Associate in Science, Emphasis in Physics
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Attention: Rio Salado College does not offer the following courses for completion:
- PHY115 or PHY121
- PHY115 - This course is available at GCC.
- PHY121 - This course is available at CGCC, EMCC, GWCC, MCC, PVCC, PC, SCC, SMCC.
- PHY116 or PHY131
- PHY116 - This course is available at GCC.
- PHY131 - This course is available at CGCC, EMCC, GWCC, MCC, PVCC, PC, SCC, SMCC.
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 Science (AS), Emphasis in Physics degree provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in Physics or are preparing for application to professional graduate programs in various medical fields. With a bachelor's degree, students may pursue a career as a secondary education Physics teacher, physicist, or materials scientist. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue a number of careers, including but not limited to, Physics professor, physicist, engineer, or researcher.
Details
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 Integrative Sciences and Arts), Applied Physics, BS
ASU (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Biophysics, BS
ASU (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Physics, BA
ASU (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Physics, BS
NAU, Physics, BS
U of A, Physics, BS
Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: ASU , NAU , U of A .
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
- Communicate scientific ideas, both qualitatively and quantitatively, using an appropriate technical vocabulary.
- Collaborate with others from diverse backgrounds.
- Provide order of magnitude estimates for physical quantities in appropriate units.
- Describe, predict, and explain real-world phenomena, utilizing a variety of different representations, such as mathematical, graphical, and pictorial formalisms.
- Collect and analyze experimental data, and then draw reasonable conclusions to both develop and support the laws of Physics.
- Apply principles of Physics to solve problems both inside and outside the classroom.
- Transfer information and problem-solving methods from familiar to unfamiliar contexts.
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.
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
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 Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
MAT220 or MAT221 |
Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | Critical course Gateway course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite | MA or MA | 4–5 | |
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 | ||
FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
MAT230 or MAT231 |
Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MA or MA | 4–5 | ||
PHY121 | University Physics I: Mechanics | SQ | 4 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAT240 or MAT241 |
Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III | MA or MA | 4–5 | ||
PHY131 | University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | SQ | 4 | ||
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Elective | General Elective | 0–3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies [L] and [SB] or [L] and [HU] or [L] and (COM) or [L] and CRE101 requirements simultaneously. | L | 0–3 | |
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 | ||
Elective | General Elective | 0–3 | |||
Elective | General Elective | 0–3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Awareness Areas |
---|
|
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
MAT220 or MAT221 |
Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | Critical course Gateway 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
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
MAT230 or MAT231 |
Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | MA or MA | 4–5 | ||
CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PHY121 | University Physics I: Mechanics | SQ | 4 | ||
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PHY131 | University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism | SQ | 4 | ||
MAT240 or MAT241 |
Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III | MA or MA | 4–5 |
Term 5
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 | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | ||
SB | Social-Behavioral Sciences | SB | 3 |
Term 6
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
L | Literacy & Critical Inquiry | Recommend selecting a course that satisfies [L] and [SB] or [L] and [HU] or [L] and (COM) or [L] and CRE101 requirements simultaneously. | L | 0–3 |
Term 7
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | HU | 3 | ||
Elective | General Elective | 0–3 |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elective | General Elective | 0–3 | |||
Elective | General Elective | 0–3 |
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.
Students may be required to complete a language course at the elementary or intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency through this level as indicated by assessment. Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about your transfer-specific world language requirement.
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.
- FYC = First Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
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=16456316).
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.
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 Physics