Program Overview

Applied Humanities: Spatial Organization and Design Thinking Emphasis

Overview

Design is all around us: from the height of a street curb to the plastic lid on your coffee cup, invisible choices were made that shape how you live. What choices would you make if you could design the world around you? The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Humanities with an emphasis in Spatial Organization & Design Thinking provides an innovative approach to understanding and affecting the physical world, bringing a humanities perspective to the future of the built environment. The program offers courses in sustainability, digital media, fabrication technology, and more, preparing you for jobs that communicate about—and effect change in—buildings, cities, and landscapes. This degree can also be a stepping stone to graduate studies in design, architecture, urban planning, and landscape architecture.

Program Details

Sample Courses

• SBE 201: Sustainable Design and Planning
• LAR 440: Contemporary Landscape Architecture
• ARC 471F: Introduction to Heritage Conservation

Career Fields

• Architecture
• Conservation
• Materials design
• Sustainability
• Urban planning

Level of Math

• General Knowledge

This strand involves the general understanding and appreciation of how mathematics is used to solve problems in everyday life. The G-strand does not prepare a student for any further work grounded in mathematics and assumes the student will not proceed beyond the basic Foundations level noted above. Thus only those students whose major requires the most general knowledge of mathematics should take this strand.

Level of Second Language

• 4th Semester Proficiency

Fourth-semester skill level in a second language is required. B.A. degree students may fulfill this requirement with one of the following options:

• Scoring the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level on an entrance or placement examination administered by The University of Arizona.
• Completion of a two-course sequence beyond the second semester of post-secondary language instruction.
• Completion with a C or higher of a 300- or 400-level language course at the post-secondary level.
• Completion of one course beyond the third semester in combination with an AP (Advanced Placement) score, IB (International Baccalaureate) score or a CLEP (College Level Entrance Program) score determined by the individual language department.
• An AP, IB, or CLEP language score determined by individual language departments
• A minimum of one semester study abroad in a language program approved by the appropriate language department as the equivalent of fourth-semester skill level.

Pre-major Required?

• No

This Major's College

• College of Humanities

Degree

• Bachelor of Arts

Sample Plans

2025, Applied Humanities: Spatial Organization and Design Thinking Emphasis

• 4-Year Sample Plan
• Map Transfer Coursework

First Year

1st Semester

• ENGL 101 - First Year Composition (3 credits)
• First Semester Second Language (4 credits)
• MATH (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Introduction to the General Education Experience (Entry Course) (1 credit)
• General Elective (1 credit)

2nd Semester

• ENGL 102 - First Year Composition (3 credits)
• Second Semester Second Language (4 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• PAH 200- Introduction to Applied Humanities (3 credits)

Second Year

3rd Semester

• PAH 201 - Applied Humanities Practice: Techniques and Technologies for Public Enrichment (3 credits)
• SBE 301 - Introduction to Design Thinking (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Third Semester Second Language (4 credits)

4th Semester

• PAH 372 - Intercultural Competence (3 credits)
• LAR 430 - Introduction to Digital Media (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• GE Core: Exploring Perspectives or Building Connections (3 credits)
• Fourth Semester Second Language (4 credits)

Third Year

5th Semester

• PAH 420- Innovation and the Human Condition: Learning How to Improve Life in the Community and Beyond (3 credits)
• SODT Additional Core (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• General Education Portfolio (Exit Course) (1 credit)
• General Elective (3 credits)

6th Semester

• PAH 383 - Pre-Internship: Building Career Readiness (3 credits)
• SODT Additional Core (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• Minor Course (3 credits)
• General Elective (3 credits)

Fourth Year

7th Semester

• PAH 493 - Internship (3 credits)
• SODT Additional Core (3 credits)
• Upper Division Minor Course (3 credits)
• Upper Division Minor Course (3 credits)
• General Elective (2 credits)

8th Semester

• PAH 498 - Senior Capstone (3 credits)
• SODT Additional Core (3 credits)
• Upper Division Minor Course (3 credits)
• Applied Humanities Elective (3 credits)
• General Elective (3 credits)