PDF reflects print Doctor of Philosophy in Policy, Planning, and Development
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Policy, Planning, and Development degree is under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Students should also refer to the Graduate and Professional Education and Graduate School sections of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Policy, Planning, and Development emphasizes a rigorous program of advanced study and research, stressing qualitative or quantitative analysis and the theoretical dimensions of planned intervention and social change. Within the context of governance, place and community, specialization and expertise in a substantive field such as public management, public policy, planning, or urban development is required.
Curriculum Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Policy, Planning, and Development degree is administered by the doctoral committee of the school. Each student initially plans an interdisciplinary program comprising a set of core courses and two fields (inside and outside) of interest developed by the student with assistance from faculty advisors. The student must complete sufficient course work to prepare for written and oral qualifying examinations covering his or her field of interest. The student then completes the program with a dissertation which focuses on a research problem in an area related to planning, public management, public policy or urban development. The program requires the completion of 60 units of course work, comprising the following elements: master core in a substantive field (14 units), doctoral core (12 units), methodology (8 units), fields of study (20 units), teaching seminar (2 units), and dissertation (4 units minimum).
Core Curriculum
| Doctoral core | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 701 | Knowledge and Practice in Social Systems | 4 |
| PPD 702 | Governance, Place and the Public Sphere | 4 |
| PPD 703 | Globalization and the Urban Context | 4 |
Methodology
| select two methodology courses: | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 706 | Paradigms of Research and the Design Inquiry | 4 |
select one from: | ||
| PPD 558 | Quantitative Analysis II | 4 |
| PPD 707 | Survey Research Methods | 4 |
| PPD 708 | Qualitative Methods | 4 |
| PPD 709 | Applications in the Advanced Quantitative Methods | 4 |
Those students entering the doctoral program without a master's degree in a relevant area will be required to complete 14 units of prerequisites relevant to their chosen area of specialization. Public Management: PPD 500 (4), PPD 501 (4), PPD 525 (2), PPD 545 (4); Public Policy: PPD 500 (4), PPD 501 (4), PPD 525 (2), PPD 554 (4); Planning: PPD 500 (4), PPD 524 (2), PPD 525 (2), PPD 526 (2), PPD 527 (2), PPD 528 (2); Urban Development: PPD 500 (4), PPD 525 (2), PPD 526 (2), PPD 528 (2), PPD 634 (4).
Methodology
| select two methodology courses: | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 706 | Paradigms of Research and the Design Inquiry | 4 |
select one from: | ||
| PPD 558 | Statistical Analysis | 4 |
| PPD 707 | Survey Research Methods | 4 |
| PPD 708 | Qualitative Methods | 4 |
| PPD 709 | Applications in the Advanced Quantitative Methods | 4 |
Those students entering the doctoral program without a master’s degree in a relevant area will be required to complete 14 units of prerequisites relevant to their chosen area of specialization. Public Management: PPD 500 (2), PPD 501ab (2-2), PPD 525 (2), PPD 545 (4) plus an additional 2 units selected in consultation with their advisor; Public Policy: PPD 500 (2), PPD 501ab (2-2), PPD 525 (2), PPD 554 (2) and PPD 555 (4); Planning: PPD 500 (2), PPD 501a (2), PPD 524 (2), PPD 525 (2), PPD 526 (2), PPD 527 (2), PPD 533 (2); Urban Development: PPD 500 (2), PPD 501a (2), PPD 525 (2), PPD 526 (2), PPD 533 (2), PPD 634 (4).
Admission with Advanced Standing
Students entering the doctoral program with a master's degree, from an accredited institution, in public management/administration, public policy, planning, or urban development or related field may be admitted with Advanced Standing to the Ph.D. in Policy, Planning, and Development. All students must complete a minimum of 42 units of doctoral classes beyond that graduate degree, exclusive of 794ab doctoral dissertation units, for a minimum of 46 semester units. Additional course work may be required if deemed necessary by the student's faculty following the screening examination.A maximum of 6 units of transfer credit may be applied toward a doctoral degree with Advanced Standing. Only course work not used to complete the master's degree described above is available for transfer credit. No exceptions are allowed.
Screening Procedures
Prior to screening, the student should have completed the 12 units of the Doctor of Philosophy core.Prior to screening, each student prepares a resume and a preliminary statement describing the fields of specialization. After passing the written screening examination, the student meets with the faculty committee to discuss the proposal for course work, fields of study and research interests. Once the student passes screening, a guidance committee is formed and its chair serves as the student's principal advisor in preparing for the qualifying examination.
Guidance Committee
Following screening, each student selects a guidance committee, which officially oversees the development of the student's academic program through the qualifying examination. Five committee members are designated to provide guidance in the field developed by the student. A minimum of three members, including at least one tenured member, must be from among the faculty participating in this Doctor of Philosophy program, and at least one member must be from outside the School of Policy, Planning, and Development. Students should refer to the Graduate School section regarding the guidance committee and the outside member. The appointment of committee form should be completed at least two semesters prior to taking the qualifying examination.
Fields of Study
Students will take course work in two disciplines or substantive areas according to particular interests and needs. The major field should fall under the disciplinary umbrella of one of the doctoral program substantive core tracks: planning, public management, public policy or urban development. There is ample opportunity to shape a degree program to each student's background, needs and interests, while drawing upon the diversity of resources available at USC. Twenty units of course work are required for the major and minor fields of study. Students are expected to actively participate in research workshops directed by faculty and to seek teaching experience.
Qualifying Examination
The guidance committee prepares a comprehensive written examination covering the fields of study. The exact format for the written portion is determined by each committee in advance. Answers to the questions in the written portion are graded by all committee members. Following completion of the written portion, the entire committee conducts an oral examination of the student, focusing on material both complementary and supplementary to the written examination but relevant to the field and overall program selected by the student. Upon passing both portions of the qualifying examination, the student becomes a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.As part of their advancement to candidacy, students must complete 2 units of teaching seminar courses in order. Each student should produce at least one course description and syllabus, which addresses his or her substantive core experience, and one of these must be submitted prior to taking the qualifying exam.
Transfer of Units
Graduate work may be accepted by transfer from approved graduate schools as determined by the USC Office of Academic Records and Registrar upon recommendation of the dean of the school. Transfer work must have been completed within 10 years of admission to the doctoral program and a maximum of 30 semester units may be applied toward the doctoral degree.For students admitted with Advanced Standing, please see the Admission with Advanced Standing section.
Some applicants for admission to the school will have been engaged in work in closely related activities. Although this experience should be of benefit to the students involved, it cannot be considered equivalent to academic education.
Proposal Defense
Following successful passage of the qualifying exam, students are strongly encouraged to plan for their proposal defense within one year of passing the qualifying exam. In order to meet the requirements of the proposal defense phase, students must complete an annual progress report, which is to be provided upon passage of the completion of a written as well as an oral defense of the dissertation proposal.
Doctoral Dissertation
The dissertation is based on original research on a planning, public management, policy, or development issue requiring an interdisciplinary perspective. The research is supervised by a dissertation committee of three or more regular USC faculty, at least one of whom must be from outside the School of Policy, Planning, and Development. A two semester minimum registration in PPD 794 (2) is required of all candidates. Students must maintain continuous registration until completion of the dissertation.
Defense of the Dissertation
Oral defense of the dissertation before the dissertation committee is usually made on a preliminary draft.
Format for Theses and Dissertations
All theses and dissertations submitted in fulfillment of requirements for graduate degrees must conform to university regulations with regard to format and method of preparation. See Regulations for Format and Presentation of Theses and Dissertations available from the Graduate School, Grace Ford Salvatori 315, or online at the Graduate School website.