Mission of the Program

The PhD Program prepares students to become public intellectuals and transformative practitioners in shaping the environment at all scales—from the design of cities, buildings and landscapes, to interiors, products and graphics.

Goals of the Program

The PhD Program has two goals:

• To educate people who will pursue academic paths or assume leadership roles in professional planning and design practices, the public sector and the nonprofit sector.
• To educate people who will emphasize sustainability, innovation, community building and contextual awareness.