate geographic analyses through verbal, written, and/or geospatial techniques.
- Recognize ethical considerations encompassing the professional activities of geographers.
- Collaborate with diverse individuals, groups, and institutions to achieve common goals in the field of geography.
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.
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.
Typical Education Level
a high school diploma or less
Hourly Median Wage
$75.88
Annual Median Wage
$157,837
Number of People Employed
251
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 6.0 %
Investigate atmospheric phenomena and interpret meteorological data, gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radar to prepare reports and forecasts for public and other uses. Includes weather analysts and forecasters whose functions require the detailed knowledge of meteorology.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$36.01
Annual Median Wage
$74,917
Number of People Employed
114
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 2.6 %
Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.
Typical Education Level
a Master's or Professional degree
Hourly Median Wage
$33.87
Annual Median Wage
$70,466
Number of People Employed
832
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 6.7 %
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$33.87
Annual Median Wage
$70,466
Number of People Employed
832
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 6.7 %
Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.
Typical Education Level
a high school diploma or less
Hourly Median Wage
$17.75
Annual Median Wage
$36,930
Number of People Employed
98
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 20.4 %
Enforce fire regulations, inspect forest for fire hazards, and recommend forest fire prevention or control measures. May report forest fires and weather conditions.
Typical Education Level
a high school diploma or less
Hourly Median Wage
$37.68
Annual Median Wage
$78,377
Number of People Employed
24
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 16.7 %
Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.
Typical Education Level
a Bachelor's degree
Hourly Median Wage
$38.21
Annual Median Wage
$79,478
Number of People Employed
11
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 9.1 %
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Typical Education Level
a Master's or Professional degree
Hourly Median Wage
$37.61
Annual Median Wage
$78,245
Number of People Employed
278
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 9.4 %
Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation and its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and return to the ocean and atmosphere.
Typical Education Level
a Master's or Professional degree
Hourly Median Wage
$34.79
Annual Median Wage
$72,368
Number of People Employed
205
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 2.4 %
Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Typical Education Level
a Doctoral degree or more
Hourly Median Wage
$35.06
Annual Median Wage
$72,944
Annual Job Openings
2,879
Number of People Employed
26,552
4-Year Employment Growth
Increase
by 13.3 %
* 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 1
| Course Number |
Course Name |
Requisites |
Notes |
Area |
Credits |
| GCU102 |
Human Geography: Spatial Relationships Between Humans and Culture with Their Environment |
|
Critical course
Gateway course
|
G, SB |
3 |
(GPH111 and
GPH112) or
GPH113 |
(Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water and Hazards Lecture and Physical Geography: Climate, Landforms, Water and Hazards Laboratory) or Physical Geography: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Water, and Hazards |
No requisites and Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in GPH111 or Corequisites: GPH111. or No requisitesView requisites |
Critical course
Gateway course
|
SQ or SQ |
4 |
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.View requisites |
|
MA or MA |
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+).View requisites |
|
FYC or FYC |
3 |
FYE101 or
FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success |
|
|
|
1–3 |
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.
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 Geography 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=188787).
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 Geography - Meteorology
