1. Home

Urban Planning, PHD

On this page:
Degree Requirements Admission Requirements Next Steps Learning Outcomes Career Opportunities Request Information
  1. Degree Programs
  2. Graduate Degrees
  3. Urban Planning

At a Glance: program details
  • Location:
    Tempe campus
  • Second Language Requirement: No
Learn how to use geography and planning to address complex challenges. This interdisciplinary program is a laboratory for engaging in pressing issues related to planning, including autonomous vehicles, climate change and social equity.

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Urban Planning

The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning prepares students to become scholars and leaders in urban planning. They pursue new knowledge across several areas, including urban climate, transportation, housing, environmental planning, and sustainability. Students in the Doctor of Philosophy program in urban planning have opportunities to interact with leading planning faculty, scholars and mentors as they develop strong foundations in the discipline. Students conduct research alongside faculty; take classes focused on current issues in the field; complete research and reports for local clients; and start building their professional network across the academic, scholarly, 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:

  • city building and urban structure
  • environmental and resiliency planning
  • housing, neighborhoods and community development
  • spatial analytics and smart cities
  • transportation planning and policy
Learning Outcomes
  • Conduct research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in urban planning, and successfully communicate findings in their dissertation and defense.
  • Demonstrate advanced understanding of the research methods used in their area(s) of specialization, as defined by their reading list and major/minor subfields.
  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge of theory and existing scholarship in urban planning.

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Plan Options

  • 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
Electives and research courses should be selected in consultation with the program advisor. Students must complete at least 12 credit hours of 500-, 600- or 700-level courses offered by SGSUP with the prefixes PUP, GPH, GCU or GIS.

Students take two semesters of PUP 701, for a total of two credit hours.

With approval of the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree can 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 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:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. personal statement
  4. resume
  5. three letters of recommendation
  6. 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 no longer than 600 words 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

Request information about this program

Apply to a program

Apply now to this program

Visit our campus

Schedule a visit

Application Deadlines

Fall

Session
Modality
Deadline
Type
Session A/C
In Person
December 15th
Final


Card image cap

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

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


Concurrent degree programs are specially designed academic programs which provide high-achieving undergraduate students the opportunity to complete two distinct but complementary bachelor degrees at the same time. Students must meet minimum admissions standards for both programs and be accepted individually by both colleges offering the concurrent program.
Students pursuing concurrent degrees earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. ASU offers students two ways to earn concurrent degrees: by choosing a predetermined combination or creating their own combination. Predetermined combinations have a single admissions application and one easy to follow major map. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor. Either way, concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests.
Accelerated bachelor's and master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving undergraduate students who want the opportunity to combine undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
ASU students may accelerate their studies by earning a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years (for some programs) or by earning a bachelor's degree in 2.5 or 3 years.

Accelerated bachelor's and master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving undergraduate students who want the opportunity to combine undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs, featuring the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty, allow students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years.

Accelerated bachelor's degree programs allow students to choose either a 2.5- or a 3-year path while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students can opt to fast-track their studies after acceptance into a participating program by connecting with their academic advisor.
This is only the first required math course. This program may contain additional math courses; See Major Map for details.
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required.
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required. Courses included in the General level: MAT 142
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required. Courses included in the Moderate level: MAT 117, MAT 119, MAT 170, MAT 210, SOS 101, CPI 200
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor of math courses required. Courses included in the Substantial level: MAT 251, MAT 265. MAT 266, MAT 267, MAT 270, MAT 271, MAT 272, MAT 274, MAT 275
A rolling deadline means that applications will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis until the semester begins. International students should be mindful of visa deadlines to ensure there is time to produce necessary visa documents. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit application materials as soon as possible for consideration.
A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Graduate Admissions by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Graduate Admissions.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences logo
The College Drupal distribution
Repeatedly ranked #1 for innovation, sustainability, and global impact
Maps and Locations Jobs Directory Contact ASU My ASU
Copyright and Trademark Accessibility Privacy Terms of Use Emergency