Urban Planning, PhD
This interdisciplinary doctoral program is a laboratory for engaging in pressing issues related to urban planning. Explore a wide range of topics and methods with faculty spanning transportation, environmental planning and spatial sciences.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Urban Planning PhD degree description
The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning prepares you to become a scholar and leader in urban planning. You pursue new knowledge across several areas, including urban climate, transportation, housing, environmental planning, and sustainability. In the Doctor of Philosophy program in urban planning, you have opportunities to interact with leading planning faculty, scholars and mentors as you develop strong foundations in the discipline. You conduct research alongside faculty; take classes focused on current issues in the field; complete research and reports for local clients; and start building your professional network across the academic, scholarly, public, private and nonprofit sectors.
You 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
Why earn your urban planning PhD at ASU?
At ASU, you can collaborate with several research centers and draw on courses that support your doctoral development from across the university.
ASU ranks No. 2 in the United States in the combined fields of geography, planning and development, ahead of UC Berkeley, UCLA and Wisconsin (SCImago integrative rankings of higher education institutions in the US, 2026).
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning's faculty are award-winning social scientists and global experts in urban planning, transportation, social equity, spatial science, urban climatology and human-environmental systems.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (6 credit hours) Electives and Research (64 credit hours) Other Requirement (2 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information 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.
PUP 710 Current Planning Theory and Practice (3)
PUP 724 Planning Methods for Doctoral Students (3)
PUP 701 Urban Planning Colloquium (1)
PUP 799 Dissertation (12)
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.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of theory and existing scholarship in urban planning.
- Demonstrate advanced understanding of the research methods used in their area(s) of specialization, as defined by their reading list and major/minor subfields.
- Conduct research resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in urban planning, and successfully communicate findings in their dissertation and defense.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of theory and existing scholarship in urban planning.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
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: Additional Application Information 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.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services 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.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this urban planning doctoral degree prepares you for
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
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
|
COOR 5671
SGSUP.gradprograms@asu.edu
480-965-7533
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
