Doctor of Philosophy in Urban and Regional Planning - Real Estate and Economic Development

Real Estate and Economic Development specialization focuses on the ways in which public sector interventions and planning strategies can be leveraged to attract private investment for responsible and equitable economic development. We aspire to develop and implement economic development strategies that will enhance the quality of life for existing and future community members.
Students in this specialization will learn: the knowledge and skill set to pursue a career as planners, policy advisors, and economic developers to help communities create jobs, attract businesses and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship by cultivating social capital,
the fundamentals of land development and how to use this knowledge to encourage developments that are socially responsible, such as affordable and workforce housing and compact mixed-use projects,
the art and science of deal-making in public/private partnership, community-driven, and private real estate development projects to maximize the benefit to the public, how to conduct planning needs analyses, formulate evidence-based economic and housing development strategies, and tailor those strategies under different political and cultural settings, how to work collaboratively with land use, transportation, and environmental planning specialists to advance local real estate and economic development. These knowledge and skill sets will be applicable in both domestic and international settings, preparing students for a wide range of rewarding career trajectories in the global job market.
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.