Doctor of Philosophy in Planning
The Doctor of Philosophy in Planning degree is under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Students should also refer to the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Planning emphasizes a rigorous program of advanced study and research, stressing quantitative analysis and the theoretical dimensions of planned intervention and social change. Specialization and expertise in a substantive field such as transportation, housing, community development, environmental analysis, urban design, real estate development, social policy or international development is required.
Curriculum Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Planning degree is administered by the doctoral committee of the school. Each student initially plans an interdisciplinary program comprising a set of core courses and a field 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 the doctoral core and 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 or urban policy. The program requires the completion of 60 units of course work, comprising the following elements: Master of Planning core (16 units), doctoral core (20 units), field of study (20 units) and dissertation (four units).
Core Curriculum
The doctoral core comprises two courses which provide a foundation in planning theory, and four courses which cover research methods:
| PLUS 601 | Advanced Planning Theory I | 4 |
| PLUS 602ab | Research Design | 2-2 |
| PLUS 605 | Advanced Planning Theory II | 4 |
| and 8 units from: |
| PLUS 604abcd | Advanced Research Methods in Planning | 4-4-4-4 |
While a master of planning degree is not a prerequisite for admission, those students entering the doctoral program without a master's degree in planning, will be required to complete the 16-unit M.Pl. core curriculum: PLUS 501 (4), PLUS 502 (4), PLUS 507 (4) and PLUS 508 (4). Students entering with a M.Pl. or equivalent degree will receive 16 units of advanced standing applied toward the M.Pl. core.
Field of Study
Students will take course work in one or more disciplines or substantive areas according to particular interests and needs. This block of courses may be centered in one or two fields of study. 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 field of study. Students entering with a master's degree, whether in planning or another discipline, will receive four units of advanced standing applied toward the field of study portion of the doctoral curriculum.
Screening Procedures
Prior to screening, the student should have completed at least 16 but not more than 24 units of doctoral course work. Of the 16 units, at least 12 must be in the Doctor of Philosophy core. These may include units that have been successfully transferred into the program, but not prerequisite units. The student is also expected to have completed at least one research methods course.
Prior to screening, each student prepares a preliminary statement describing the field of specialization which includes: a description of the scope and content of the field, a statement identifying the significance of the field, and discussion of at least one researchable question or issue that may serve as a dissertation topic. The student meets with the faculty committee to discuss the proposal for course work, field of specialization, 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 Urban and Regional Planning.
Qualifying Examination
Each member of the guidance committee prepares a comprehensive written examination covering the doctoral core and the field. 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.
Course Exemption and Transfer of Units
Graduate work may be accepted by transfer from approved graduate schools as determined by the USC Office of Admission upon recommendation of the dean of the school.
Students entering the doctoral program with a master's degree in a field other than planning or who have completed graduate course work may transfer up to 12 units toward the Ph.D. in planning. Students entering with a Master of Planning degree or its equivalent may transfer up to six units. In all cases, students must complete a minimum of 30 units of doctoral classes, plus dissertation, at USC. Evaluation of transfer units is normally conducted as part of the student's screening.
Some applicants for admission to the school will have been engaged in work in planning or closely related activities. Although this experience should be of benefit to the students involved, it cannot be considered equivalent to academic education.
Doctoral Dissertation
The dissertation is based on original research on a planning or urban/regional policy 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 Urban and Regional Planning. A two semester minimum registration in PLUS 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 Hall 315.
General Requirements
Refer to the Graduate School section in this catalogue for policies regarding time limits, leave of absence, scholarship standing and probation.
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Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
David Henriquez
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu