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.
Objectives/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.
Requirements
The PhD program requires a MA/MS and a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Admissions Information
Please follow these steps when applying for admission into the Ph.D. program in Urban and Regional Planning:
1. Complete an online application with the Division of Graduate Studies https://www.jsums.edu/graduateschool/prospective-students-home/
2. Submit one official transcript from all universities/colleges/junior colleges attended
3. Non-Mississippi residents must pay the out-of-state application fee of $25.00
4. Submit a copy of your immunization record
5. International applicants must submit a satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS score
6. Three letters of recommendation and three reference forms to accompany the reference letters Recommendation Form to accompany letter
7. 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.
8. 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.
Courses/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.
Ph.D. Curriculum (pdf version)
Core Area Courses
URP 700 Historical Development of Cities (3 hours)
URP 702 Theoretical Perspectives in Planning (3 hours)
URP 710 Advanced Statistical Methods (3 hours)
URP 712 Research Methodology (3 hours)
URP 714 Ethics in Planning Seminar (3 hours)
Academic Concentration Areas
Community Development and Housing
URP 720 Urban Housing Policies (3 hours)
URP 722 Community Developmen and Housing (3 hours)
URP 724 Urban Revitalization Studio (3 hours)
URP 726 Citizen Participation Strategies (3 hours)
URP 728 Local and Regional Economic Cevelopment Strategies (3 hours )
Environment and Land Use
URP 730 Environment and Land Use (3 hours)
URP 735 Land Use Planning Studio (3 hours)
URP 736 International Human Settlements (3 hours)
URP 737 Urban Implementation Strategies (3 hours)
Urban Design
URP 740 Foundations in Urban Design (3 hours)
URP 742 Analytical and Evaluation Methods for Urban Design Research (3 hours)
URP 744 Urban Design Studio (3 hours)
URP 746 Urban Design Doctoral Seminar (3 hours)
Other Courses
URP 750 Professional Practice Issues in Planning (3 hours)
URP 770 Independent Study or Research Practice (3 hours)
URP 899 Dissertation (3 hours)
Ph.D. Course Descriptions
