PHD, Environmental Design & Planning

Degree Program Summary:

A Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning prepares individuals to work in a range of settings, including universities, governmental agencies at various levels (counties and cities, regional and state, and federal agencies), private consulting, research and development firms, and non-profit organizations. The program enables students to develop interdisciplinary skills in order to expand on knowledge gained from other disciplines linked to ecology, environmental science, history, sociology, environmental engineering, disaster management, and other fields to solve current social needs in such areas as public health, climate change, sustainability, and resilient communities. The Ph.D. program uniquely housed within the CED’s three discipline areas (landscape architecture, environmental planning and historic preservation) and is linked to the college culture of research, design, and design implementation driven by a commitment to sustainability. The program offers a multidimensional approach that combines ecological, socio-cultural, and economic considerations. The Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning can generally be completed in three years. Beyond the core courses, each student will design a program of other courses reflecting their specific research interests, largely from other UGA program offerings, in consultation with a faculty advisor. Doctoral students may also participate in existing CED master’s-level seminars, and through this engagement enhance the interdisciplinary experience for students in CED’s professional programs. As students transition into their own areas of research, it is expected that they will engage in applied scholarship/research projects with CED and other UGA faculty in areas of interest for both students and faculty. The requirement for the Ph.D. includes successful completion of all required course work and an approved dissertation.

The Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning in the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia is an advanced doctoral degree, which will prepare students to propose and conduct research to support the design, planning, and management of the natural, cultural, and built environment through the integration of research methods and theories, innovative technologies, design and problem solving and research-driven solutions.