Full-time students complete coursework within two years. Upon completion of coursework, students take the Global Urban Studies qualifying examination. After successfully passing the qualifying examination, students develop and write a dissertation proposal. After successfully defending the proposal, students complete their dissertations. More information is available at the program web site.
Core Curriculum, Research Core, and Dissertation Sequence
The 54-credit Ph.D. curriculum effective September 2021 includes a 9-credit core curriculum, a 14-credit research core, a 15 credit specialization component, and a 6-credit dissertation sequence. Limited transfer credits may be available if the coursework is consonant with the student's plan of study.
Core Curriculum (9 credits):
- Producing Place: Theories and Concepts in Urban Geography
- Urban Governance in Global Perspective
- Urban Theory and the Contemporary City
Research Core (14 credits):
- Research Seminar: Quantitative Methods
- Research Seminar: Qualitative Methods
- Research methods course by advisement
- Research methods course by advisement
- Urban Systems Colloquium
Electives and specialization courses (15 credits):
- Varies by track; chosen in consultation with adviser and eventually dissertation committee
Dissertation Research (16 credits)
- Writing the Dissertation Proposal
- Dissertation Research
Programs, Faculty, and Courses 
