URBAN STUDIES AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PH.D.

 Return to: Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs

MAXINE GOODMAN LEVIN COLLEGE OF URBAN AFFAIRS

https://www.csuohio.edu/urban/phd/phd-program-in-urban-studies-and-public-affairs

AREAS OF STUDY

Communication
Public Administration
Urban Policy and Development

INTRODUCTION

The Ph.D. program in Urban Studies and Public Affairs integrates urban-related knowledge from a number of academic disciplines. Through disciplinary integration, doctoral students analyze, design, test, and evaluate strategies for urban policy-making and management within the public and private sectors.

PH.D. MISSION AND GOALS

The mission is to prepare scholars for research, teaching, and reflective practice in positions related to urban studies and public affairs in universities or public-policy organizations. The goals of the program are:

• To graduate scholars who possess a strong methodological foundation within the field of urban studies and public affairs together with an in-depth knowledge that enables them to recognize, identify, and articulate the frontiers of scholarship in a specialization.
• To graduate scholars able to construct, execute, and present scholastically sound, independent research of either a theoretical or applied nature that expands the frontiers of knowledge within the field of urban studies and public affairs.

For updated Ph.D. program information, visit https://urban.csuohio.edu/phd/phd-program-in-urban-studies-and-public-affairs

FACULTY

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

For fullest consideration, GA applicants should submit the Levin College of Urban Affairs GA application and be admitted with degree-seeking status by March 1st. 

Student employment opportunities are available to eligible degree-seeking students. Internship information is available through the Levin College Office of Student Services and student employment information is available through the CSU Career Services Center.

ADMISSION INFORMATION

Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program in Urban Studies in the fall semester only. Students entering the program with a master’s degree are expected to have a grade-point average of 3.5 or better. Both undergraduate and graduate grade-point averages are considered in determining eligibility for admission. Cleveland State also permits students with bachelor’s degrees to enter the program. Bachelor entry-level students must have achieved at least a 3.5 grade-point average in their undergraduate work.

Applicants are expected to have earned a minimum combined 50th percentile on the quantitative and verbal sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), plus at least a 4.0 on the analytical writing section. In addition to the application requirements of the College of Graduate Studies, an applicant must submit three letters of recommendation, a writing sample, preferably a recently graded research paper, and a statement of purpose for seeking a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Affairs. Please visit the department webpage for more information at https://www.csuohio.edu/urban/phd/admission-information. The application deadline is January 31st. Submit all materials to Campus 411 All-In-One.

Non-native English speakers who do not have an earned bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution must demonstrate proof of English-language proficiency as indicated under “Admission Requirements for International Students and Permanent Residents” in the Admissions section of this catalog.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/graduate-admissions/how-apply

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

For more information and specific curriculum plans, please refer to the PhD program handbook, online at https://www.csuohio.edu/urban/phd/phd

PREREQUISITES

Depending on previous graduate course work, Ph.D. students must complete some or all of the following master’s level prerequisite courses before enrolling in core or specialization courses. Those entering with a bachelor’s degree must complete all prerequisites. The PhD program requires completion of a minimum 66 credit hours (excluding prerequisites) from the following areas: core courses (16 credits), specialization area (20 credits), electives (12 credits), a comprehensive exam, and dissertation research (18 credits). Students must earn a grade-point average of 3.0 or better in the following prerequisite courses:

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIZATION

• UST 601 - Applied Quantitative Reasoning I - prior to UST 803 
• UST 602 - Research Design and Program Evaluation

• or COM 512 - Communication Research Methods - prior to UST 806 

• UST 603 - Public Sector Economics - prior to UST 605 
• UST 605 - Regional Theory and Analysis
• UST 616 - Systems and Processes of Policy Development
• COM 630 - Media Theory - prior to all COM courses

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SPECIALIZATION

• UST 600 - Foundations in Public Administration

• or UST 617 - Public Administration and the Political Process 

• UST 601 - Applied Quantitative Reasoning I - prior to UST 803 
• UST 603 - Public Sector Economics - prior to UST 605 
• UST 605 - Regional Theory and Analysis
• UST 616 - Systems and Processes of Policy Development

URBAN POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIZATION

• UST 606 - Evolution of Human Settlements
• UST 601 - Applied Quantitative Reasoning I - prior to UST 803 
• UST 603 - Public Sector Economics - prior to UST 605 
• UST 605 - Regional Theory and Analysis
• UST 616 - Systems and Processes of Policy Development

CORE (16 CREDIT HOURS)

Complete a common core of four courses with a grade of B or better in each course.

• UST 800 - Urban Theory
• UST 802 - Logic of Inquiry
• UST 803 - Quantitative Research Methods I

• (COM 731 - Multivariate Statistical Methods can be substituted for the Communication specialization)

• UST 806 - Research Methods In Urban Studies

SPECIALIZATION (20 CREDIT HOURS)

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIZATION

• COM 750 - Seminar on Urban Communication *
• COM 760 - Strategic Communication *
• COM 710 - Organizational Communication Theory
• COM 742 - Communication and Technology
• COM 741 - Political Communication
• COM 730 - Mass Communication Theory
• COM 740 - Persuasive Communication and Campaigns
• COM 720 - Interpersonal Communication Theory
• COM 770 - International Negotiation Strategy and Practices

•  

  * indicates required courses

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SPECIALIZATION

• UST 830 - Public Administration Seminar *
• UST 704 - Leadership, Management, & Organizational Behavior
• UST 731 - Law and Public Administration
• UST 733 - Budget Policy and Management
• UST 734 - Ethics in the Public Sector
• UST 831 - Political Philosophy and Public Administration
• UST 897 - Readings in Urban Studies

•  

  * indicates required courses

URBAN POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIZATION

• UST 810 - Urban Policy and Development Seminar *
• UST 609 - Planning Law
• UST 722 - Economic Development Policy
• UST 723 - Urban Development Finance
• UST 752 - Environmental Policy and Administration
• UST 762 - Urban Housing Policy
• UST 897 - Readings in Urban Studies

•  

  * indicates required courses

ELECTIVES (12 CREDITS)

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIZATION

TWO COURSES FROM THIS LIST:

• COM 731 - Multivariate Statistical Methods
• COM 732 - Audience/Media Research Methods
• COM 733 - Content Analysis Research Methods
• COM 734 - Ethnographic/Qualitative Research Methods

PLUS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:

• COM 795 - Seminar in Communication Theory and Methodology
• COM 796 - Problems in Communication
• Any above listed communication course or other social science course

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SPECIALIZATION

• Please see Student Handbook for suggestions

URBAN POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIZATION

• Please see Student Handbook for suggestions

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

Upon completion of all course work, students must take a comprehensive examination in the major area of specialization. Upon successful completion of the examination, a student is eligible to begin dissertation research.

RESEARCH & DISSERTATION (18 CREDIT HOUR MINIMUM)

The dissertation demonstrates the student’s ability to plan and carry through to successful completion a comprehensive research project. The dissertation should contribute to society’s knowledge about the area of specialization chosen.

• UST 895 - Doctoral Research
• UST 896 - Dissertation Prospectus
• UST 898 - Doctoral Teaching Independent Study
• UST 899 - Dissertation