- The Graduate School
Doctoral Requirements
Doctoral Toolbox
Requirements *
The PhD degree is comprised of four stages: coursework, prelim preparation and exam, dissertation proposal and defense, and research, writing, and defending of the dissertation. Minimum degree requirement is 33 credits beyond the Master’s degree, at least 27 of which must be earned in residence at UWM. Of the total credits required, 12 credits must be completed in the PhD core courses: 921 Research Methods in Urban Studies, 984 Research Project in Urban Studies, 981 Argument in Urban Studies Scholarship OR 983 Contemporary Urban Social Structure and Change, and the quantitative competency course (History 595, Sociology 760, Education Psychology 624). In addition, students take 6-9 credits in a methodological track they select (see below), and 6-9 credits in a topical specialization they select (see below), and 6 credits in the thesis course (991). Students may enroll for additional thesis credits but no more than 6 credits may be counted toward fulfilling the degree requirements.
Each student is expected to plan a program of study with their major professor in order to gain competence in a field of specialization. Possible areas of specialization are: Community Organizations and Nonprofits, Globalization and International Migration and Development, Housing and Gentrification, Public Policy, Race and Ethnicity, Urban Culture, Movements, and Space, Urban/Metro Economic Development, Urban and Suburban History, Urban Politics and Administration, Urban Poverty and Inequality. Students may develop a research focus in other area concentrations, but must use care as they will need to assemble a committee of five that have similar interests/expertise.
*new curriculum adopted, Fall 2013
Credits and Courses
Minimum degree requirement is 33 credits beyond the master’s degree; these credits include core courses, a methodological specialization, a topical specialization, and a dissertation. At least 27 credits must be earned in UWM courses while in the doctoral program. Credits for the methodological specialization and the topical specialization combined must total at least 15 credits, with 6 credits from one area and 9 from the other. Students will decide, in consultation with their advisor, whether to focus more on methods or on topics. In consultation with their major professor and the program director, students must develop a plan of study, which should be filed in the USP office by the end of the second semester of enrollment.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| URB STD 921 | Seminar: Research Methods in Urban Studies | 3 |
| URB STD 981 | Argument in Urban Studies Scholarship | 3 |
| or URB STD 983 | Contemporary Urban Social Structure and Change | |
| Select one of the four listed below: | 3 | |
| Urban Social Structure | ||
| Seminar in Urban Political Process | ||
| The Internal Structure of the City | ||
| Seminar on the History of American Urban Problems | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3-4 | |
| Spatial Analysis | ||
| The Quantitative Analysis of Historical Data | ||
| Advanced Statistical Methods in Sociology | ||
| Methodological Specialization | ||
| Select 6-9 credits | 6-9 | |
| Topical Specialization | ||
| Select 6-9 credits | 6-9 | |
| Thesis | ||
| Select 6 credits in doctoral thesis or dissertation courses | 6 | |
- 1
Qualified students may be exempted from the quantitative competency/statistics course, but they must take an additional three credits of electives in methodological or topical tracks.
Methodological Specialization (6-9 credits)
Students must declare one specialization from the following list and take two to three courses, for a total of 6 to 9 credits. Credits taken in the methodological specialization and the topical specialization combined must total at least 15 credits.
Statistical Analysis/Quantitative Research Design (2 course minimum)
A methodological specialization in statistical analysis requires SOCIOL 982/URB STD 982 and at least one additional statistical/quantitative course beyond the core competency. This course, selected in consultation with the student’s advisor, should support research objectives and dissertation goals. Students are recommended to choose SOCIOL 760 above if they wish to take SOCIOL 982/URB STD 982. See the Graduate Program Director for a list of qualifying courses or online at: http://www4.uwm.edu/letsci/urbanstudies/graduate/phd/upload/CompletePHDStudentGuide.pdf.
Geographical Information Systems (2 course minimum)
A methodological specialization in GIS requires the following two courses. Students who elect this specialization must take GEOG 547 to complete the statistical/quantitative core competency.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 525 | Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| GEOG 625 | Intermediate Geographic Information Science | 4 |
Students who elect the GIS option earn 8 credits in the two required courses and must complete a minimum of 7 credits in topical courses or take one additional methods course with 6 credits in topical courses.
Optional additional coursework in GIS may be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor, with consideration of research objectives and dissertation goals. See the Graduate Program Director for a list of suggested courses.
Historical Methods (2 course minimum)
In consultation with their advisor, students who elect this specialization must select two historical methods courses in that support research objectives and dissertation goals. See the Graduate Program Director for a list of qualifying courses.
Qualitative Methods (2 course minimum)
Students who elect the methodological specialization in qualitative methods select two courses in consultation with their advisor in support of research objectives and dissertation goals. See the Graduate Program Director for a list of qualifying courses.
Program/Policy Evaluation (2 course minimum)
A methodological specialization in program/policy evaluation requires POL SCI 769/PUB ADM 769 and at least one additional program/policy evaluation course. This course, selected in consultation with the student’s advisor, should support research objectives and dissertation goals. See the Graduate Program Director for a list of qualifying courses.
Mixed Methods (2 course minimum)
Graduate students intending to pursue mixed research methods in their dissertation must file with the USP a plan of study created in consultation with their major professor and the program Director.
Topical Specialization (6-9 credits)
Students must declare a topical specialization, in consultation with their advisor, to gain competence in one of the faculty areas of specialization and must take two to three courses in that specialization, for a total of 6 to 9 credits. Students who opt for 6 credits (two courses) of methodological specialization must take at least 9 credits of topical specialization courses. Those who select 9 credits (three courses) of methodological specialization must complete 6 credits of topical specialization courses.
A variety of specializations and qualifying courses are published annually on the Urban Studies website. Students are required to take 6-9 credits at the 700 level or above in the specialization field, no more than 3 credits of which may be in independent study courses. With the approval of the major professor or program director, students may take up to 3 credits in U/G courses.
Thesis (6 credits)
A maximum of 6 credits in doctoral thesis or dissertation courses may be counted toward the 33 credits required for the degree.
Additional Requirements
Residence
The PhD student may meet the residence requirement by completing 8 or more graduate credits in each of two consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions, or by completing at least 6 graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions.
Doctoral Preliminary Examination
The student must pass a doctoral preliminary examination to qualify for formal admission to candidacy for the degree.
Dissertation
The candidate, working under the supervision of the major professor and the candidate’s dissertation committee, must write a dissertation which demonstrates ability to formulate a research topic and pursue original investigation.
Dissertation Defense
The candidate must, as a final step toward the degree, pass an oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
Time Limit
All degree requirements must be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the doctoral program.
For additional information on the PhD, see the Graduate School Doctoral Requirements page.
For information about course assignments and readings, see course syllabi.
Graduate Grievance Procedures
Federal law and UWM policy require programs and departments to have procedures for graduate students to appeal academic decisions such as grades or scholastic standing. These procedures ensure the protection of students’ rights. These pages serve as a reference on procedures for graduate student academic appeals.