Doctor of Philosophy in Urban & Regional Planning
A rigorous Ph.D. program preparing planning scholars and professionals to rebuild cities, with concentrations in community development, environment and land use, and urban design.
Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Planning
The Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) offers a Master of Arts degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The Master of Arts (M.A.) program is accredited through the Planning Accreditation Board. Both programs have a special focus on increasing the number of under-represented groups and women in the profession. The rigorous programs concentrate on the challenging issues and problems confronting planning professionals and scholars in the rebuilding of cities across the nation. Courses and studios offer challenging scholarly and practical work that focuses attention on real world solutions while respecting the ethical, skill, and plan development practices of the profession. The programs are designed for both full-time and part-time students.
Program Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the historical movements that impacted the field of planning and their contribution to the discipline.
- Students will apply quantitative and qualitative skills to design plans and create strategies for implementation.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to lead and productively participate in groups in diverse settings.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the role of Planning Ethics when solving problems and making decisions
Ph.D. Students’ Objectives / Outcomes
- Urban & Regional Planning doctoral students will be able to critically apply knowledge of Planning movements and theories to generate new ideas to address fundamental Planning problems.
- Urban & Regional Planning doctoral students will be able to apply advanced quantitative and qualitative analysis to address current Planning problems and make decisions.
- Urban & Regional Planning doctoral students will be able to apply the Planning functions of communities and institutions and the impact on their research on society.
How to Apply
Requirements. The PhD program requires a MA/MS and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Please follow these steps when applying for admission into the Ph.D. program in Urban and Regional Planning:
- Complete an online application with the Division of Graduate Studies — jsums.org/graduateschool/prospective-students-home
- Submit one official transcript from all universities/colleges/junior colleges attended
- Non-Mississippi residents must pay the out-of-state application fee of $25.00
- Submit a copy of your immunization record
- International applicants must submit a satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS score
- Three letters of recommendation and three reference forms to accompany the reference letters — Recommendation Form to accompany letter
- Statement of Purpose indicating interest in program, skills, background, and what would you like to do professionally once your graduate. There is no particular format for this requirement.
- GRE official score report of less than five years old
All documents with the exception of the transcripts must be uploaded via your online account.
*NewPh.D.D students are only accepted for the fall semester.
Ph.D. Curriculum
The M.A. program consists of an interdisciplinary curriculum of 49 semester hours, including practical community-based learning experiences and planning studios, while the Doctor of Philosophy consists of 48 semester hours, beyond the master’s degree.
- URP 700Historical Development of Cities (3 hours)
- URP 702Theoretical Perspectives in Planning (3 hours)
- URP 710Advanced Statistical Methods (3 hours)
- URP 712Research Methodology (3 hours)
- URP 714Ethics in Planning Seminar (3 hours)
Community Development and Housing
- URP 720Urban Housing Policies (3 hours)
- URP 722Community Developmen and Housing (3 hours)
- URP 724Urban Revitalization Studio (3 hours)
- URP 726Citizen Participation Strategies (3 hours)
- URP 728Local and Regional Economic Cevelopment Strategies (3 hours)
Environment and Land Use
- URP 730Environment and Land Use (3 hours)
- URP 735Land Use Planning Studio (3 hours)
- URP 736International Human Settlements (3 hours)
- URP 737Urban Implementation Strategies (3 hours)
Urban Design
- URP 740Foundations in Urban Design (3 hours)
- URP 742Analytical and Evaluation Methods for Urban Design Research (3 hours)
- URP 744Urban Design Studio (3 hours)
- URP 746Urban Design Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
- URP 750Professional Practice Issues in Planning (3 hours)
- URP 770Independent Study or Research Practice (3 hours)
- URP 899Dissertation (3 hours)
Contact Us
For more information, please contact us at (601) 979-6863. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how our program can help you achieve your goals.
101 W. Capitol Street
Jackson, MS 39201
Tel: 601.979.6863 / 8732
