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Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Exercise Science
To begin, connect with an advisor who can guide you through program options and next steps, including the application process.
The Associate in Arts (AA), Emphasis in Exercise Science provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who wish to specialize in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Sport Science, Healthy Lifestyles Coaching, or Fitness and Wellness. With a bachelor's degree, students may pursue a career as a fitness specialist or director, strength and conditioning specialist, healthy lifestyles coach, or an exercise physiologist. With a graduate degree, students may pursue careers in a number of fields, including but not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, exercise physiology, medicine, and physician assistant. Certificates of Completion (CCLs) in Personal Trainer and Personal Trainer Advanced as well as an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Exercise Science: Health, Fitness, and Sports Performance are also available.
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Arts (AA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Exercise Science (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8121
Total credits required
60-64
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
++ indicates that any suffixed course may be selected.
This emphasis is intended to align with the degree requirements for the following transfer partners:
ASU (College of Health Solutions), Health Sciences (Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science), BS
ASU (College of Health Solutions), Sports Science and Performance Programming, BS
ASU (College of Health Solutions), Clinical Exercise Science, BS
ASU (College of Health Solutions), Kinesiology, BS
NAU, Fitness Wellness, BS
Refer to the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information: ASU , NAU .
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
What You'll Learn
- Examine human movement using a fundamental understanding of human anatomy and physiology and the relevant scientific concepts of biology, the physical sciences, and psychology.
- Integrate knowledge of the human body and psychological concepts to promote health and well-being in self and others.
- Locate and critically evaluate relevant scholarly literature.
- Use relevant scholarly literature, quantitative and qualitative reasoning, and statistical analysis to inform decision making and solve problems.
- Interpret foundational assessments of health and human movement.
- Design basic movement programs.
- Effectively communicate with diverse audiences and within varied contexts.
- Collaborate with diverse individuals to achieve common goals.
- Integrate social and ethical responsibility in decision making and actions.
- Demonstrate dependability, adaptability, and persistence to set and achieve goals.
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.
Community Health Workers
$44,250
Exercise Physiologists
$57,000
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
$47,070
Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
$59,580
Health Education Specialists
$51,400
Occupational Therapists
$90,520
Physician Assistants
$121,490
Sports Medicine Physicians
$256,610
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. 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 Student Center 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.
| 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:
Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:
For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage. |
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 | |||
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | SB, SCB | 3 | ||
| EXS101 | Introduction to Exercise Science | 3 | |||
| QNR | Quantitative Reasoning | QNR | 3–6 | ||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 0–4 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHM | Arts and Humanities | AHM | 3 | ||
| BIO201 or BIO160 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | Recommend BIO201 and BIO202 for students intending to transfer to NAU for Fitness Wellness or to ASU for Clinical Exercise Science or Sports Science and Performance Programming or Kinesiology.
Recommend BIO160 and CHM130+++ for students intending to transfer to ASU for Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science. |
NSI, SG or NSI, SQ | 4 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| HES100 | Healthful Living | SB, SCB | 3 | ||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–4 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHM | Arts and Humanities | AHM | 3 | ||
| SCB | Social and Behavioral Sciences | SCB | 3 | ||
| BIO202 or (CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II or (Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab | Recommend BIO201 and BIO202 for students intending to transfer to NAU for Fitness Wellness or to ASU for Clinical Exercise Science or Sports Science and Performance Programming or Kinesiology. Recommend BIO160 and CHM130+++ for students intending to transfer to ASU for Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science. |
NSI, SG or NSI in combo w/ CHM130LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM130; or NSI, SQ | 4 | |
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–5 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXS290 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice | L | 3 | ||
| OCM | Oral Communication | OCM | 3 | ||
| IAM | Institutions of the Americas | IAM | 3 | ||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–4 | |||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–4 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
| 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:
Effective Catalog Year 2026-27 and beyond, AGEC Requirements will no longer include:
For a full outline of the Reimagined AGEC Requirements, please visit Maricopa’s AGEC Webpage. |
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 | |||
| EXS101 | Introduction to Exercise Science | 3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| HES100 | Healthful Living | SB, SCB | 3 | ||
| QNR | Quantitative Reasoning | QNR | 3–6 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 0–4 | |||
| AHM | Arts and Humanities | AHM | 3 | ||
| BIO201 or BIO160 |
Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | Recommend BIO201 and BIO202 for students intending to transfer to NAU for Fitness Wellness or to ASU for Clinical Exercise Science or Sports Science and Performance Programming or Kinesiology.
Recommend BIO160 and CHM130+++ for students intending to transfer to ASU for Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science. |
NSI, SG or NSI, SQ | 4 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | SB, SCB | 3 | ||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–4 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AHM | Arts and Humanities | AHM | 3 | ||
| BIO202 or (CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA |
Human Anatomy and Physiology II or (Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab | Recommend BIO201 and BIO202 for students intending to transfer to NAU for Fitness Wellness or to ASU for Clinical Exercise Science or Sports Science and Performance Programming or Kinesiology. Recommend BIO160 and CHM130+++ for students intending to transfer to ASU for Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science. |
NSI, SG or NSI in combo w/ CHM130LL; and NSI in combo w/ CHM130; or NSI, SQ | 4 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCB | Social and Behavioral Sciences | SCB | 3 | ||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–5 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCM | Oral Communication | OCM | 3 | ||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–4 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXS290 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice | L | 3 | ||
| IAM | Institutions of the Americas | IAM | 3 | ||
| Plan Elective | Plan Course Electives | 3–4 |
Footnote
Plan Course Electives
Students may select at least 13 credits from any of the areas below. Consult with an academic, faculty, or program advisor to select courses that best align with your academic and professional goals. Refer to the resources on the MCCCD University Transfer Partner website for more information about specific transfer partner requirements and coursework required for specific engineering areas.
Transfer Plan 1: Kinesiology
Credits: 20-21
+ BIO181++ General Biology (Majors) I 4
+ BIO182++ General Biology (Majors) II 4
+ CHM150 General Chemistry I (4) AND
+ CHM151LL General Chemistry I Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM150AA General Chemistry I with Lab (5) OR
+ CHM151 General Chemistry I (3) AND
+ CHM151LL General Chemistry I Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM151AA General Chemistry I with Lab (4) 4-5
+ CHM152 General Chemistry II (3) AND
+ CHM152LL General Chemistry II Laboratory (1) OR
+ CHM152AA General Chemistry II with Lab (4) 4
+ PHY111 General Physics I 4
Transfer Plan 2: Applied Exercise and Sport Sciences
Credits: 13-15
+ EXS125 Introduction to Exercise Physiology 3
+ EXS145 Exercise Testing (3) OR
+ EXS270AA Exercise Science Internship (1) 1-3
+ EXS215 Resistance Training and Recovery Techniques 3
+ EXS217 Cardiorespiratory and Flexibility Training 3
FON241 Principles of Human Nutrition 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.
Course Area Key
- AHM = Arts and Humanities
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- IAM = Institutions of the Americas
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- OCM = Oral Communication
- QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
- WCM = Written Communication
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 official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/acres.woa/wa/customView?id=16461519.
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.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Arts (AA) in Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Exercise Science
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