The Three Phases of Study
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Phase I: The Core Curriculum

The core curriculum defines the intellectual foundation of the program. While the program retains considerable flexibility in defining a research agenda within the broad umbrella of urban and environmental planning and policy, it provides a common foundation for all students to build upon. The following are the core curriculum requirements. Students enter the program with a Masters degree, in fields ranging from planning and public affairs to natural and social sciences. Depending on the academic preparation of the student prior to matriculation, the core requirements can be met within one to two years. Previous coursework could be used as a basis to waive specific course requirements. A course waiver can be obtained, if both the primary advisor of the student and the Program Director approve it. Courses listed below that are aimed principally at masters students will need to be supplemented to address more advanced requirements for doctoral students, until such time as more advanced courses can be offered.

Advisory Committee
An advisor is assigned to each student at the time of their enrollment, and the student is expected to coordinate with their Advisor to add two additional members to their Advisory Committee by the end of the fall quarter to oversee their progress through phase 1 of the program and to provide mentoring.  The committee membership may be changed at any time in phase 1, based on agreement by the student and faculty.  Committees must consist of at least three members of the Interdisciplinary Group, and represent at least two academic departments.

Required Courses
Phase I requirements involve 5 courses, and should be completed during the first year, unless schedule conflicts make this infeasible.  Courses from Phase II requirements may also be taken in the first year, to accelerate completion of the curriculum requirements.

Core Sequence

Restricted Electives (before completion of Phase I)

Qualitative Research Methods - Choose one of the following, with potential for substitution of alternative courses at an equivalent or more advanced level:

Spring Quantitative Research Methods - Choose one of the following, with potential for substitution of alternative courses at an equivalent or more advanced level:

Note: for students needing a refresher in mathematics, the following one-credit course would be a useful refresher before taking one of the courses above:

Evaluation of Phase I
The procedure for evaluation of Phase I work and the decision to advance a student to Phase II will be based on a portfolio of the work completed in required courses in Phase I that includes:

1) The papers prepared by the student in these courses,
2) Written evaluations by the instructors of these courses and by the student's advisory committee, that address  the potential for the student to successfully complete the requirements for the program. 
3) A Prospectus and Plan of Study for Phase II prepared by the student and approved by the student's Advisory Committee that describes the general research area and fields of study the student wishes to pursue and the courses the student intends to take in Phase II, and
4) A designation of a Supervisory Committee to mentor the student during Phase II

Phase II: Area of Study

Once a student is admitted to Phase II, they form a Supervisory Committee to oversee their progress through the rest of their academic program.  The committee must consist of at least three faculty members in the Interdisciplinary Group representing at least two academic departments; one member must be from the Urban Design and Planning Department.  Students requiring a committee of a different composition should submit a request to the Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee recommends (but does not require ) that students have at least four faculty members on their committee and that two of these be from the Urban Design and Planning Department.  Students will develop with their supervisory committee a description of their proposed areas of study.  These will define areas of scholarship that must demonstrate an interdisciplinary research approach to an application within urban and environmental planning and policy.  The description should develop a curriculum proposal approved by the supervisory committee that addresses the following advanced study requirements:

Phase II Curriculum Requirements
Phase II requirements involve 7 courses and a teaching seminar, in addition to advanced courses directly related to the area of study selected by the student.  Some of these courses may be taken in the first year.

Urban Processes and Patterns - Choose three of the following, with potential for substitution of alternative courses:

Teaching Methods - One teaching seminar, and experience as a TA for at least one quarter, before completion of phase III.  The following courses or a suitable alternative will satisfy this requirement.