For Students Interested in a Bachelor’s Degree

maricopa.edu/transfer/partners

AAS–BAS Degree Pathways

Start at a Maricopa Community College

The Maricopa Community Colleges provide an affordable way for you to progress toward a bachelor’s degree. You can complete the first two years at a Maricopa college near you and then transfer to a 4-year college or university. You will save money, learn from highly qualified faculty, and get to know yourself as a student by starting your college education at a Maricopa Community College.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree Pathways

The Maricopa Community Colleges offer over 300 AAS degrees based on specific areas of expertise, such as nursing, business, administration of justice, fashion merchandising and design, biotechnology, and many more. If you are interested in earning a bachelor’s degree, attending a Maricopa Community College before transferring to a 4-year university saves you money and provides outstanding learning opportunities. In addition to providing a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to prepare you for the workplace, your AAS or certificate of completion can fulfill some bachelor’s degree requirements, which helps you advance your education. Many AAS degrees lead directly into Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degrees at Arizona’s public universities (Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and University of Arizona). In addition to the state universities, many of Maricopa’s out-of-state and private university transfer partners will accept your AAS credits as a block, allowing you to be halfway, or even three-fourths of the way, to your bachelor’s degree upon transferring. In general, the more closely the bachelor’s degree program you select aligns with the content of your AAS, the less coursework you will have left to complete at the university.

If you want to earn a degree in a specific field of study, prepare for a career or job advancement, and keep the door open to transferring to a university, an AAS to BAS pathway may be for you.

Things to keep in mind...

• Familiarize yourself with your AAS degree requirements. Detailed course information can be found online at https://asa.maricopa.edu/departments/center-for-curriculum-transfer-articulation/curriculum/degrees-certificates/programs/programs-by-college

• Meet with an academic advisor or faculty advisor at your Maricopa Community College to discuss your short- and long-term goals and develop a semester-by-semester educational plan. The plan will be based on your placement test scores, how many courses you can successfully complete within a semester, the recommended sequence of the courses, your life outside of college, and more. Your advisor will ask important questions to help you sort out your degree options.

• Research BAS degree options and requirements. Details on the statewide transfer policy are found at aztransfer.com/AASBAS, and degree offerings are listed on university websites.

1. Students learn from highly qualified, student-focused faculty. 2. Students pay substantially less than they would pay for the first two years at a 4-year college or university. 3. Students enjoy the convenience of attending college close to home. 4. Students enjoy small class sizes, flexible schedules, and online options. 5. Students graduate with knowledge and skills that prepare them to excel in the workforce, seamlessly transfer to a 4-year college or university, or both.

Top Five Reasons to Attend a Maricopa Community College

• Arizona State University’s online AAS to BAS tool at transfer.asu.edu/maricopa allows you to click on your Maricopa college and AAS program to learn more about the corresponding BAS options at ASU.

• The Northern Arizona University-Maricopa Connection website at maricopa.edu/connection lists local and online degree programs, including BAS degrees that complement your AAS from a Maricopa Community College.

• The University of Arizona’s online degree search tool at degreesearch.arizona.edu/ lists degree requirements for every major and identifies equivalent courses at the community colleges.

• Reach out to advisors at Maricopa’s private, out-of-state, and online partner institutions to explore transfer options. Some may charge more per credit than the public universities, but they often accept more credits and offer flexible scheduling. This search tool can help you determine what is important to you: https://asa.maricopa.edu/departments/center-for-curriculum-transfer-articulation/transfer-partners/partner-universities/maricopa-university-partner-list

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