Welcome

The Human Experience

Being • Learning • Becoming

The Department of Public and Applied Humanities (PAH) at The University of Arizona is for people who want their education to matter beyond their diploma. Our graduates do not just imagine a better future; they help create it!

The Applied Humanities major gives students the opportunity to connect the dots across disciplines and infuse their interests into work that puts knowledge into action in their communities and professional industries. The program offers an interdisciplinary degree that combines the approaches and techniques from the humanities with at least one of 11 partner areas of study. 

In Applied Humanities courses, students work side-by-side with faculty and community partners on hands-on projects to describe, share, and improve the human experience. We emphasize humanistic themes of curiosity, storytelling, and community-building to help students bring their unique perspective to solving problems that matter to them. 

Current societal challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities require talent with intersecting skillsets who can collaborate across disciplines and settings. It is not surprising then that employers across fields and industries are seeking college graduates with the transferable skills that are at the core of the BA in Applied Humanities curriculum. An innovative set of career readiness courses support students in pursuing opportunities across community and industry setting is required. 

Applied Humanities graduates complete their degrees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to successfully navigate their careers in the ever-changing world of community and work.

Madison

Meet Madison

Madison wants to make a difference in the world. She is balancing her career plans with a degree in Applied Humanities/Public Health and Law.


Want to meet other Arizona students who have chosen the Humanities?

Recent News

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Matt Mars
Sept. 29, 2025

Matt Mars, Professor and Interim Head of the Department of Public & Applied Humanities, has won the 2025 Ted K. Bradshaw Outstanding Research Award from the Community Development Society. 

Presented at the CDS Annual Conference on…

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Dr. Suzanne Panferov Reese
Aug. 29, 2025

College of Humanities Professor Suzanne Panferov Reese will receive the Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award in recognition for her longstanding dedication to doctoral students in the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching program. 

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Speaker making point during talk.
May 30, 2025
 Six teams selected as awardees of the inaugural University of Arizona Big Idea Challengefunding By Craig Reck, Office of Research and Partnerships 

Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, U of A senior vice president for research and partnerships…

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Alumni News & Directory

Our majors have gone on to exciting careers around the world in a wide variety of industries.

See what you can do with your degree.

Read More
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Nic Griffin
B.A.
Applied Humanities
2021
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Sarah Guinn
B.A.
Applied Humanities
2023
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Fingkreuw
B.A.
Applied Humanities
2025