Overview

The purpose of the doctoral program in Regional Development Planning is to educate and train the next generation of practitioners, policymakers, and scholars who will bring new research ideas and knowledge to the teaching and practice of urban and regional planning.

The program is served by the School of Planning’s faculty members with wide ranges of expertise. This program stresses the interdisciplinary analysis and solutions to the regional development problems from inner cities to mega-cities transcending geographic boundaries and requiring spatially-based systems thinking.

Careers

Most graduates of the School of Planning (SOP) Regional Development Planning (RDP) Ph.D. program at the University of Cincinnati find work in academia as an assistant professor in either research or teaching colleges and universities.

Recent graduates of the SOP RDP Ph.D. program are teaching in the United States, China, Sweden, and South Africa. Outside of academia, our graduates work in Think Tanks, nongovernmental organizations, and government institutions.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Advanced Planning and Spatial Theory
Advanced Qualitative Methods
Research Design for Regional Development Planning
Dissertation Research in Regional Development Planning
Doctoral Colloquium

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-10 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

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Credits

60 SCH

Post Baccalaureate Minimum Credits: 90
Post Master's Minimum Credits: 60

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Cincinnati, United States

Disciplines

Urban Planning Community Development View 31 other PhDs in Urban Planning in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

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Other requirements

General requirements

For graduate programs, the university welcomes applications from students who hold a bachelor's degree (or higher) from a college or university accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV purposes or the international equivalent.
Submit unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Letters of Recommendation
Proof of English Language Proficiency (for international applicants)
CV/Resume and Personal Statement
Portfolio (optional)
Sample of written work (e.g., master's thesis or published article)
Statement of research

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

26644 USD / year

≈ 26644 USD / year
Out-of-State

26644 USD / year

≈ 26644 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

14902 USD / year

≈ 14902 USD / year

Living costs

Cincinnati

United States

1000 - 1650 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Regional Development Planning.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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