Spatial Organization & Design Thinking

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PAH Spatial Organization

 

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.

Core Courses
  • PAH 200 Introduction to Applied Humanities (3 units)
  • PAH 201 Applied Humanities Practice: Techniques and Technologies for Public Enrichment (3 units)
  • PAH 372 Intercultural Competence: Culture, Identity, Adaptation, and Intercultural Relations (3 units)
  • PAH 383 Pre-Internship: Building Career Readiness (3 units)
  • PAH 420 Innovation and the Human Condition: Learning How to Improve Life in the Community and Beyond (3 units)
  • PAH 493 Internship (3 units)
  • PAH 498 Senior Capstone (3 units)
  • One elective (3 units) from the approved list.
Emphasis Courses
  • SBE 301 Introduction to Design Thinking (4 units)
  • LAR 430 Introduction to Digital Media (2 units)
— and select 2 of the following areas and take 2 courses from each area (1 of which must be an upper division course) —

  • SBE 201: Sustainable Design and Planning (3 units)
    • Only available in Fall and Summer
  • ARC 496D: Social Foundations of Sustainability (3 units)
  • PLG 497S: Sustainable Development and New Urbanism (3 units)

  • ARC 220: History of Applied Building Technology (online) (3 units) 
    • Only available in Fall
  • ARC 232: History and Theory of Architecture II: Renaissance through Early Modern World Architecture (3 units)
    • Only available in Spring
  • ARC 332: History and Theory of Architecture III: Modern Architecture (3 units)
  • ARC 471F: Introduction to Heritage Conservation (3 units)
    • Only available in Fall
  • ARC 471N: Arid Region Urbanism: Arizona/Sonora (3 units)
    • Only available in Fall
  • ARC 471S: History and Theory of Architecture IV: Contemporary Architecture + Urban Theory (3 units)
    • Only available in Fall
    • Pre-requisite: ARC 332
  • ARC 497B: Latin American Practice Traditions (3 units)
  • ARC 497J: Documentation and Interpretation of the Historic Built Environment (3 units)
    • Only available in Spring
    • Pre-requisite: ARC 471F

  • SBE 221: History of the Built Environment I (3 units)
    • Only available in Fall
  • SBE 222: History of the Built Environment II (3 units)
    • Only available in Spring
  • PLG 301: Introduction to Regional Planning (3 units)
    • Only available in Summer
  • PLG 401A: Planning Theory and Practice (3 units)
    • Only available in Fall
  • LAR 440: Contemporary Landscape Architecture (3 units)
    • Only available in Fall

  • SBE 202: Professional Communication + Presentation (3 units)
    • Only available in Spring
    • Pre-requisite: Passing grade for ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 | COMM 119 is recommended
  • ARC 297M: Material Fabrication I (2 units)

Emphasis courses cannot also count toward a minor in the College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture.

Ready to Declare?

Thank you for your interest in Public and Applied Humanities. There are many benefits of majoring in Applied Humanities.

In Person

Meet in person with the Applied Humanities advisor.

Online Form

Complete the online major declaration form (NetID required). An academic advisor will follow up with more information as soon as possible. Please note that there may be slight delays during registration and other periods during the semester. If you have any questions, please contact cohadv@arizona.edu.