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Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Anthropology

The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Anthropology provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to receive an education in the broad field of anthropology - an examination of the human experience. Depending on their preferred focus, students can pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Coursework in this program surveys both cultural and biological aspects of what it means to be human, and students will develop critical thinking skills through the analysis of real-world anthropological case studies. As such, students receive a holistic training in their worldview that is valued highly by employers in many fields, including health and human services, media, business, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and government agencies.

Details

Field of Interest
Culture and Society
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Anthropology (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8109
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
Notes

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 Liberal Arts and Sciences), Anthropology, BA

ASU (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Anthropology, BS

NAU, Anthropology, BA

U of A, Anthropology, BA

U of A, Anthropology (Archaeological Sciences Emphasis), BS

U of A, Anthropology (Human Biology Emphasis), BS

Refer to the for more information: , , .

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

What You'll Learn
  • Develop an understanding of anthropology and how the subfields interrelate.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of cultures, past and present, including ecological relationships, subsistence, social organization, and belief systems.
  • Apply a holistic anthropological and culturally relativistic approach to understanding cultural similarities and differences and applying anthropology to local, national, and global human issues.
  • Develop and apply critical thinking and observation skills through the analysis of real world anthropological case studies using the scientific method and multiple perspectives.
  • Demonstrate the ability to obtain, critically read, analyze, summarize and critique anthropological research through use of appropriate source material.
  • Utilize the scientific method to investigate the foundations of human biological variation through a critical evaluation of both ancient and recent human biological adaptation and evolution.
  • Evaluate, through archaeological research, the processes of human cultural evolution, such as the origins of: language, agriculture, settled village and urban life, writing, religion, social inequalities and state formation.
  • Apply anthropological ethical principles through the critical analysis of real world case studies.
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.

Anthropologists and Archeologists
$61,390
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,740
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
$78,800
Community Health Workers
$44,250
Curators
$54,520
Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
$67,680
Fundraisers
$60,010
Human Resources Specialists
$64,110
Interpreters and Translators
$37,840
Park Naturalists
$65,110
Quality Control Systems Managers
$124,170
Social and Community Service Managers
$69,700
Social Science Research Assistants
$54,200
Technical Writers
$81,600
Urban and Regional Planners
$75,250

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:

  • Fundraising Managers
  • Public Relations Managers

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data 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 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.

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
Critical course Gateway course G, SB 3
or
 or FYC or FYC 3
OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area. MA 3–6
or
 or 1–3
Elective General Electives 0–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Critical course Gateway course SB, SG 4
or
 or FYC or FYC 3
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
Elective General Electives 3–6

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or Critical course Gateway course G, H, HU, SB or G, H, HU, SB 3
or
or
or
 or or or SB or SB or L or SB 0–3
or
or
( and
) or
or
 or or ( and ) or or CS or CS or CS or CS or CS 3–4
HU 3
Elective General Electives 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SQ 4
SB 3
L 3
Elective General Electives 3–4

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
Critical course Gateway course G, SB 3
or
 or FYC or FYC 3
or
 or 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area. MA 3–6
or
 or FYC or FYC 3
Elective General Electives 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Critical course Gateway course SB, SG 4
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
 or Critical course Gateway course G, H, HU, SB or G, H, HU, SB 3
or
or
or
 or or or SB or SB or L or SB 0–3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
or
or
( and
) or
or
 or or ( and ) or or CS or CS or CS or CS or CS 3–4
HU 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SQ 4
Elective General Electives 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB 3
Elective General Electives 3–6

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Elective General Electives 3–4
L 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.

Recommended:
AFR/ASB/ Ethnic Relations in the United States
Introduction to Global Health
Women in Other Cultures
Magic, Witchcraft and Healing: An Introduction to Comparative Religion
Anthropology Goes to the Movies
Human Impacts on Ancient Environments
Principles of Archaeology
Archaeological Field Methods
Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
Southwest Archaeology
Indians of the Southwest
Sports and Culture
Death and Dying Across Cultures
Service-Learning Experience in Anthropology
Special Projects
Forensic Anthropology

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.

  • 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 for additional details regarding the requirements of this award .

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.