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 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
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 Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area	MA	3–6
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design			HU	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 or FYC	3
JRN201	News Writing	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.	Critical course	L	3
CS	Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application			CS	3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG100LL or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113)] or a grade of B or better in ALT100 or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor. Prerequisites or Corequisites: null Corequisites: null	OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment	L	0–3
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
SQ	Natural Sciences Quantitative		SQ	4
MCO120	Media and Society	Prerequisites: Eligibility for ENG101 or ENG107 or permission of Instructor.	SB	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
Elective	General Elective			3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
SG or SQ	Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative		SG or SQ	4
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design		HU	3
SB	Social-Behavioral Sciences		SB	3
MCO220	Cultural Diversity and the Media	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.	C, L	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. JRN201 recommended for Journalism students.	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 No requisites	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 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 Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area	MA	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 or 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
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design		HU	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
CS	Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application			CS	3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG100LL or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113)] or a grade of B or better in ALT100 or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor. Prerequisites or Corequisites: null Corequisites: null	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
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
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design			HU	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: Eligibility for ENG101 or ENG107 or permission of Instructor.		SB	3
SQ	Natural Sciences Quantitative			SQ	4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
MCO220	Cultural Diversity and the Media	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107.		C, L	3
SB	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
SG or SQ	Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative			SG or SQ	4
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. JRN201 recommended for Journalism students.	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 No requisites	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.