Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Planning - Planning for Developing Areas

The Planning for Developing Areas specialization prepares students for the challenges of guiding economic and social development in the context of increasing globalization, commonly defined as the increasing interconnectedness of people, places, and institutions worldwide. Development planners work in urban and rural developing areas around the world. For example, they may facilitate community participation in development projects, work to strengthen the capacities of non-governmental organizations to deliver services and mobilize resources, implement the decentralization of government services to medium and small towns, help shape donor policies and practices in the area of gender and development, or design sustainable development strategies at the international, national, regional, or local levels.

Courses address cross-cutting issues such as globalization, democratization, gender and development, and sustainable development. They provide students with an understanding of the legal and institutional context within which planners operate and of sector-specific issues and strategies. The latter include regional economic development, microenterprise development, housing and infrastructure, capacity-building particularly among non-governmental organizations, and the role and impact of population growth and distribution. Students also develop skills in the preparation of development plans, in the design, management, and implementation of development projects, and in participatory planning and research.
The doctoral (Ph.D.) program in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning educates scholars to teach, conduct research, and carry out service that contributes to a better understanding and shaping of resilient communities and ecosystems in order to promote human capabilities, social justice, sustainable livelihoods, and community health and safety. Our faculty conduct research in the following areas: Planning for an Aging Population, Planning for Health and Resilient Communities, Transportation Land Use and Accessibility in the Modern City, Sustainable Communities, Collaborative Environmental Management, Community Neighborhood Change, and Human Settlements and Institutions in the Context of Global Change. Florida State University is an excellent place for doctoral study. Our energetic, internationally recognized faculty is committed to training and mentoring our doctoral students as they become future teachers, scholars, and leaders in their various fields. Our low student-faculty ratio and small doctoral class sizes (typically 3-5 students enter the doctoral program each year) enable close collaboration in teaching and research between students and faculty. Our doctoral program's alums include deans, department chairs, program directors, distinguished scholars, and a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows.

Internet based TOEFL (IBTOEFL): 80, Paper based TOEFL (TOEFL): 550, International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5.
The required materials that must be submitted to apply for any planning program at Florida State University are:
University Graduate Application Form All applicants must submit an application online by starting at the University's Online Graduate Admissions website.
Transcripts of all Prior University Courses Work. All applicants should have official copies mailed directly to the University Office of Admissions. International applicants may be required to provide certified translations of their transcripts and degree certificates with certified translations.
Letters of Recommendation via the University Graduate Application Form These recommendations should come from instructors who can speak to your performance as a student and your ability to complete graduate-level coursework.
Doctoral level applicants should submit 3 letters
The Department's Supplemental Form for MSP or Ph.D. Applications as applicable. This is a WORD document that should be saved to your computer, completed, and then submitted online via the University's Online Graduate Admissions website.
Applications for admission to the department's master's degree programs are welcome from persons holding a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States, or the equivalent from an institution abroad. No specific major is required. Our students come from a wide diversity of majors in the social sciences, design professions, sciences, business, and humanities. Application for admission is usually made for the Fall term, but a limited number of applications are considered for the Spring term.
The minimum university criterion to be considered for admission to graduate school is an upper division grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for previous undergraduate study.