Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Journalism and New Media Studies

Details

Field of Interest

Culture and Society

Degree Type

Associate in Arts (AA)

Academic Plan

Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Journalism and New Media Studies (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

8146

Effective Term

Fall 2026

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

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
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)
Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements. Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include: Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits) Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits) Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits) Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include: Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits) Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits) Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits) Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits) For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM	3
JRN101 or JRN105	Grammar and Style for Journalists or Introduction to Journalism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or eligibility for ENG101 as indicated by appropriate English placement. or No requisites			1–3
MAT14+	College Mathematics		OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206.	QNR	3–6
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	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
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, WCM or WCM, FYC	3
JRN201	News Writing	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.	Critical course	L	3
OCM	Oral Communication			OCM	3
Elective	General Elective				3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
MCO120	Media and Society	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.	SCB, SB	3
IAM	Institutions of the Americas		IAM	3
NSI	Natural Sciences		NSI	4
Elective	General Elective			3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Area	Credits
AHM	Arts and Humanities	AHM	3
NSI	Natural Sciences	NSI	4
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences	SCB	3
Elective	General Elective		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.

The following courses are recommended:

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
JRN205	Copyediting	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or permission of Instructor.	3
JRN208	Media Law and Ethics		3
JRN210	News and Media Production	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in JRN201 or [(ENG101 or ENG107) and permission of Program Director or Instructor].	3
JRN212 or JRN213	Writing for Broadcasts or Writing for Online	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 and (JRN201 or permission of Instructor). or Prerequisites: Eligibility for ENG101 or ENG107 or permission of Instructor.	3
JRN232	Community Reporting	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in JRN201.	3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC)
Students pursuing an Associate for transfer to a university or a MCCCD bachelor's degree should note the following changes to the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) requirements, effective Catalog Years 2026-27 and beyond. Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to assess whether transitioning to the Reimagined AGEC requirements aligns with educational goals and to ensure completion of all graduation requirements. Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will include: Oral Communication [OCM] (3 Credits) Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] (3 Credits) Institutions in the Americas [IAM] (3 Credits) Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include: Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L] (3 Credits) Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3-5 Credits) Cultural, Global, and Historical Awareness Areas [C, G, H] (0-3 Credits) Subject Options -AGEC-S only (8 Credits) For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Appropriate writing placement test score, or a grade of C or better in ENG091 or ESL097 or WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or (a grade of C in ALT100 AND Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL OR WAC101 OR ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM	3
MAT14+	College Mathematics		OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix except MAT206.	QNR	3–6
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	Area	Credits
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, WCM or WCM, FYC	3
JRN101 or JRN105	Grammar and Style for Journalists or Introduction to Journalism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in WAC101, or a grade of B or better in ALT100, or eligibility for ENG101 as indicated by appropriate English placement. or No requisites		1–3
AHM	Arts and Humanities		AHM	3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
JRN201	News Writing	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.	Critical course	L	3
OCM	Oral Communication			OCM	3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
IAM	Institutions of the Americas			IAM	3
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MCO120	Media and Society	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.		SCB, SB	3
NSI	Natural Sciences			NSI	4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
NSI	Natural Sciences			NSI	4
SCB	Social-Behavioral Sciences			SB	3

Term 7

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

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
Elective	General Elective				3
Elective	General Elective				0–3

General Electives

The following courses are recommended:

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
JRN205	Copyediting	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or permission of Instructor.	3
JRN208	Media Law and Ethics		3
JRN210	News and Media Production	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in JRN201 or [(ENG101 or ENG107) and permission of Program Director or Instructor].	3
JRN212 or JRN213	Writing for Broadcasts or Writing for Online	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 and (JRN201 or permission of Instructor). or Prerequisites: Eligibility for ENG101 or ENG107 or permission of Instructor.	3
JRN232	Community Reporting	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in JRN201.	3

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.