phd in urban and regional planning usa

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PhD in Urban and Regional Planning

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The PhD in Urban Planning program at the University at Buffalo provides a dynamic and multidisciplinary academic experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and research expertise to tackle complex urban challenges. With a focus on innovation and critical thinking, students engage in rigorous coursework, independent research, and collaborative projects spanning urban design, sustainability, social equity, and economic development. Mentored by renowned faculty, students benefit from cutting-edge facilities and the vibrant community of Buffalo, New York, gaining real-world experience and forging connections in the field. Flexible and tailored to individual interests, the program prepares graduates to lead positive change in urban environments, advancing sustainable development and social justice.

Duration of Study

• 4-yr Program (72 credit hours)

Cost of Study

• Domestic: $5,655 - $12,130
• International: $12,130

*per semester tuition rates and does not include fees

Admissions requirements

• Application fee: $75
• No GRE required

Student Life

• 3/20/24 Information for Future Students
• 11/5/19 The studio experience
• 3/28/24 Student organizations

See our work

• 10/9/17 Planning for the Health and Social Inclusion of LGBT Older Adults

Research and Faculty

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Please fill out the form below and our PhD recruitment team will be happy to answer any questions.

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PhD in City & Regional Planning

The program

Berkeley's PhD in City & Regional Planning provides training in urban and planning theory, advanced research, and the practice of planning. Established in 1968, the program has granted more than 160 doctorates. Alums of the program have established national and international reputations as planning educators, social science researchers and theorists, policy makers, and practitioners. Today, the program is served by nearly 20 city and regional planning faculty with expertise in community and economic development, transportation planning, urban design, international development, environmental planning, and global urbanism. With close ties to numerous research centers and initiatives, the program encourages its students to develop specializations within the field of urban studies and planning and to expand their intellectual horizons through training in the related fields of architecture, landscape architecture and environmental planning, civil engineering, anthropology, geography, sociology, public policy, public health, and political science.

Completing a PhD in City & Regional Planning at UC Berkeley usually takes five years. The university requires all doctoral students to fulfill a minimum residency requirement of two years and 48 units of coursework. Full-time students are expected to take four courses, or 12 units, per semester. For the PhD in City & Regional Planning, students must complete various program requirements, including courses in planning and urban theory; research methods courses; and preparation and completion of two fields of specialization. They must also successfully complete an oral qualifying examination, which allows them to advance to candidacy and undertake dissertation research. A PhD is awarded upon completion of a written dissertation approved by the faculty supervisors of the dissertation.

The PhD program encourages its students to build intellectual community and to participate in national and international venues of scholarship. Doctoral candidates regularly present their research at the annual conferences of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Association of American Geographers, Association of European Schools of Planning, World Planning Schools Congress, Urban Affairs Association, and American Anthropological Association. They organize and participate in a weekly research colloquium and manage the Berkeley Planning Journal , a peer-reviewed academic publication. Such activities utilize the incredible intellectual resources available to doctoral students at UC Berkeley, both within their departments and programs and across the campus.

Financial Aid + Admissions

Admission to the PhD program is highly competitive. Applicants are required to have completed a master's degree in planning or a related field. They are expected to demonstrate capacity for advanced research and to present a compelling research topic as part of their application. Once admitted to the program, students are eligible to compete for various university fellowships, including the Berkeley Fellowship, Cota-Robles Fellowship, and the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship. Students of the program have also been successful in securing funding for dissertation research from the National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, and the Fulbright scholarships.

The Department of City & Regional Planning and UC Berkeley offer multiple types of financial support to its graduate students.

Please note that admission decisions are not made by individual faculty, but rather an admissions committee. Our PhD admissions process begins with three initial reviews of your application: the two faculty members you list as preferred advisors and one member of the PhD admission committee. The admission committee then meets to review all applications as a cohort and make admission/denial decisions. More information can be found on the department admissions page .

The principal admission requirements to the doctoral program in City & Regional Planning are overall excellence in past academic work and research, demonstrated creativity and intellectual leadership in professional activity, and the strong promise of sustained intellectual achievement, originality, and scholarship. The emphasis in the doctoral program is upon scholarship and research. At the same time, because the doctorate is offered in the context of a professional school, doctoral students are challenged to undertake applied research relevant to city and regional planning and policy problems. If you do not want to teach in planning or a related field, or to do advanced research, please reconsider applying to this program. Most doctoral students enter the program with a master’s degree in planning or a related field. The Master of City Planning is regarded as a terminal professional degree, and is not comparable to mid-study Master of Arts or Master of Science degrees offered in anticipation of the doctorate.

Admission to the doctoral program is very competitive. Only six to eight students are admitted each year, sometimes from a pool of as many as 80 applicants. For all applicants to the doctoral program (even those required to take an English-language competency exam (TOEFL, TOEFL CBT, iBT TOEFL, or IELTS) the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional; although prospective students who choose to take the GRE should do so before December to ensure timely receipt of scores. Applicants must also secure at least three letters of recommendation that can explicitly evaluate their intellectual capability and past research and academic work.

Please note that admission decisions are not made by individual faculty, but rather an admissions committee. DCRP’s PhD admissions process begins with three initial reviews of your application: the two faculty members you list as preferred advisors and one member of the PhD admission committee. The admission committee then meets to review all applications as a cohort and make admission/denial decisions.

Many PhD students choose to pursue one or more of the designated emphases (DEs) offered through programs across campus. These DEs are unrelated to the outside field required by the City & Regional Planning PhD, and can be thought of instead as elective “minors” which provide opportunities for focused interdisciplinary work, mentorship, conference funding, research fellowships and an extra credential along with the doctoral degree. Common DEs pursued by DCRP PhD students include:

• Global Metropolitan Studies (GMS)
• Science and Technology Studies (STS)
• Development Engineering (DevEng)
• Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGS)
• Political Economy
• Film & Media
• Critical Theory

For more information on the PhD in City & Regional Planning program, contact [email protected] .

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Doctor of Philosophy in City and Regional Planning

Recent Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) graduates in city and regional planning have gone on to distinguished careers as professors at prestigious institutions; high level positions in the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank; and top spots in federal agencies and nonprofit research, policy, and cultural organizations.

CRP's program combines intensive Ph.D. seminars and an individualized program of study. Students interested in historic preservation planning may choose to focus their studies on that area. 

Only a small number of Ph.D. students are accepted each year, most of whom have a master's degree in planning. Students design their programs of study after choosing a doctoral committee of three faculty members representing their major (City and Regional Planning) and two minor fields. 

• Ph.D. in CRP Curriculum and Requirements
• CRP Ph.D. Student Profiles

• How to Apply

Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Sciences

The Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Sciences program at Texas A&M forms knowledge about some of the most pressing issues our society faces. In this program, you will become a social scientist rooted in the theoretical bases of urban, city, and community planning. 

The Ph.D. program provides expertise in the research process and its application to planning, design, and/or land development issues. Using rigorous quantitative and qualitative methodologies, you’ll examine the interactions among social-ecological systems and the built environment.

Apply Download Program Flyer Request More Information

About the Program

Our Ph.D. program is one of the largest in the country, with the most diverse range of research topics available. Because of our size, you’ll work with a cohort of students working on similar projects. At the same time, you’ll get to mentor undergraduate students by teaching courses or supervising research projects.

You’ll be mentored by a faculty member from the start of your program. Paired based on similar research interests, you’ll work closely with your mentor throughout your program. Our faculty undertake research funded by federal agencies as well as activist research, where they engage directly with the communities they are studying.

Download Program Handbook

Areas of Emphasis

• Environmental hazards and disasters
• Sustainability
• Housing and community development
• Health and wellbeing
• Transportation

Meet Our Students

The Ph.D. program admits 8–12 students per year, with about 40–45 doctoral students in residence, making our program one of the largest in the country. Our program attracts students from all over the world, and we strive to attract and retain a student body that is diverse in terms of gender identity, race/ethnicity, cultural background, and sexual orientation.

My research intersects with computer science and urban and regional science. I am especially interested in creating Artificial Intelligence models that empower all stakeholders in participatory planning for our shared future. Jiaxin Du

Housing affordability, one of the most pressing issues presently facing planners, disproportionately affects low-income and minority households. My research seeks to improve the metrics used to estimate affordability problems, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of the disparities and inequities in housing needs. Clare Losey

My research in pedestrian thermal comfort and microclimatic street design provides a way to improve the quality of urban public spaces in the age of climate change. By designing thermally comfortable street spaces, a safe and favorable walking environment can be created with enhanced urban vitality and walkability. You Joung Kim

My research in the child-friendly community helps to understand the importance of environmental factors and health benefits of children and their families. Micro-scale environmental characteristics for creating a child-friendly community would be different from those meant for the adult population, taking into account behavior- and context-specific approaches. Amaryllis Park

Graduates of our program go on to become tenure-track professors in research-intensive universities; analysts in high-level think tanks or government agencies; or leaders in private sector organizations that serve cities, communities, or the development industry. Some of our graduates include the following:

Marccus Hendricks

Associate Professor

University of Maryland

Special Assignment in the White House Office of Environmental Quality

Fayola Jacobs

Assistant Professor

University of Minnesota

Haotian Zhong

Renmin University, China

University of Arizona

Sungmin Lee

Texas A&M University

Donghwan Gu

Post-doctoral Research er

National Institute of Standards & Technology

Nicolas Norboge

Principal Transportation Finance Analyst

NC Office of State Budget & Management

Sinan Zhong

Jennifer Evans Crawley

University of Texas at Arlington

The Ph.D. takes a minimum of 3.5 years to complete and requires 64 credit hours, including:

• 29 credits of core courses in research approaches, analytic methods, and theory
• 3 credits of professional development via teaching practicum
• 9–12 credits of electives in an emphasis area, advised by a committee chair
• 23+ credits in variable research courses while working on your dissertation

Students generally complete their degree in 5-6 years, but can finish in just 4 years. Students taking longer than 5 years are no longer eligible for departmental funding. Credit hours beyond 99 are charged out-of-state rates.

FAQ about the Ph.D. process

Doctoral students may work with any member of the department’s graduate faculty, which include all tenure-track and tenured faculty, as well as a few academic professional track faculty who have petitioned and been added to the graduate faculty. However, each faculty member only takes on a small number of doctoral students at any one time. Faculty availability may also depend on the grant support available to fund students.

Any faculty member who is a member of the graduate faculty can serve on a doctoral committee. All “core” and “affiliate” faculty can serve on doctoral committees (see the faculty section in the URSC program handbook (PDF) for a complete list of “core” and “affiliate” faculty members).

We hope that students will complete the Ph.D. program in four years. The average timeline is 5 years. For detailed information on procedural guidelines, refer to the Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Sciences handbook (PDF) .

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Preparing for the ph.d. program.

Students must have a master’s degree before beginning the Ph.D. program. Master’s students already in our department may be able to count some courses toward the Ph.D. if accepted.

FAQ about preparing for the program

• Research interests that align with those of our faculty.
• Strong Statement of Purpose that clearly articulates the applicant’s interest, motivation, and qualification.
• Wring sample that shows the ability and potential to produce high-quality scholarly writings independently.
• CV/Resume that is well-organized to show relevant trainings, experience, skills, etc. (including publications/presentations and relevant professional experiences).
• Competitive undergraduate and masters GPA from high quality universities.
• TOEFL scores that are competitive.
• Reference letters from those in the relevant fields with sufficient knowledge about the applicant to provide specific and informative evaluations of the applicant and to help contextualize the applicant’s qualifications/preparedness.
• GRE scores are not required but are accepted as additional evidence of scholarly excellence.

Ph.D. applicants go through a two-tiered acceptance process.

In the first tier, prospective students demonstrate that they have the relevant credentials. To do this, you should submit your application and all supporting documents by the application deadline. The admissions committee made up of faculty within the department will make the initial admission recommendations based on the evaluation of the entire application package.

In the second tier, the admissions committee will identify a faculty mentor for each recommended applicant. Preference is given to applicants whose interests align with current faculty research. Only those applicants with a committed faculty mentor or co-mentors will be offered an admission.

Typically, eight to twelve applicants are admitted into the program each year depending on funding available, and the applicants are notified by the end of March.

Learn more about the Ph.D. of Urban and Regional Sciences application requirements.

You do not need to, but we encourage you to contact individual faculty members who can potentially serve as your mentor(s) in advance via emails or meeting at conferences. These faculty may request an interview with you before you apply to the program.

Submit your application at Texas A&M GradCas along with a non-refundable application fee .

Your application should include the following:

• Transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended
• Required test scores (TOEFL) (New for fall 2024! The GRE will not be required for Fall 2024 admissions but will be re-evaluated on a yearly basis for reinstatement)
• Three letters of recommendation that include specific information on applicant skills and performance (academic references are preferred)
• Statement of purpose that describes applicant’s educational goals specifically related to our program, their research interests and potential faculty mentors, and their career goals after finishing the Ph.D.
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Writing sample that is sole authored and is produced without the use of Generative AI tools.

Read more about the Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Sciences application requirements

Applications must be received by December 1 to be reviewed for Fall admission and considered for scholarships or funding offered. Letters of recommendation for completed applications must arrive by December 15.

Applications incomplete (including missing letters of reference) on December 16 will not be reviewed.

Doctoral students are typically funded as research assistants through externally funded grants by their faculty mentors (from National Science Foundation, National Institutes for Health, etc.) or through departmental assistantships as teaching or research assistants. University fellowships are also available for exceptional candidates.

Assistantships provide tuition for 9 credit hours, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. Monthly stipends range from about $1,400 a month to $2,000 a month depending on funding source and student skills. Some assistantships also cover fees. LAUP typically provides four years of support if the student is in good standing, which is equivalent to about $85,000 over four years. Work assignments include both research and teaching opportunities. International and domestic students receiving financial assistance are eligible for in-state tuition.

For a better understanding of your total cost of attendance, please visit the Texas A&M University  cost and tuition rates webpage . This webpage will provide you with an opportunity to review estimated cost of attendance information for undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as other resources such as the tuition calculator and billing and fee explanations.

Learn more about potential grants and other financial resources.

For more information about the Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Sciences program, please contact Michelle Meyer , Ph.D. Program Coordinator, at [email protected] .

Questions about application requirements and process can be directed to Thena Morris at [email protected] .

Centered on research

At Texas A&M, you’ll have access to active research communities housed in centers and institutes across the university. These research hubs unite students and faculty, introducing the next generation of researchers to researchers around the world.

Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center

Center for Health Systems and Design

Institute for Sustainable Communities

Center for Infrastructure Renewal

Center for Housing and Urban Development

Center for Heritage Conservation

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Institute of Data Science

Helpful Resources

Computer requirements.

PhD in Urban Design and Planning

The Ph.D. in Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington is one of 39 Ph.D. programs in urban and regional planning in North America, and one of the oldest, founded in 1967.

This program brings together faculty from disciplines ranging from Architecture to Sociology to focus on the interdisciplinary study of urban problems and interventions. Covering scales from neighborhoods to metropolitan areas, the program addresses interrelationships between the physical environment, the built environment, and the social, economic, and political institutions and processes that shape urban areas. The breadth of this program permits students to pursue doctoral studies in the various aspects of urban design and planning as well as in a number of related social science, natural resource, and engineering areas.

The Program seeks to prepare scholars who can advance the state of research, practice, and education related to the built environment and its relationship to society and nature in metropolitan regions throughout the world. The program provides a strong interdisciplinary educational experience that draws on the resources of the entire University, and on the laboratory provided by the Seattle metropolitan region and the Pacific Northwest. The program emphasizes the educational values of interdisciplinarity, intellectual leadership and integrity, and the social values of equity, democracy and sustainability. It seeks to promote deeper understanding of the ways in which public decisions shape and are shaped by the urban physical, social, economic, and natural environment. The program envisions its graduates becoming leaders in the international community of researchers, practitioners and educators who focus on improving the quality of life and environment in metropolitan regions.

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• Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development (Ph.D. – UPD)

Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development

Request information.

The Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development prepares students to become researchers, scholars, and academics who contribute new ideas and innovate solutions to contemporary urban problems. Students obtain a solid foundation from which to launch their scholarly careers through advanced courses in planning theory and social justice, land use and urban development, climate change and sustainability, housing and real estate, data science and spatial analysis, demography, transportation and infrastructure, arts, culture, and community development. 

Research in urban planning and development has a direct impact on the world around us. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on critical discourse and inquiry and analytical and theoretical training, Ph.D. students at USC Price are prepared to contribute to solutions that address the world’s most pressing policy and planning issues.

Learn about the application process →

Application Deadlines

John Romley , Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Public Policy and Pharmaceutical & Health Economics Faculty Director, PhD Programs

For admissions information, please email [email protected]

F ields of Study

Through advanced theoretical core courses in critical thinking, planning theory, urban development, and research methodology, Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development students gain a strong foundation from which to launch their scholarly career and develop an area of expertise.

Working closely with faculty mentors, Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development students focus on and develop substantive expertise in core areas that leverage the Price School’s renowned research strengths in fields such as:

• Arts, culture, and community development
• Climate change and sustainability
• Data science and spatial analysis
• Land use and urban design
• Planning theory and social justice
• Transportation and Mobility

All Ph.D. students are supported for four years through a combination of fellowships and graduate assistantships that provides year-round full tuition, a competitive stipend, and health and dental insurance. Students beyond their fourth year obtain support through teaching or research assistantships, or funding from USC and/or outside sources. Ph.D. students have access to stipends for conference travel.

Learn more about funding »

Research in a Supportive E nvironment

Price School faculty mentor Ph.D. students to contribute to the scholarly foundations of their chosen field. Many Ph.D. students publish and present their work at conferences, often co-authoring papers with faculty.

Recent Ph.D. Student Publications

Arthur Acolin, J. Bricker, P.S. Calem, and S.M. Wachter (2016). A Renter or Homeowner Nation? 18.1: 145-157.

Arthur Acolin and Annette M. Kim . (2021). Algorithmic justice and groundtruthing the remote mapping of informal settlements: The example of Ho Chi Minh City’s periphery. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science. 2022;49(1):151-168. doi:10.1177/2399808321998708

Cynthia Barboza-Wilkes, Bill Resh , and Carmen Mooradian (2020). Unpaid Work? Emotional Labor Assessments and Episodic Recall Bias in Public Engagement, Journal of Behavioral Public Administration , Vol. 3(2), 1-11.

Yi Chen, Bryan Tysinger, Eileen Crimmins, and Julie Zissimopoulos (2019). Analysis of Dementia in the US Population Using Medicare Claims: Insights from Linked Survey and Administrative Claims Data, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions , Vol 5(1), 197-207.

Jonathan Crisman and Annette M. Kim , (2019). Property Outlaws in the Southland: The Potentials and Limits of Guerrilla Urbanism in the Cases of Arts Gentrification in Boyle Heights and Street Vending Decriminalization in Los Angeles.  Urban Design International . 24: 159-170.  https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-019-00086-6

Julia Harten, Annette M. Kim , & Cressica Brazier. (2020). Real and fake data in Shanghai’s informal rental housing market: Groundtruthing data scraped from the internet. Urban Studies, 58(9), 1831–1845.  https://doi-org.libproxy1.usc.edu/10.1177/0042098020918196

Andy Hong and Lisa Schweitzer , L. Marr, and W. Yang (2015). Impact of Temporary Freeway Closure on Regional Air Quality: A Lesson from Carmageddon in Los Angeles.  Environmental Science and Technology , 49(5): 3211-3218.

Hyojung Lee and Elizabeth Currid‐Halkett , & Gary D. Painter . (2019) Veblen goods and urban distinction: The economic geography of conspicuous consumption; Journal of Regional Science, 59(1): 83-117.

Matthew Miller (2015). Social Finance in Black Geographies: A Statistical Analysis of Locations in Los Angeles County.  Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy , 21: 78-91.

Noah Miller, Adam Rose , Dan Wei, Toon Vandyck and Christian Flachsland (2018). Achieving Paris Climate Agreement Pledges: Alternative Designs for Linking Emissions Trading, Review of Environmental Economics and Policy , Vol. 12, No. 1: 170-182.

Maria Francesca Piazzoni (2018). The Real Fake: Authenticity and the Production of Space , Fordham University Press.

Vincent Reina and Raphael Bostic and H. Schwartz, R.K. Green, L.M. Davis, and C.H. Augustine (2015). The Preservation of Affordable Rental Housing: An Evaluation of the MacArthur Foundation’s Window of Opportunity Initiative.  RAND Corporation report .

Jovanna Rosen (2016). Climate, Environmental Health Vulnerability, and Physical Planning: A Review of the Forecasting Literature.  Journal of Planning Literature , 1-20.

Eun Jin Shin (2017). Ethnic Neighborhoods, Social Networks, and Inter-household Carpooling: A Comparison Across Ethnic Minority Groups, Journal of TransportGeography , Vol. 59, pp. 14–26.

Xize Wang, Marlon Boarnet , and D. Houston (2016). Can New Light Rail Reduce Personal Vehicle Carbon Emissions? A before-after, experimental-control evaluation in Los Angeles,  Journal of Regional Science .

Research Centers and Opportunities

Urban Data Lab

Urban Data Lab uses computational data science and spatial analysis to explore urban transportation patterns around the world, critically interrogate how big data reshapes housing affordability, and leverage technology platforms for more just, collaborative city planning.

METRANS Transportation Center

METRANS’ mission is to solve transportation problems of large metropolitan regions through interdisciplinary research, education and outreach. With three key objectives – to foster independent, high quality research to solve the nation’s transportation problems; train the next generation transportation workforce; and disseminate information, best practices, and technology to the professional community – this partnership between USC and CSULB brings together two large urban universities with complementary strengths.

Population Dynamics Research Group

The Population Dynamics Research Group uncovers demographic trends that drive major changes in society, providing insights that lead to effective policies. These population patterns underlie areas like immigration, education, the environment, and urban growth. The Popdynamics team monitors the future using the decennial U.S. Census, the American Community Survey, and our own carefully crafted Demographic Futures projections which incorporate layers of demographic analysis and include greater detail than the census provides.

USC Center for Sustainability Solutions

The Center for Sustainability Solutions develops policy, technological, and behavioral solutions to the most pressing sustainability problems of the Southern California region and the world.  It brings together scholars and stakeholders from sustainability organizations around the world to collaborate on basic and applied research aimed at making a real-world impact

Spatial Analysis Lab (SLAB)

Committed to expanding the visualization of public policy and urban planning, the USC Price School launched its Spatial Analysis Lab for research. SLAB’s research experiments with developing alternative cartographies to bring attention to overlooked urban spaces and people. It also critically studies how our visual narratives interface with social institutions and public discourse.

Sol Price Center for Social Innovation

The Sol Price Center for Social Innovation was established with the recent gift to name the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. This new center aims to advance ideas, strategies, and practices that enhance the quality of life for people in urban communities. The center will provide opportunities for direct student engagement across all of the Price School’s primary disciplines.

PhD Urban and Regional Planning

The PhD is a research degree. The program’s graduates have gone on to academic positions in the U.S. and abroad, as well as taking research posts with public sector agencies in the U.S. and overseas and in private consulting. Recent graduates can be found across the world working in a variety of research positions with an equally widely varying array of institutions.

Over fifty-five students have received PhDs from the department (see our list of PhD alumni here ), with about fifteen students currently enrolled in the program. Generally students spend two years doing full-time course work before being advanced to candidacy, and an additional two to three years in preparation and defense of a dissertation. The University’s requirements for the PhD. which govern departmental policy are detailed in the Graduate School’s Policies and Procedures . A summary of the department’s requirements are outlined below; details are available in the URPL’s PhD Program Policies and Procedures.

PhD Funding Opportunities

Several opportunities exist for funding doctoral studies in Urban and Regional Planning at the UW–Madison. In addition to funding opportunities through the Graduate School , the Department administers targeting funds for doctoral study. One such opportunity exists specifically for PhD dissertators and provides up to $5,000 for successful applicants. Dissertators in applying for the  URPL Dissertation Excellence Fellowship  should follow guidelines found  here

PhD Reading Lists:

• Preliminary 1
• Preliminary 3

For More information on our PhD program visit our PhD Handbook 

Urban Planning, PHD

On this page:, at a glance: program details.

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Urban Planning

The PhD program in urban planning educates scholars for positions in leading universities; research institutions; nongovernmental organizations; international multilateral institutions; national, state and local governments; and high-level consulting firms. The program provides a strong foundation for undertaking research in planning, urbanism, urban design and urban sustainability.

The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning maintains close relationships with many of the communities in the Phoenix metropolitan area that are leading the way on issues like urban climate change, sustainability and transportation planning. Students have opportunities to interact with planning leaders, mentors and community organizations. Students conduct research alongside faculty; take classes focused on current issues in the field; conduct research and reports for local clients; and start building their professional network across the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Students benefit from a wide variety of coursework and research opportunities in five broad interdisciplinary themes that span the expertise of the faculty within the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning:

• city building and urban structure
• environmental and resiliency planning
• housing, neighborhoods and community development
• spatial analytics and smart cities
• transportation planning and policy

Additional Details

Frequently Asked Questions   Professional Licensure Disclosure

Degree Requirements

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (6 credit hours) PUP 710 Current Planning Theory and Practice (3) PUP 724 Planning Methods for Doctoral Students (3)

Electives and Research (64 credit hours)

Other Requirement (2 credit hours) PUP 701 Urban Planning Colloquium (1)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) PUP 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information Students take two semesters of PUP 701 for a total of two credit hours.

When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.

Up to six credit hours of 400-level courses may be applied to the plan of study.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a master's degree in a related field such as urban studies, geography, environmental studies, sustainability, architecture, public policy or public administration from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• personal statement
• three letters of recommendation
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

The personal statement must be 600 words or fewer and explain the applicant's interest in planning at the doctoral level; academic and professional background and, if appropriate, preparation for the selected area of specialty, which may include written samples or a portfolio; and educational and professional objectives.

Letters of recommendation should be from three faculty members who can attest to the applicant's academic achievements.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, career opportunities.

Professionals with expertise in planning research, theory and practice are in high demand across sectors and industries, including institutions of higher education, planning consulting firms and community organizations. Skills in environmental impact assessment, geographical data analysis and community resiliency planning are valuable to organizations and institutions that rely on research-based approaches to solve complex real-world problems.

Career examples include:

• chief sustainability officer
• city and regional planning aide
• environmental restoration planner
• transportation planner
• urban and regional planner
• urban planning teacher, postsecondary

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-7533

Department of City and Regional Planning

PhD Program

The Carolina Planning PhD program trains students in urban and regional social theory and research methods. Our program is highly selective and individualized; each year between three and six students begin the program with 20-25 PhD students in residence at any given time.

Our program is situated in one of the largest, most diverse planning departments in the country with students from all over the United States and the world. Our PhD students are distinguished by the strong skills they develop during rigorous training in planning theory, research design, and mixed-methods research techniques. Most of our PhD students have previous graduate training (e.g. a Master’s degree) and work or research experience in planning or a related field.

As a result, our graduates sit in leadership positions throughout the United States and the world, contributing to the understanding of urban and regional issues, formulating innovative public policy, and managing research programs in domestic and international contexts.

What do our graduates do? About 50 percent of the program’s graduates become faculty members in research universities. Others pursue careers in international agencies, think-tanks, government, or consulting. Nearly 20 percent work outside of the United States or are engaged in multinational projects. Our PhD graduates include department chairs, deans, officers of national academic and professional organizations, and many well-published scholars.

Dr. Todd BenDor is the Director of the PhD program and Admissions.

Meet Our Students

Jo (Joungwon) Kwon

Jo’s research interests reside in visualizations as a tool to support climate action plans.

Megan McIntyre

Megan McIntyre is a second-year PhD student in the City and Regional Planning Depar. Her comparative research agenda focuses on … Read more

Kshitiz Khanal

Kshitiz pursues research on the applications of machine learning and geospatial analytics in energy and environmental planning

Course of Study

Each student develops an individualized program statement to reflect his or her specific area of interest and career aspirations. The UNC Planning PhD program has three primary phases:

• First, students and their program committees jointly determine the area of specialization and appropriate course work during the first semester in the program. Written comprehensive exams are taken at the end of a student’s coursework program, testing knowledge of planning theory, research methods and a specific area of specialization.
• Students must then conceptualize, fully design, and propose a significant independent research project (PhD dissertation) that contributes to knowledge in the field of city and regional planning.
• Finally, students must complete and defend their dissertations.

Adequately prepared students with master’s degrees in planning or related fields generally need four semesters of formal course work. Students without master’s degrees generally take another semester or two. During this time, students take courses in advanced planning theory, policy-oriented research design, and data analysis techniques.

Our program draws on the intellectual resources of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a leader in the social sciences. Carolina Planning students really get four universities in one: student may take courses in any department at Duke University, North Carolina State University, and North Carolina Central University. Students often take courses in Departments of Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Public Health, Sociology, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and Public Policy. Students also take three PhD seminars that train students in research, grant writing, and career development.  The following provides a short summary of the required coursework.

2 Research Design Courses

1 qualitative methods, 2 quantitative methods, 1 advanced planning theory.

For more details about program requirements, please read the PhD Program Guidelines .

• PhD Program Committee Conference
• Year 1 Coursework

• Complete paper on area of dissertation research
• Form comprehensive exam committee
• Year 2 Coursework

• Take oral comprehensive exams
• Take written comprehensive exams
• Form dissertation committee  and prepare dissertation proposal

• Prepare and revise dissertation
• Defend dissertation

WHERE DO DCRP PHDS GO?

Current Affiliations of DCRP PhD Graduates Since 1998

Stuart Weitzman School of Design 102 Meyerson Hall 210 South 34th Street Philadelphia, PA 19104

215.898.3425

Get Directions

Get the latest Weitzman news in your Inbox:

Phd in city & regional planning.

• Letter from the Graduate Group Chair
• Program Requirements
• Doctoral Program Community
• The City Planning Graduate Group

Welcome to our online source of information for the Doctoral Program in City and Regional Planning in the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Here you will find information about our outstanding faculty, their research interests, teaching, and professional activities; the expectations and requirements of the Program; and profiles of our PhD students and graduates.

The University of Pennsylvania is an intellectually stimulating environment in which to study the today’s metropolitan challenges. To develop responses, our PhD students have easy access to a broad, multi-disciplinary faculty and all the resources of a first-rate urban research university.

Penn’s PhD program in City and Regional Planning (CPLN), overseen by the Graduate Group in City and Regional Planning, dates back to the 1950s. Since that time, the faculty have guided more than 330 students though their graduate studies to the completion of the degree and aided them in assuming positions of leadership in both academia and the profession throughout the United States and across the world. For a complete list graduates and their dissertations, see the Doctoral Student Handbook .

General University and Graduate Group policies govern the doctoral degree; see the University's Policies and Procedures , especially the Academic Rules for PhD Programs and the Resources for PhD Students . We expect students to familiarize themselves with the policies very early in their academic careers.

The Department of Urban Planning and Design

"Terra Fluxus" by Shizheng Geng (MAUD '21) and Youngju Kim (MAUD '21)

It was at Harvard University that the first formal North American programs in city and regional planning (1923) and urban design (1960) were established. Since then, Harvard has played a leading role in the education of urban planners and urban designers. The Department of Urban Planning and Design is home to both professions, offering a professional degree in urban planning and a post-professional degree in urban design. It is also home to the new Master in Real Estate degree.

Degree Programs

Maud / mlaud master of architecture in urban design / master of landscape architecture in urban design.

The program leading to the Master of Architecture in Urban Design and the Master of Landscape in Urban Design is intended for individuals who have completed a professional program in Architecture or Landscape Architecture and who have a strong interest in engaging the practice and theory of contemporary urbanism.

MUP Master in Urban Planning

Accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board and open to students with an undergraduate degree, the two-year professional Master in Urban Planning degree program emphasizes planning to develop, preserve, and enhance the built environment. Students learn how to understand, analyze, and influence the variety of forces-social, economic, cultural, legal, political, ecological, and aesthetic, among others-shaping the built environment.

MRE Master in Real Estate

The Master in Real Estate (MRE) is a 12-month degree program for individuals seeking to acquire or sharpen traditional real estate skills while learning how real estate can advance beneficial spatial, social, and environmental outcomes in cities and metropolitan areas worldwide.

MUP and MLA/MArch/MDES/MPA/MPP/JD/MPH Concurrent and Joint Degrees

Students in the Master in Urban Planning (MUP) program can undertake concurrent degrees with other departments at the GSD and joint degrees with certain schools outside the GSD. Concurrent and joint degree students must be in full-time residence for at least one additional year beyond the longer of the two degree programs.

Inside Urban Planning and Design

Composed of internationally experienced scholars and practitioners, the Department’s faculty explores the built environment from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and points of view. The Department’s pedagogically innovative combination of interdisciplinary studios, lecture courses, seminars, and independent study, coupled with a relatively small student size of roughly 180 individuals drawn from around the world, creates an intimate, engaged educational atmosphere in which students thrive and learn.

Students take full advantage of the curricular and extracurricular offerings of the GSD’s Department of Architecture and Department of Landscape Architecture. The Department of Urban Planning and Design also draws upon the significant resources of Harvard University as a whole. The Urban Planning program administers joint degree programs with the Kennedy School, the Law School, and the School of Public Health. Students often cross-register in courses offered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Business School, the Kennedy School, the Law School, and the School of Public Health. Students also cross-register in courses offered by the neighboring Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ann Forsyth , Chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Design

Please visit the official Department of Urban Planning and Design Facebook page.

“H.U.D., Sweat, and Tears” team is runner-up in affordable housing competition

Harvard Graduate School of Design student Avanti Krovi (MUP ’21) and teammates from the University…

May 3, 2021

Announcements

I decided that I needed to serve my neighbors and harness the skills I had learned in my first year as a transportation and public realm–focused master in urban planning student for a truly just cause.

David Bemporad

Apr 21, 2021

Stephen Gray talks “Shaping Equitable Cities” in Harvard magazine cover story

Back in his hometown: Stephen Gray in downtown Cincinnati. Photo: Aaron Conway/aaconn studio. Courtesy of…

Mar 11, 2021

Students, Faculty Receive 2021 Harvard Mellon Initiative Awards for Urban-Focused Research

The Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative recently awarded 29 grants for urban-focused…

Mar 29, 2021

Power and Justice in the Lone Grid State: Abby Spinak and Sarah Stanford-McIntyre on the crisis in Texas

Newspapers this week are swamped with headlines like, “What Went Wrong…

Feb 19, 2021

The African American Design Nexus’ Harlem StoryMap traces the neighborhood’s Black-designed places

Black Harlem, storied and resilient, has been chronicled from many perspectives. Missing until now has…

Feb 17, 2021

We can no longer continue to rebuild in the same way we always have. We have to take and learn from the failures of our infrastructures and begin to develop those in new ways now.

Toni Griffin

Dec 2, 2020

GSD students collaborate with Kabul University in Afghanistan to confront the most extreme conditions of urbanization

Design paradigms are best tested in extreme conditions, as Rahul Mehrotra…

Jan 29, 2021

Land for a City on a Hill: Alex Krieger’s iconic tour of Boston

  Watch as Alex Krieger, professor and former chair of the Department of Urban…

Dec 4, 2020

Urban Planning students win grand prize in affordable housing hackathon

A team of Master in Urban Planning students consisting of Zoe Iacovino (MUP/MPP ’23), Ryan…

This Land Is Your Land : Students interrogate why “urban” and “Indigenous” are cast as opposing identities

Until the last decade, Native American, First Nations, and other Indigenous architecture has been a…

Nov 27, 2020

There is a raison d’etre for cities not so easily dislodged. The human thirst for live engagement with people and place is not easily quenched. In the past, in crisis after crisis, urban resilience has proved the skeptics wrong.

Jerold Kayden

Nov 19, 2020

Hidden Territories: Uncovering the racist legacy of the American landscape

The term “landscape” historically referred to pictures of the world—vistas or views—and so it is…

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With student advocates’ help, Cambridge set to build more affordable housing

Last month, the city council in Cambridge, Massachusetts, voted to…

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• Catalog Home
• Urban and Regional Planning, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. is open to a limited number of quality students who intend to teach, or do research in a university, in an independent research agency, or in large planning organizations.

Generally, students spend two years of full-time coursework before being advanced to candidacy, and an additional one to two years in preparation and defense of a dissertation. Details on administrative requirements for the degree are available in the PhD URPL Handbook .

Although the department stresses the development of general skills and mental attitudes that are common to all planning endeavors, students are required to specialize in an area of planning that is of interest to the student.

The department seeks students with high academic qualifications and the potential to become qualified professional planners. The department is especially interested in women and minority applicants. Since there are relatively few undergraduate planning programs in the country, students come into the field from a wide range of disciplines. In recent years, planning students have generally come from the social sciences, with geography, economics, political science, and sociology the most common undergraduate backgrounds. The range, however, runs from the arts to the sciences.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

Applications submitted past the deadline will be considered on a rolling admissions basis as space allows.

Application for admission to the department consists of the following materials: the online application, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work, statement of purpose (applicants should submit a thoughtful, reflective one- or two-page statement discussing reasons for going into planning; applicants with an interest in a particular concentration should discuss this; applicants with planning or planning-related experience should include this), and three references from people familiar with the applicant's academic and/or professional work.

Besides the general requirements for admission to the M.S. program , there are two additional requirements unique to the Ph.D. program. First, applicants to the Ph.D. program are expected to have a master's degree in planning or a related field. Second, because planning is a practice-oriented field, applicants are expected to have completed at least one year of full-time experience as a professional planner. The Ph.D. program is flexible and is intended to appeal to individuals from diverse academic backgrounds. Therefore, it is possible to be admitted without having met the professional practice requirements. Deficiencies may be made up once a student is in the program.

A student must have an URPL academic sponsor in order to be admitted into the Ph.D. program. Before final admission decisions are made, student applications are circulated among the faculty. Only when a faculty member agrees to serve as an academic sponsor for an admissible candidate is a final admission decision made. The sponsor is the student's academic advisor, and it is expected that the sponsor will become the chair of the student's Ph.D. committee.

In reviewing applications, the department gives extra weight to planning-related work, such as Peace Corps or professional planning experience. The department also considers graduate coursework, even if it is in another field. If students have such experience, it should be stressed in the application.

The success of international students enrolled in the program depends heavily on a good working knowledge of English. Prospective applicants who do not feel comfortable using the English language are strongly urged to consider further language study before applying for admission. Prospective students whose native language is not English must also provide evidence of English language proficiency. A TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based) or above typically indicates an ability to successfully meet the written and spoken communication requirements of graduate level courses, the department’s preliminary examinations, and the dissertation.

All applicants are required to have an introductory-level course in statistics. This requirement may be met by taking an introductory course, for no graduate credit, during the student's first semester of study.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

The PhD URPL Program Committee will help students look for funding for their graduate study, though the program cannot guarantee funding. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School and from the PhD URPL Program Committee. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Mode of instruction definitions.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Required courses.

All doctoral students are required to complete 9 credits on the structure and processes of cities and regions. These courses shall cover the nature of urban and regional development processes over time and the impact of urban and regional development on the social, economic, environmental, institutional, and physical structure of cities and regions. They should also cover the response of federal, state and local governments to the issues and problems generated by such development and the planner’s role in developing public policy and programs to deal with those problems and issues.

Courses satisfying the requirement for this component of doctoral studies must be approved by the student’s Ph.D. advisor and then by the Ph.D. program committee, and shall be recorded on a form provided by the committee.

The remainder of the required credits to reach a minimum of 51 typically are made up of research credits (990).

Coursework Satisfying Requirement for Structure and Processes of Cities and Regions

Graduate school policies.

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate work from other institutions.

Requests for prior coursework to be applied to credit requirements should be submitted to the Ph.D. Committee for evaluation. The committee may approve up to a maximum of 18 credits of prior coursework toward program requirements. No graduate work taken at other institutions counts toward the program's minimum graduate credit requirement.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

No credits from any undergraduate degree may be applied toward the Ph.D. program.

UW–Madison University Special

A maximum of 15 credits may be applied from the UW–Madison University Special career; requests for prior coursework to be applied to credit requirements should be submitted to the Ph.D. committee for evaluation.

A semester GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.0 is not attained during the subsequent semester of full time enrollment (or 12 credits of enrollment if enrolled part-time) the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue for 1 additional semester based on advisor appeal to the Graduate School.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

All students are required to conduct a yearly progress report meeting with their thesis committee after passing the preliminary examination.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Time limits.

All courses for the Structure and Processes of Cities and Regions requirement must be taken and successfully completed within the doctoral student’s first five semesters (i.e., two and one-half academic years) in the Ph.D. program. This coursework requirement must be met before the student is advanced to candidacy (awarded dissertator, ABD status).

grievances and appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

• Acquire and demonstrate knowledge about the professional field of planning, as exemplified in the accreditation guidelines for the master's program in urban and regional planning and the Planning Accreditation Board. These include knowledge about: the purpose and meaning of planning, planning history, planning theory, planning law, the structure and function of cities and regions, and global dimensions of planning. Students demonstrate this knowledge through entrance requirements (a master's degree in planning or acceptable cognate field), through completion of coursework, and through completion of preliminary examinations in planning theory, planning methods, and planning specialization.
• Acquire and demonstrate knowledge about the role and use of planning theories in both practice and research, including the historical development of planning theory, major theoretical approaches within planning, and the application of theories from other disciplines as applied to planning. Students demonstrate this knowledge through coursework and completion of a planning theory preliminary examination.
• Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of social science research methods, including research design, data collection, and quantitative and qualitative methods used in planning research. Students demonstrate knowledge through completion of graduate coursework in research methods and through completion of a research design and methods preliminary examination.
• Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of a substantive research and practice field within planning. Students demonstrate specialized knowledge in one of the major fields within planning through completion of coursework and through a research-specialization preliminary examination.
• Acquire and demonstrate skills in conducting academic research and scholarly inquiry in the field of urban and regional planning, including ability to summarize and critique extant research, ability to develop a research proposal, skills in seeking funding, skills in completion of research projects, and skills in written and oral presentation of research findings.
• Acquire and demonstrate specialized skills in research for their chosen major field within planning. This will include skills in particular research methods and data analysis specific to their chosen field within planning.
• Acquire and demonstrate general knowledge about planning suitable to teaching master's-level planning students in accredited programs. Students will acquire and demonstrate specific knowledge about their chosen field of specialization within planning.
• Acquire and/or demonstrate competence and experience in the professional practice of planning. Students demonstrate this skill through the requirement of previous professional work experience within the field of planning.
• Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of planning values and planning ethics, as exemplified in the accreditation guidelines for the master's program in urban and regional planning and the Planning Accreditation Board. This would also include awareness of rules of ethical professional conduct as exemplified in the Code of Ethics of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
• Demonstrate and be held to the highest standards of academic citation and attribution in all their coursework and published work.
• Demonstrate understanding of professional conduct through required professional work experience in planning.
• Be given opportunities for training and experience in classroom teaching, presentation of research at academic conferences, and development of research proposals for funding agencies.
• Demonstrate ethics and values consistent with the "Wisconsin brand" of urban and regional planning, which includes participation, transparency in governance, environmental protection and social justice.

https://dpla.wisc.edu/facstaff/faculty

• Requirements
• Professional Development
• Learning Outcomes

Contact Information

Planning and Landscape Architecture College of Letters & Science [email protected] dpla.wisc.edu

Urban and Regional Planning 925 Bascom Mall, Madison, WI 53706

Amy Rivera, Graduate Coordinator [email protected] 608-890-4697

Dave Marcouiller, PhD Director [email protected]

Alfonso Morales, Department Chair [email protected]

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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School of City & Regional Planning

College of design.

Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning

Doctoral study in city and regional planning combines research and theory in an applied professional field. We link theory to practice, allowing students to explore the most important issues facing rapidly changing urban areas today.

We build socially, economically, and environmentally resilient communities through interdisciplinary study and research. Our doctoral students consistently graduate to top academic and other professional careers. We welcome your interest and inquiries.

Join an Information Session

These sessions are thoughtfully curated to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the unique nuances and requirements of the Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning. You'll be able to engage directly with our program director, gain invaluable insights, and have your queries addressed firsthand. Follow this link to get signed up. 

Extending the Horizon of Planning

Each year, the Ph.D. program seeks applicants with research interests that correspond closely to those of our faculty. Our faculty engage in research and teaching across the diverse spectrum of planning, including economic and community development, housing, land use, environment, transportation, planning theory, collaborative governance, and urban design.

Some of the cutting-edge issues they focus on include climate change, urban analytics, economic resilience, megaregions, disaster planning, and healthy cities. The three to five new Ph.D. students that we admit annually work closely with their faculty advisors to develop a course of study that will extend the horizons of knowledge available in our profession.

Besides their major area of focus in planning, students identify a minor area outside of planning to augment their intellectual foundation. Students are able to take courses in other degree programs at Georgia Tech, as well as at other research universities in Atlanta, including Emory University and Georgia State University.

If you apply to our program, we will want to know what motivates you to make the significant commitment to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of planning, as well as why you see Georgia Tech as an appropriate home to fulfill that commitment.  

Program Requirements

The doctoral program has three main components: the coursework (which includes the program core, a major field, and a minor field); the comprehensive exams; and the dissertation.

The program of study requires two years of residency minimum (no fewer than four semesters enrolled for at least six credit hours each, excluding summer) devoted to coursework and other preparation for advancement to candidacy. Successful students demonstrate mastery in these areas and are prepared to pursue upper-level careers in government, business, research, and academia. Full details can be found in the  Ph.D. Program Handbook .

Coursework involves a specialized program of study designed by the student and faculty focusing on a major field within city and regional planning, and on a minor field outside the College of Design.

Students complete at least 46 credit hours in their major field, minor field, and the Ph.D. program core requirements, and in various elective courses.

Students complete a minimum of 15 semester-hours of study in their major field, a minimum of 9 hours in their minor field, and a minimum of 19 hours in the program core.

Descriptions of courses offered in city and regional planning and other programs in the College of Design can be found in the  Institute’s course catalog .

Major Fields

Upon admission, each Ph.D. student chooses a major area of study. Any change to the major requires review and approval by the Ph.D. faculty.

To meet the major requirement, students must have satisfactory performance (B or better letter grade) in courses composing not fewer than 15 credit hours. The student’s Advisory Committee may require other courses within the College or other units within the University System of Georgia consistent with the student’s expressed interest in her selected field of concentration.

The composition of chosen courses should provide a full background and preparation in both the substance of the field of study, and appropriate methods of inquiry and analysis.

Examples of majors pursued by doctoral students in the School of City and Regional Planning include:

• Urban climate change management
• Built environment and transportation planning
• Equity and social justice planning

Minor Fields

Students choose a minor to demonstrate competence and inquiry in an area of study related to, but outside of, the School of City and Regional Planning.

To meet the minor requirement, students must have satisfactory performance (defined as a B or better letter grade) in courses composing not fewer than 9 credit hours.

Examples of minors outside the School of City and Regional Planning include:

• Regional economics
• Public health
• Water resources management

Program Core

The core course requirement provides students with a basic knowledge of planning theory, regional theory, and research design and methods.

The Ph.D. seminars acquaint students with questions, methods, and paradigms of research and with the modes of scholarship and pedagogy associated with the city and regional planning field.

Requirements include:

• Advanced Planning Theory (three credit hours)
• Advanced Urban and Regional Development Theory (three credit hours)
• Quantitative Research Design and Methods (three credit hours)
• Qualitative Research Design and Methods (three credit hours)
• Ph.D. Foundations Seminar (one credit hour)
• Ph.D. Planning Seminar (one credit hour each year)

Comprehensive Examination

Once students have completed their coursework, with the exception of on-going attendance in Seminar in Advanced Research Design and Methods, they are ready to take the comprehensive examinations.

Students are tested in five areas: the student’s major and minor fields, and three core area exams in planning theory, regional economic theory, and research design and methods. Core comprehensive exams can be waived by earning a letter grade of ‘A’ in a core course.

The examination process includes both written and oral testing of a student’s mastery of the subjects. Upon successful completion, the student moves on to the dissertation phase of the program.

Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is a written piece of original scholarship that represents a significant new perspective or contribution in the candidate’s chosen field of study. The dissertation must be relevant to the field of planning, and either an addition to the fundamental knowledge base in the field of study or a new and better interpretation of facts already known. It must demonstrate that the candidate possesses powers of original thought, talent for research, understanding of theory and methodology, and ability to organize and present findings.

Admission Details

All application materials are submitted using the Georgia Tech Graduate Studies and Admissions Online System. Applications for admission are due by January 15 . In most cases, students are accepted for and enter the program in the Fall semester. 

Applicants admitted to the PhD Program normally will have completed the requirements for the Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP), or a related Masters degree program. Students from allied fields are also encouraged to apply. In exceptional cases, students with a Bachelors degree only may be accepted directly into the PhD Program but will be required to complete the Masters in City and Regional Planning degree before advancing to candidacy for the PhD degree. PhD students are eligible for an accelerated MCRP curriculum, as outlined in the  Ph.D. Program Handbook

Application materials: 

Application Forms  

Application Fee.

Georgia Tech offers application fee waivers to qualifying applicants. Comprehensive information on whether you qualify for the Institute-sponsored application fee waiver program and how to request one if you do is available  here . The School of City and Regional Planning is additionally offering a limited number of department-sponsored application fee waivers to applicants who do not fall in the  waiver categories described ; If paying the application fee poses an undue financial burden to you and you do not qualify for an Institute-sponsored fee waiver, you may apply to be considered for a SCaRP departmental application fee waiver by completing  this form  before December 1st. 

Three Letters of Recommendation  

Examples of previous research and written works   

Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher learning  

Statement of Purpose

Describe what you have done to prepare yourself for study in a PhD Program.

Why have you chosen to apply to the PhD program in City and Regional Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology?

What area of planning research is of particular interest to you? How might you explore this interest as a doctoral student at Georgia Tech?

Detail your academic and research goals and career plans.

Personal Biography Form  

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is required for admission of this program, with a minimum score of 150 (Verbal), 150 (Quantitative), and 4.0 (Analytical Writing). 

Proof of English proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL scores of 620/261/102 or higher for the test (paper, computer, and internet tests respectively) are expected. Other evidence of English proficiency, such as provided in writing samples or oral interviews, may also be considered in determining language proficiency. Applicants having completed a Bachelors or Masters degree at a US University are not required to submit TOEFL scores. OR  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7.5. For complete outline of the English proficiency requirement and ways to get exemptions from testing, please see https://grad.gatech.edu/english-proficiency  

Cost, Funding and Financial Aid

The SCaRP PhD program typically makes fully funded offers for the first four years of the program. Students receive a  tuition waiver  and  monthly stipend  while working 15-20 hours per week as graduate research assistants, as co-op students with local partners, as TAs or instructors for our graduate and undergraduate offerings. The College of Design 2023-2024 stipend rates are:

• $2,235 working at 15 hours per week
• $2,689 working at 20 hours per week

The institution guidelines for stipends can be found here:  Stipends for Graduate Assistantships | Policy Library .

Recent Doctoral Student Work

Student Work: Green Infrastructure

Jessica fisch.

Planners, policymakers, and elected officials increasingly view investments in green infrastructure, parks and other green development as opportunities for spurring economic growth, increasing environmental quality, and providing social and recreational amenities in urban areas. However, research has indicated that these projects do not adequately address equity concerns, such as access for low-income and marginalized groups, housing affordability, and displacement of existing residents. Consequently, green infrastructure projects can lead to ‘environmental gentrification.’

This dissertation work finds that green infrastructure planning may reinforce social capital, which in turn shapes green infrastructure projects and planning processes with regard to addressing housing affordability and community benefits concerns. It further finds that social capital has served as a catalyst for advocacy and the development of organizations, policies, and programs focused on housing affordability and workforce development.

Student Work: Shared Autonomous Vehicles

Wenwen zhang.

We are on the cusp of a new era in mobility given that the enabling technologies for autonomous vehicles (AVs) are almost ready for deployment. This promising technology together with the sharing economy will enable a new travel mode – Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs), a taxi service without drivers.

Recent studies have explored the feasibility, affordability, environmental benefits, and parking demand of the system in hypothetical grid-base cities. Despite these rapidly proliferating studies, it remains unclear how this affordable and environmentally friendly travel mode will influence residential and commercial location choices and potentially transform urban form. How much parking will we need and where will it be located when the SAV system is a popular mode of travel?

In this graphic, we see how the demand for parking fluctuates in response to three pricing scenarios: free parking, a flat rate, and a time-variable rate. The results of this dissertation work suggest the SAV system can reduce over 90% of parking demand for households who participate into the system and give up their private vehicles, potentially freeing substantial acreage of urban land for other critical needs. 

Student Work: Local Environment and Extreme Heat

Jason vargo, 2012.

This dissertation explores interactions between global trends in climate change with local influences tied to urban land covers. First, it examines temperatures during an extended period of extreme heat and asks whether changes in land surface temperatures during a heat wave are consistent in space and time across all land cover types.

Second, the influences of land covers on temperatures are considered for normal and extreme summer weather to find out which characteristics of the built environment most influence temperatures during periods of extreme heat.

Finally, the distribution of extreme heat health risks within cities are described and examined for spatial patterns. As illustrated in this graphic, the physical design of city blocks can yield very different patterns of heat exposure in cities, with direct implications for human health. The results of this dissertation are assisting cities in their development of climate change adaptation plans focused on rising levels of heat exposure.

Meet the Ph.D. Program Director

Elora raymond.

Elora Lee Raymond is an urban planner and Assistant Professor in the School of City and Regional Planning in the College of Design at Georgia Tech. She is interested in the financialization of housing and property in land, displacement and dispossession through housing systems, housing and disasters, housing justice, race, segregation, and the transnational Pacific Islander community.

We know the relationship between a Doctoral Student and their advisor is crucial to getting the most out of their degree. We are here to make the most out of your PhD education.  We encourage those interested in the Ph.D. program to reach out to Elora Raymond with questions about pursuing a Ph.D. at Georgia Tech.

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The internationally recognized PhD program in Regional Planning prepares scholars for leadership positions at universities and research institutions in the US and around the world as faculty and policy makers. It builds a strong foundation of planning and social science theories and hones skills in advanced research methods for students to develop expertise in a chosen specialization.

More Information

PhD students in Regional Planning at DURP strive for and achieve excellence. Recent awards and achievements include:

• Steve Sherman (2020) : ACSP Barclay Gibbs Jones Award for Best Dissertation in Planning
• Shurti Syal (2019) : ACSP GPEIG Gill-Chin Lim Award for the Best Dissertation on International Planning
• Max Eisenburger (current Ph.D. candidate): ACSP-Ewing Marion Kauffman 2019 Best Paper Award
• Efadul Huq (2021): co-author of the most read/downloaded articles in 2018-19 issues of City & Community a leading journal in urban and regional planning.

Independent of our specialization DURP faculty have a strong social justice commitment, whereby two consecutive competitive cycles 2015 and 2017 our faculty Marc Doussard and Faranak Miraftab won the ACSP’s Davidoff book award recognizing planning books on social justice and place-based inequities.

To see a list of recent  PhD in Regional Planning Doctorates Granted

From the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Andrew Greenlee

Thank you for your interest in the Regional Planning Ph.D. program!

Doctoral studies in planning draws from a diverse array of interests and perspectives – one of the hallmarks of our program is an emphasis on this intellectual diversity. As a community of scholars, we bring many interests and life experiences to our work all connected through a common goal – supporting and sustaining diverse, vibrant, healthy, and just places for all people.

As a community of scholars, we employ many different perspectives and approaches to achieve this overarching goal – our Regional Planning Ph.D. program has a long history as a leader in regional science, but also in centering social equity and justice in our understanding of urban governance. Our faculty are known worldwide for bringing multidisciplinary perspectives and thought leadership to their research, teaching, and engagement. From diverse perspectives and approaches, we seek to use our scholarship as a positive force for societal change, and through the Regional Planning Ph.D. program, we seek to train the next generation of scholars and leaders.

We seek those individuals who aspire to advanced leadership in academia and research, and who bring to their work a track record of excellence in their studies and professional practice. We seek those individuals who, regardless of their prior academic or professional background, have deep and urgent questions to engage that intersect at some level with cities and urban environments. Taking a look at the work of Regional Planning Ph.D. program graduates may help you see the diversity of paths we prepare doctoral students for.

No Ph.D. program is an easy path. But the job placement of our graduates speaks for itself. Our program typically takes 4 years. It entails 2 years of coursework, followed by exams. Students dedicate the 3rd and 4th years to their dissertation research. Most students receive funding through the department, frequently through teaching or research assistantships.

You can find more information about the  Department of Urban and Regional Planning ,  What to Expect ,  How to Apply , and  Financial Support  on our website. You can also learn about our faculty, students, and community. We hope you will choose to visit us and learn more about our commitment to leadership, research, and expertise.

For answers about program policies and procedures, please reach out to me:

Professor Andrew Greenlee Director of Graduate Studies Department of Urban and Regional Planning University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 111 Temple Buell Hall 611 E Lorado Taft Dr, Champaign, IL 61820 Voice: 217-333-9069 E-mail:  [email protected]

PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design Admissions

The PhD program is highly selective and individualized. While some students have been admitted as part-time students, full-time study is encouraged and given priority in the admissions process.

Our official application review starts with the submission of a full application through the university system.  We recommend that before you apply to the program, you visit the  faculty page  to familiarize yourself with various faculty members and their expertise and research. We encourage you to reach out to potential dissertation advisors, based on shared research interests, and ask about make an inquiry of potential advising. Please do not send an inquiry about admission to individual faculty members; all admissions and funding decisions are made by a committee and not individual faculty members.

To be considered for the Urban and Regional Planning and Design PhD Program, applicants must have a fully completed application submitted through the online platform by the deadline. We do not accept late applications.

We look forward to introducing you to the University of Maryland and its PhD Program in Urban and Regional Planning. 

Visit the  graduate school website  for General Requirements, Program-Specific Requirements, and Application Deadlines. 

Learn more about the PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design .

Admission Requirements

Students admitted to the PhD program will be expected to have completed a master's degree in a related field including (but not exclusively) urban planning, architecture, historic preservation, or landscape architecture. Students are expected to enter the PhD program with two semesters of graduate level quantitative research methods. These courses can be taken after entrance to the program and prior to their advanced methods course.

Application Requirements

Apply via the graduate application website . .

Read the latest instructions. When prompted, put in the four letter code that identifies the program for which you are applying.

The online code for the PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design degree is URPD.

A non-refundable $75 fee is required for each program application. Payment of your application fee must be made online in order for your application to be submitted. Your application will not be processed until you pay your application fee and it is authorized. 

To find out if you are eligible for an application fee waiver, please click on the following link: https://gradschool.umd.edu/feewaiverinformation

Transcripts

Unofficial copies of transcripts from each institution, including the University of Maryland, must be attached to your application. Admitted applicants must arrange for official transcripts to be forwarded to the Graduate Admissions Office from each institution where undergraduate or prior graduate work was undertaken. Sealed envelopes of transcripts that meet the requirements below must be submitted. 

Transcripts must bear the signature of the registrar and the seal of the granting institution and should include the years of attendance, courses taken, grades received, class standing, and any degree, certificate, or diploma received.

Letters of Recommendation

Three recommendations are required from professors or other unrelated individuals who can assess the applicant’s potential to succeed in this program. The online application provides an electronic recommendation form, which in most cases facilitates submission and receipt.

Statement of Purpose

(1000-2000 words)

Applicants must submit a statement of their goals and objectives in pursuing graduate study using the online application. The statement should address the following two questions:

What are your reasons for undertaking graduate study at the University of Maryland, College Park? Indicate, if appropriate, any specific areas of research interest. You may wish to discuss past work in your intended field or allied fields, your plans for a professional career, or how you developed your interest in or knowledge of your chosen subject.

What life experiences have prepared you to pursue a graduate degree at a large and diverse institution such as the University of Maryland? Items you might care to include could be your financial, community, and family background, whether you are the first person in your family to pursue higher education, or any other factors that you believe would contribute to the diversity of our academic community. You may also wish to give the graduate admissions committee some examples of your determination to pursue your goals, your initiative and ability to develop ideas, and/or your capacity for working through problems independently.

Applicants must attach an up-to-date resume via the online application.

The Fall 2024 deadline for application to the PhD in Urban and Regional Planning and Design is January 9, 2024.

If students would like to apply for the Flagship Fellowship or the President's Fellowship, a complete application must be submitted by December 8, 2023.   

Tuition and Fees

For current tuition, fees and other expenses for degrees, please visit the Student Financial Services and Cashiering website. 

Students who have not yet passed their comprehensive exams and advanced to candidacy pay the standard rate for graduate tuition and fees. PhD students who have advanced to candidacy pay flat rates for 899 level candidacy courses and fees

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CLOSE TO $300,000 IN FUNDING SUPPORT PER STUDENT

Taubman College provides full funding to all students admitted to our doctoral programs. We provide four years of funding, which includes a full tuition waiver, health insurance, and a generous stipend package that combines both fellowship funding and a graduate assistantship, as long as you’re making satisfactory progress toward your degree. Funding also includes a stipend for your spring/summer terms. We do not require an additional application for financial aid.

We encourage students to apply for additional external sources of support when available. We also nominate students for University fellowships when they are eligible.

Students who bring external funding with them at the time of admission should specify this funding to the Doctoral Studies Office so that program staff may consult with faculty and construct a coordinated funding package.

For other financial aid, such as loans and grants, contact the University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid (734-763-6600). In addition, the Rackham Fellowships Office (734-764-8119) has information on fellowships and scholarships from outside agencies.

Students may also be nominated at the time of admission for the Rackham Merit Fellowship Program (RMF) , which provides an additional 12-months of funding. The RMF is for US citizens, permanent residents or undocumented students with DACA status who are underrepresented, first generation, low-income and/or working to reduce social, educational, or economic disparities. We also encourage all students to apply for funding from independent sources, such as those below, to support their fieldwork and additional semesters.

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Note : Please check the University of Michigan Registrar's Office website for current tuition figures. The Registrar's Office is the authoritative source of tuition information for the University.

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Student Financial Services manages student account billing and tuition collection at the University of Michigan. Visit their website to learn more about paying tuition and due dates.

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Rackham distributes more than $50 million in funding to graduate students each year. About three-fourths of that is allocated to graduate programs to support students’ funding packages. The other roughly 25 percent is distributed through Rackham-administered fellowship and grant competitions. Students can apply directly for some of these awards, while others require a nomination from your graduate program. Visit the Rackham funding page for information and application deadlines.