Environmental Science Technology

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Environmental Science Technology provides education in environmental research and investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, soil, and water in preparation for employment.

Laboratory activities are an integral part of this program. These activities include instruction in the use of safety procedures, tools, equipment, materials, and processes related to these occupations.

Details

Field of Interest
Applied Technology
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Environmental Science Technology (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5553
Total credits required
30
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2019
Admissions criteria

Formal application and admission to the program is required. A high school diploma OR GED equivalency is required. Student must be eligible to enroll in MAT12+ by satisfactory District placement OR satisfactory completion of a higher level mathematics course.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Analyze environment information using the scientific method and critical thinking.
  2. Demonstrate sound arguments in writing and oral/visual presentation on technical and non-technical levels.
  3. Perform laboratory analysis.
  4. Describe how technology is used in the field of environmental science and water resources.
  5. Evaluate a working knowledge of ethics, polices and regulations with an emphasis on natural resources and the environment.

Successful completion of this certificate 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 certificate. 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.

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

$49,520

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

$50,370

* 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.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT100 Introduction to Water Resources Critical course Gateway course 3
WRT108 Fundamentals of Environmental Science Technology 3
BPC110 or
CIS105		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems CS or CS 3
BIO105 Environmental Biology SQ 4

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT117 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3
WRT130 Groundwater Hydrology 3
WRT150 Introduction to Surface Water Data Collection 3
WRT153 Environmental Law and Regulations 3
WRT180 Environmental Sampling and Analysis 5

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT100 Introduction to Water Resources Critical course Gateway course 3
WRT108 Fundamentals of Environmental Science Technology 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BPC110 or
CIS105		 Computer Usage and Applications or Survey of Computer Information Systems CS or CS 3
BIO105 Environmental Biology SQ 4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT117 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3
WRT130 Groundwater Hydrology 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT150 Introduction to Surface Water Data Collection 3
WRT153 Environmental Law and Regulations 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT180 Environmental Sampling and Analysis 5
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
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 (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=127535).

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.