The Department of Urban and Regional Planning is an academic discipline that fosters a multidisciplinary set of intellectual and practical tools to help us chart our future in an age of uncertainty. The department strives to improve the quality of life for present and future generations, both locally and globally, through planning, public policy and social collaboration.A Ph.D. is also offered to students with a master's degree in planning or a related field. The Ph.D. offers advanced students the opportunity to specialize in one of the sub-fields of planning. Ph.D. students are expected to take a minimum of 21 credit hours beyond the master's degree, pass a comprehensive exam, and prepare and defend a dissertation. Students without a master's degree in planning may be required to take additional courses from the MURP curriculum. The doctoral program provides training in advanced research in urban and regional planning. Graduates are expected to pursue academic appointments at institutions of higher education and to achieve higher levels of professional practice in the public and private sectors.