Doctoral and Ph.D. Programs
Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development (UPD)
Create new knowledge for vibrant urban life.
The Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development prepares students to contribute new ideas and innovate solutions to contemporary urban problems. You’ll obtain a solid foundation from which to launch your career through advanced courses in all intersecting facets of urban studies. And you’ll work on research with a direct impact on the world around us. With a focus on critical discourse and inquiry paired with analytical and theoretical training, you’ll develop the skills necessary to contribute to solutions that address the world’s most pressing urban planning and development issues.
Why choose Price?
USC Price offers a supportive academic environment where you can contribute to the field alongside leading scholars as you pursue your Ph.D. in urban planning and development.
A Research Hub
Ph.D. students focus on and develop substantive expertise in core areas that leverage the USC Price School’s research strengths and renowned centers — including those focused on transportation, sustainable development, and spatial science.
Funding
All Ph.D. students are guaranteed at least four years of funding through fellowships and graduate assistantships that provide year-round full tuition, a competitive stipend, and health and dental insurance. In addition, all fifth-year students have been funded internally or externally, with the program’s assistance.
Career Launching
Most students present their work at conferences and publish papers during the program.
Life in Los Angeles
Los Angeles provides a rich, complex ecosystem for the study of planning as well as an exciting, enriching place to call home.
Attend an Info Session
Join faculty, students, and alumni for live information sessions to learn more about the application process, financial services, and program curriculum.
USC Price ranked No. 1 in urban planning research citations
The USC Price School of Public Policy is the top-ranked school in urban planning research citations, according to new data from ScholarMetrics.
Financial Aid
All Ph.D. students are supported for four years through a combination of fellowships and graduate assistantships that provides year-round full tuition, a competitive stipend, and health and dental insurance.
Fields of Study
Through advanced theoretical core courses in critical thinking, planning theory, urban development, and research methodology, Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development students gain a strong foundation from which to launch their scholarly career and develop an area of expertise.
Working closely with faculty mentors, Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development students focus on and develop substantive expertise in core areas that leverage the Price School’s renowned research strengths in fields such as:
- Arts, culture, and community development
- Climate change and sustainability
- Data science and spatial analysis
- Demography
- Housing
- Land use and urban design
- Planning theory and social justice
- Real Estate
- Transportation and Mobility
Contact Us
John Romley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Pharmaceutical & Health Economics
Faculty Director, PhD Programs
For admissions information, please email [email protected]