History of the Ph.D. in Urban + Regional Planning

Over its 38 years of existence, the program has granted over 160 Ph.D. degrees. Graduates hold faculty positions in a range of departments in universities and work as consultants and staff of research organizations.

The doctorate in planning began in 1968 as the Ph.D. Program in Urban + Regional Planning under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. From its inception, it was a University-wide Ph.D. program with faculty participation from many colleges throughout the University. In the late 1970s, the degree moved into the Rackham Graduate School. The name changed to the Ph.D. in Urban, Technological, and Environmental Planning (U.T.E.P.) in 1982. The degree moved into the College of Architecture + Urban Planning in 1989 and administratively merged with the professional program in planning to form the Urban + Regional Planning Program. The degree is now known as the "Ph.D. in Urban + Regional Planning," a name change made in 2004.