Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety

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Attention: Rio Salado College does not offer the following courses for completion:

EDU292 - This course is available at CGCC, EMCC, GCC, MCC, PVCC, PC, SCC, SMCC.
IFS210 - This course is available at CGCC, MCC.
IFS213 - This course is available at MCC.

Courses may be offered in-person, online, or in hybrid formats. Please contact a Rio academic advisor for the most current information. All courses completed at any Maricopa Community College are transferable to Rio based on District policy. Estimated additional costs would be consistent with your current tuition rate.

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

Field of Interest

Culture and Society

Degree 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

2024-2025

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.

What You'll Learn

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 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.

Advertising and Promotions Managers

$99,360

Editors

$64,940

Library Assistants, Clerical

$32,960

Library Technicians

$35,760

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

$66,790

Public Relations Specialists

$70,390

Technical Writers

$81,600

Writers and Authors

$53,620

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:

Media and Communication 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.

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.

Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Information Studies and eSociety
Transfer Plan 1: University of Arizona, Bachelor of Arts, Information Sciences and eSociety
Transfer Plan 2: University of Arizona Global, Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Arts
Transfer Plan 3: University of Arizona Global, Bachelor of Arts, Organizational Management
Transfer Plan 4: University of Arizona Global, Bachelor of Science, Information Technology

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 1Term 1Term 1Term 1Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1Term 1Term 1Term 1Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
IFS150	Social Media, Society, and Ourselves		Critical course Gateway course	G, SB	3
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
MAT14+	College Mathematics		OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area	MA	3–6
Second Language or Elective	Second Language Requirement, 101 Level or Elective		See your program advisor to determine if your transfer option requires language proficiency
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3
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
Elective	Elective				3
Elective	Elective				3
Elective	Elective				3

Term 2Term 2Term 2Term 2Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2Term 2Term 2Term 2Term 2
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
IFS210	Digital Information and Access in a Global Society			G, SB	3
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
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	L	0–3
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		SB or SB or L or SB	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
Elective	Elective				3
Elective	Elective				3
Elective	Elective				3

Term 3Term 3Term 3Term 3Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3Term 3Term 3Term 3Term 3
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.		L, SB	3
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design		EDU/HUM/STO292 or ENH295 recommended.	HU	3
SQ	Natural Sciences Quantitative			SQ	4
Transfer Option	Transfer Option				0–3
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
EDU292	The Art of Storytelling			C, HU	3
EDU292	The Art of Storytelling			C, HU	3
EDU292	The Art of Storytelling			C, HU	3

Term 4Term 4Term 4Term 4Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4Term 4Term 4Term 4Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	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 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
IFS150	Social Media, Society, and Ourselves				3
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
MAT14+	College Mathematics		OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area	MA	3–6
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 3Term 3Term 3Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3Term 3Term 3Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
IFS210	Digital Information and Access in a Global Society		Critical course Gateway course	G, SB	3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor).	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	L	0–3
Transfer Option	Transfer Option				0–3
EDU292	The Art of Storytelling			C, HU	3
EDU292	The Art of Storytelling			C, HU	3
EDU292	The Art of Storytelling			C, HU	3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		SB or SB or L or SB	3
CS	Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application		PSY230 recommended for University of Arizona, Information Studies and eSociety, Bachelor of Arts.	CS	3

Term 5Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5Term 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.		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

Term 6Term 6Term 6Term 6Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6Term 6Term 6Term 6Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	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

Term 7Term 7Term 7Term 7Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7Term 7Term 7Term 7Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	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

Term 8Term 8Term 8Term 8Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8Term 8Term 8Term 8Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	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

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.

Recommend Elective courses be selected from the following:
COM263 Elements of Intercultural Communication
IFS215 Cultural Context of Health Information
MKT110 Marketing and Social Networking
MCO120 Media and Society
POS210 Political Ideologies
PSY132 Psychology and Culture
SOC241 Race and Ethnic Relations

Recommended for University of Arizona, Information Studies and eSociety, Bachelor of Arts:
Completion of a language course at the intermediate level (202 or equivalent), including American Sign Language IV with a C or better OR demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment.
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology

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.

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).

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 Information Studies and eSociety

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