Program Overview

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Urban Planning, PhD

The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning offers a Doctor of Philosophy program in Urban Planning. This interdisciplinary program is designed to address complex challenges related to planning, including autonomous vehicles, climate change, and social equity.

Program Description

The program provides students with 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.

At a Glance

• College/School: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

The program requires 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

• General university admission requirements:
  • All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must 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
  • Resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone's situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall
  • Session | Modality | Deadline | Type
    • Session A/C | In Person | 12/15 | Final

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program's learning outcomes include the following:

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of theory and existing scholarship in urban planning.
• Demonstrate advanced understanding of the research methods used in their area(s) of specialization, as defined by their reading list and major/minor subfields.
• Conduct research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in urban planning, and successfully communicate findings in their dissertation and defense.

Career Opportunities

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

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 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 level

Professional Licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.