The Doctor of Philosophy degree is the highest academic degree granted by American universities. It is awarded to those who have demonstrated mastery of the field and successfully completed and defended a dissertation. The degree is a clear recognition of the ability to complete a substantial piece of research work, to formally present the results of this work, and to appreciate its significance in the general field.

The dissertation is the most important requirement of the Ph.D. program. The dissertation embodies the results of original and independent research, and should represent a meaningful contribution to the field of architecture.

A minimum period of one academic year is required for the preparation of the dissertation, normally spent in residence. Students are encouraged to select a topic that can be carried out in one or two years.

The preparation of the dissertation is supervised by a dissertation committee of three faculty members, one of whom must be from a department outside the Department of Architecture. The dissertation committee guides the candidate in his or her research and passes judgments on the merits of the dissertation.