Doctor of Philosophy in the Constructed Environment

The PhD program in the Constructed Environment is a multidisciplinary, school-level doctoral degree that spans the four departmental disciplines within the School of Architecture: architectural history, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and environmental planning. The constructed environment can be viewed as a 'super discipline that engages the four departmental disciplines. In this context, constructed environment refers to the environment created by human society, ranging in scale from building components to global infrastructure, the study of that environment encompasses not only spatial and technical issues, but also social, economic, ethical, historical, and aesthetic ones. Admission is limited to students who hold a Masters Degree or equivalent. At UVA School of Architecture, we recognize that the decisions, histories, and processes social, biological, and physiographic that produce the constructed environment are neither static nor pre-given, but are dynamic and interconnected, and constitute situated adaptive systems. To contend with the complex and evolving character of the constructed environment, our program engages with these issues from technical, material, policy, and theoretical perspectives.

Unofficial transcripts will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and must be submitted as part of your application. Applicants must hold a master's degree.

NOTES for applicants from international schools:
Transcripts not in English must be translated to English and include all courses, grades, degrees, and dates of degrees received.
Applicants must also submit an explanation of the grading scale used and the equivalent to a U.S. 4.0 scale.

Resumes or Curriculum Vitae should include your past education, work experiences, honors and awards, key research, scholarly and creative works (including publications, exhibitions, competitions, collaborative projects, residencies, research projects, volunteer or community-based work), educational or work-related travel opportunities, leadership positions and contact information.

RESEARCH STATEMENT: Submit a statement clearly and concisely identifying your research questions and a framework for pursuing your intended work. This item serves two purposes: first, to ensure that students enter the program with a sense of direction, and have knowledge and experience relating to their topic of interest, and second, to assist in matching applicants with advisors.

RESEARCH STATEMENT FORMAT:
800 words maximum
double-spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
1 inch margins

Three (3) recommendations are required, at least 2 of which should be from former professors if you have received your undergraduate degree or graduate degree within the last five years. References from current or former employers or project collaborators are also encouraged.

The minimum internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening). The minimum paper-based TOEFL score requirement is 600. Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section.