Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. Program offers advanced study of critical urban development challenges facing cities and metropolitan areas in the 21st century blending urban planning and public policy perspectives. The Program provides a unique and powerful resource for the advanced study of challenging urban problems and their complex remedies. Students participate in an interdisciplinary learning community of faculty and research staff conducting a mix of applied and theoretical studies. Graduates will leave as scholars well prepared for positions as university professors, professional researchers or leadership roles in the public, private or nonprofit sectors.
PhD Program Overview
Students learn advanced theory, methods and related research literature in one of five areas of specialization:
- Community Development
- Economic Development
- Physical Planning
- Urban Transportation
- Other faculty approved specialization
The Ph.D. curriculum combines core requirements in theory and methods with more specialized course work in each area. Students find support and guidance as they learn of specialization and engaged research through various institutes and centers at UIC. Opportunities for advanced research training and faculty supervised research projects are available within the following research centersat CUPPA:
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Great Cities Institute
Center for Urban Economic Development
Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement
Urban Transportation Center
Survey Research Laboratory
Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy
City Design Center
UPP's Urban Data Visualization Laboratory
Additionally, the Program builds on the University of Illinois Great Cities Initiative, providing students with a variety of research related training and educational internships throughout the Chicago metropolitan region, the nation and the world.
PhD Curriculum
A minimum of 96 semester hours are required from the baccalaureate, up to 32 may be applied from the Master's. The following courses are required:
- UPP 503/510 (Data Analysis for Planning and Management I) or alternate
- UPP 589 (Data Analysis for Planning and Management II) or alternate
- UPP 583 (Advanced Planning Theory)
Students must demonstrate competency in urban theory, policy evaluation and economic analysis through previous master's degree or coursework.
Each student must have a written plan of study approved by an advisory committee.
At least 28 hours must be taken in the area of specialization, selected in consultation with a faculty committee. At least 8 hours in advanced research design and methods are required in the area of specialization. Specializations include:
- Community Development
- Economic Development
- Physical Planning
- Urban Transportation
Other faculty approved specialization
Career Training
Students must complete an internship in a public or private agency; a collaborative faculty/student research project; or classroom teaching under faculty supervision. No more than 12 hours of credit for career training can be applied to the degree.
Examinations
A written preliminary examination is required. An oral examination may also be required at the discretion of the committee.
A dissertation is required, with satisfactory defense to the candidate's committee. More information about committees, exams, and dissertations is available on the Graduate College website.
NSF IGERT Fellowships
Ph.D. students in UPP are eligible to participate in two NSF-funded Integrative Graduate Education, Research and Training (IGERT) grant programs, one in Landscape Ecological and Anthropogenic Processes (LEAP) and the second in Computational Transportation Science. Further information about the IGERT fellowships is available at the LEAP website and the Computational Transportation Science Program website.