The Human Experience
Being • Learning • Becoming
Welcome
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 don’t just imagine a better future. They help create it.
The Applied Humanities major gives students the opportunity to connect ideas across disciplines and bring their interests into work that makes a difference in their communities and professional fields. The program combines approaches and methods from the humanities with at least one of 14 partner areas of study, allowing students to build an transdisciplinary degree around their interests and goals.
In Applied Humanities courses, students work alongside faculty and community partners on hands-on projects that explore, communicate, and improve the human experience. Through an emphasis on curiosity, storytelling, and community-building, students learn to draw on their unique perspectives to address problems that matter to them.
Today's societal challenges and entrepreneurial opportunities call for people who can think critically, collaborate across disciplines, and apply their skills in different settings. The Applied Humanities curriculum helps students develop these transferable skills, while dedicated career readiness courses support them in connecting their interests and strengths to their next steps, whether they are launching a career, exploring a new direction, or advancing in their field.
Applied Humanities graduates complete their degrees with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to successfully contribute meaningfully to their communities and the ever-changing world of work.
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.
Recent News
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Oct. 2, 2026
The Department of Public and Applied Humanities was featured in a recent story published Forbes.com. The story can be found here:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisachambers/2026/09/21/move-over-stem-humanities-degrees-are-poised-for-a-…
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Oct. 2, 2026
Drs. Ken McAllister and Judd Ruggill are featured in a recent article published in the National Center for Business Journalism. The article is titled "Video games are getting harder, sometimes impossible, to preserve, academics say" and can be…
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Sept. 22, 2026
Dr. Harris Kornstein and their colleagues have been recognized by the British Sociological Association with the Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness Book Prize for their co-edited volume, How to Be Disabled in a Pandemic. OpenSquare…
Upcoming Events
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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.
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B.A.
Applied Humanities
2021
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B.A.
Applied Humanities
2023
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B.A.
Applied Humanities
2025