Associate in Science, Emphasis in Physics

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

PHY121 - This course is available at CGCC, EMCC, GWCC, MCC, PVCC, PC, SCC, SMCC.
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.

Details

Field of Interest

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Degree Type

Associate in Science (AS)

Academic Plan

Associate in Science, Emphasis in Physics (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

8606

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+).		FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC	3
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement.	Critical course Gateway course OR Higher mathematical level Quantitative Reasoning [QNR] approved General Education course with a MAT prefix for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite.	MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5
OCM	Oral Communication			OCM	3
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			SCB	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	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 FYC, WCM	3
MAT230 or MAT231	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent.	MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5
PHY121	University Physics I: Mechanics	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or permission of Department or Division. One year of high school physics suggested but not required.	NSI, SQ	4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
MAT240 or MAT241	Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III	Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231. or Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231.	MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5
PHY131	University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department or Division and PHY121. Corequisites: MAT241 or permission of Department or Division.	NSI, SQ	4
AHM	Arts and Humanities		AHM	3
Elective	General Elective			0–3

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
IAM	Institutions of the Americas	IAM	3
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences	SCB	3
Elective	General Elective		3
Elective	General Elective		0–3

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+).		FYC, WCM or WCM, FYC	3
MAT220 or MAT221	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I or Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT187, or MAT188, or an appropriate District placement.	Critical course Gateway course OR Higher approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area for which MAT22+ is a prerequisite	MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5
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 FYC, WCM	3
MAT230 or MAT231	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II or Calculus with Analytic Geometry II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or equivalent.		MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
PHY121	University Physics I: Mechanics	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT220, or MAT221, or permission of Department or Division. One year of high school physics suggested but not required.		NSI, SQ	4
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			SCB	3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
PHY131	University Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT230 or MAT231 or permission of Department or Division and PHY121. Corequisites: MAT241 or permission of Department or Division.		NSI, SQ	4
MAT240 or MAT241	Calculus with Analytic Geometry III or Calculus with Analytic Geometry III	Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231. or Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in MAT230 or MAT231.		MA, QNR or MA, QNR	4–5

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
OCM	Oral Communication			OCM	3
SCB	Social and Behavioral Sciences			SCB	3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	3
IAM	Institutions of the Americas			IAM	3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
AHM	Arts and Humanities			AHM	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				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.

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.

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