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Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation
United States and Arizona Social Studies
Course: GCU113

First Term: 2025 Fall
 Lecture   3.0 Credit(s)   3.0 Period(s)   3.0 Load  
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S - Standard Load


Description: Overview of government, history, and geography of the United States and Arizona. Includes the relationship of Arizona to the U.S. government as well as the influences and developments that have shaped U.S. and Arizona history. Also covers geographical systems, regions, and study techniques.



MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Trace the historical development of government in the United States. (I)
2. Describe how the constitution structures the institutions of the United States government. (I)
3. Describe the election process in the United States. (I)
4. Describe the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. (I)
5. Discuss European exploration of North America and the development of colonial settlements. (II)
6. Analyze major developments related to the creation of the federal government and establishment of U.S. society after the Revolutionary War. (II)
7. Examine the Civil War and Reconstruction period. (II)
8. Analyze the U.S. rise to world power. (II)
9. Contrast the structure, organization, and operation of the federal government with the Arizona government. (III)
10. Describe the structure and powers of the Arizona state and local government. (III)
11. Differentiate between state government and government of American Indian nations in Arizona. (III)
12. Describe the impact of the westward movement on tribal communities in Arizona. (III)
13. Describe major developments in Arizona history from its territorial status, efforts for statehood, and through the modern era. (III)
14. Use spatial concepts to approach the study of geography. (IV)
15. Compare and contrast regions of the United States. (IV)
16. Describe physical systems of geography. (IV)
17. Discuss human systems in geography. (IV)
18. Compare and contrast the interaction between environment and society. (IV)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.
 
MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Government
   A. History
      1. American Revolution
      2. Articles of Confederation
      3. Constitutional Convention
   B. U.S. Constitution
      1. Principles
      2. Articles
      3. Bill of Rights
      4. Civil liberties
   C. Federal government
      1. Structure
      2. Organization
      3. Powers
      4. Operation
      5. Economic interdependence
   D. Political parties
      1. Development
      2. Powers
      3. Elections
   E. State government
      1. Powers
      2. Responsibilities
      3. American Indian nations
      4. Economic interdependence
   F. Local government
      1. Powers
      2. Responsibilities
      3. Economic interdependence
   G. Individuals
      1. Citizenship
      2. Responsibilities
      3. Rights
   H. Influences
      1. Political culture
      2. Public opinion
      3. Media
II. History
   A. Culture of the United States
      1. Ideas
      2. Values
      3. Institutions
   B. Timeline
      1. Colonial settlements
      2. Revolutionary War
      3. Westward movement
      4. Civil War
      5. Reconstruction period
      6. World War I
      7. The Great Depression
      8. World War II
      9. Postwar rise to superpower status
   C. Developments
      1. Arts
      2. Literature
      3. Science
      4. Religion
      5. Philosophy
   D. Industrialization
      1. Railroad
      2. Steel
      3. Oil
      4. Technology
   E. Immigration
      1. Historical
      2. Present day
      3. Impact
   F. Urbanization
   G. World power
III. Arizona
   A. History
      1. Native Americans
      2. Spanish colonial time
      3. Mexican national period
      4. Territorial period
      5. Statehood
   B. Development
      1. Transportation
      2. Political
      3. Economic
      4. Water resources
IV. Geography
   A. Spatial study
      1. Location
      2. Map scale
      3. Grid system
      4. Remote sensing
      5. Geographic information systems
      6. Mental mapping
   B. Regions
      1. North Central
      2. Northeast
      3. Pacific
      4. Rocky Mountain
      5. Southeast
      6. Southwest
   C. Landforms
   D. Natural resources
   E. Physical Systems
      1. Earth
      2. Sun
      3. Atmosphere
      4. Hydrosphere
      5. Biosphere
      6. Lithosphere
      7. Pedosphere
   F. Human systems
      1. Human
      2. Political
      3. Cultural
      4. Social
      5. Economic
 
MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: December 10, 2024

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.