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The program in environmental planning and urban design is offered for students who want to pursue scholarly and research work beyond the master's level. Emphasis in this program is placed on the development of theories and methods that underlie the field of environmental planning or urban design, and the processes of planning and design as they relate to the solution of problems in the natural and urban environment. The Ph.D. degree in environmental planning is appropriate for students seeking careers in research and teaching in environmental planning or urban design, or in specialized roles in government or professional consultation. There are no specifically required courses for the Ph.D. degree. Students formulate a course-work plan to develop an individual specialization within the field of environmental planning. Coursework plans must be approved by students' program advisors. Ph.D. requirements are as follows: 32 units of upper division and graduate course work, two-year academic residency, reading knowledge of a departmentally approved foreign language, successful completion of a qualifying examination, and a dissertation. Progress toward the degree is evaluated annually by the Ph.D. Committee. By no later than the end of the third semester, students will be evaluated as to their suitability for completing the Ph.D. degree in environmental planning. Any student who, in the opinion of the faculty, seems unlikely to be able to complete all degree requirements (including dissertation research) will be subject to dismissal. Admission is granted to a small number of highly qualified individuals each year. Most applicants should have completed a master's degree before entering. Students with only a bachelor's degree should apply to the M.L.A. program first, or otherwise complete an appropriate master's degree before applying. Research Participation of faculty in research increases the base of knowledge and theory in support of teaching and the profession. Ph.D. students are often involved in these research topics as research assistants. Current topics include natural resource analysis, computerized inventories, environmental impact studies, methods of shoreline classification, principles of forest landscape design, urban livability studies, urban perception, case studies in urban design, morphological studies of the urban edge, environmental interpretation, behavior in parks and open spaces, community recreation projects, and environmental simulation. Application Procedures for the Ph.D. Program Applicants for the Ph.D. program should follow the procedure for the master's program and include an additional statement describing special areas of research interest. Examples of research and professional work must be submitted on 8-1/2" x 11" unbound sheets with no limit as to quantity. In addition, international applicants must take the following tests: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and the GRE. For more information, contact: Student Affairs Office, Graduate Admissions |