In addition, all students must participate in a core seminar and a research seminar given by faculty in the Urban and Regional Planning Program. The core seminar examines diverse aspects of planning practice and theory from an interdisciplinary perspective and considers ethical issues related to components of the planning process. The research seminar exposes students to various approaches to planning research and enables them to gain experience in developing an appropriate research design, in executing the research, and formally presenting the results of their research at a special symposium held at the end of the seminar. Prior work experience submitted at the time of admission, experience gained while enrolled, or a combination of both, may be used. Precandidacy involves course work, the successful completion of qualifying area examinations, an interdisciplinary paper, a dissertation prospectus, and a candidacy hearing.
Candidacy is certification that all requirements have been met except the dissertation.
For information on the dissertation committee, final oral examination, and publication of dissertation, see the Graduate Student Handbook .