Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

About the University

About the School

Graduate Admission

Tuition and Fees

Academic Policies and Procedures

Student Services

Doctoral Program

About the Program

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Urban Planning and Policy Development

Transfer of Credits

Evaluation of Doctoral Students

Incomplete Grades

Preparation for the Qualifying Examination

Selection of a Dissertation Chair

The Qualifying Examination

Thesis Proposal

Nature of Dissertation

Dissertation Committee

Public Presentations

Dissertation Review

Public Policy Program

Urban Planning and Policy Development Program

Undergraduate Programs

Additional Degrees: Graduate Public Health

Administration, Centers, and Faculty

Governance of the University

Divisions of the University

Nature of Dissertation

Ph.D. dissertations should make an original contribution to planning and public policy through the rigorous analytical examination of evidence supporting a significant argument or testing a relevant hypothesis. Narrow tests of facts or case histories do not constitute a sufficient contribution.