Doctoral (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Planning

Program requirements prior to Fall 2020

Recommended program sequence Fall 2020 or later

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Thesis: Thesis completion timeline to be determined by the student with approval from the supervisor and committee. Details of the thesis research timeline will vary by student. Students should consult with their supervisors early in the program to ensure that their proposed timeline results in timely program completion.

Courses:

• Students must complete the following graduate level courses in the following sequence:

Term 1 (Fall)

• PLAN 700 Planning Paradigms and Theory (0.5 unit)
• PLAN 801 Foundations of Planning Scholarship (0.5 unit)
• PLAN 800A PhD Colloquium 1 (0.0 unit, credit/no credit, held with PLAN 800C)

Term 2 (Winter)

Thesis: Submit well-developed research plan by October of second year. Oral presentations for third party review are held in PLAN 802 in the second year.

• PLAN 802 Advanced Planning Theory (0.5 unit)
• PLAN 800B PhD Colloquium 2 (0.0 unit, credit/no credit, held with PLAN 800D)

Term 3 (Spring)

• PLAN 803 Advanced Research Design in Planning (0.5 unit)

Term 4 (Fall)

• PLAN 800C PhD Colloquium 3 (0.0 unit, credit/no credit, held with PLAN 800A)

Term 5 (Winter)

• PLAN 800D PhD Colloquium 4 (0.0 unit, credit/no credit, held with PLAN 800B)

Additional Courses:

Students must take 1 additional PLAN elective in Year 1 and may be directed to take up to 2 additional one‐term graduate level courses by the supervisory committee.

Milestones:

PhD Comprehensive Examination

• Students are required to meet the University-level PhD Comprehensive Examination minimum requirements outlined in the “Minimum requirements for the PhD degree” section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar (GSAC).
• Further details are available on Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Procedures School of Planning.

PhD Research Plan

• A research plan approved by the supervisory committee by completion of 2^nd year.

PhD Thesis

A PhD thesis in planning constitutes original scholarship and an innovative contribution to knowledge in planning and related fields. The thesis must demonstrate familiarity with existing work in the field and show ability to design an approach, conduct rigorous and advanced research, present findings and results, and defend conclusions in a scholarly manner. As well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how it advances knowledge in a chosen area of study within planning. A PhD thesis in planning must be written in compliance with the requirements outlined in the “Thesis” section of the GSPA site

PhD Thesis Defense Arrangements (PDF)

Link(s) to courses

• Planning (PLAN) courses
• Graduate course search

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Graduate Administrator with any questions.

Alumni Success

Our PhD graduates have gone on to work in a variety of positions, including:

• Assistant Professor, L'Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Montreal, Quebec
• Analyst, Health Statistic, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, ON
• Assistant Professor, Queen's University, ON
• Assistant Professor, McGill University, QC
• Associate Professor, Ryerson University ON
• Planner (Information Systems), Hamilton, Bermuda
• Member, Canada Energy Commission, Calgary, AB
• Professor, HEC in Montreal, QC
• Assistant Planner, Rural Planning District Commission, Fredericton, NB
• Lecturer, Innis College, University of Toronto, ON
• Ministry of Environment, Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON
• Lecturer, McMaster University, ON
• Assistant Professor, Arizona State University, USA
• Assistant Professor, University of Oregon, USA