Associate in Science, Emphasis in Computer Science

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The Associate in Science (AS), Emphasis in Computer Science degree provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in computer science. With an associate degree, students may seek employment as a computer user support specialist. With a bachelor degree, students may pursue employment opportunities in several careers, including computer network architects, computer programmers, computer systems analysts, database administrators, information security analysts, network and computer systems administrators, and/or software developers in a number of sectors including arts, sciences, manufacturing, engineering, medicine, energy, and security.

Details

Field of Interest
Computer and Information Technology
Degree Type
Associate in Science (AS)
Academic Plan
Associate in Science, Emphasis in Computer Science (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8601
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
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

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Write programs in a variety of programming languages and computing environments.
  2. Apply knowledge of computing and mathematics to model situations in a variety of disciplines.
  3. Analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution.
  4. Design, implement, and evaluate a software solution to meet required specifications.
  5. Apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of software, and demonstrate an understanding of tradeoffs involved in design choices.
  6. Demonstrate creativity, adaptability, and flexibility in solving problems.
  7. Apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity.
  8. Demonstrate ethical reasoning and professional conduct in computing disciplines.
  9. Collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds to accomplish a common goal.
  10. Effectively communicate with a variety of audiences orally, visually, and in writing.
  11. Demonstrate the ability to learn and adapt in a constantly evolving technical environment.

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 annual median wages* for this program. 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.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

$85,200

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:
  • Software Developers, Applications
  • Software Developers, Systems Software
* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

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 Pathway Planner 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.

Note: You will have to select one of the options below to view available course sequences.

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

Full-time Sequence

To view course sequences, select one of the pathway map options above.

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.

Course options listed in the General Electives area will partially fulfill the Mathematics or Natural Sciences elective requirements or the Technical electives requirement at NAU

Part-time Sequence

To view course sequences, select one of the pathway map options above.

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.

Course options listed in the General Electives area will partially fulfill the Mathematics or Natural Sciences elective requirements or the Technical electives requirement at NAU

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.

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=183340).

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.