Planning, Design and Construction Doctorate Program

The Doctor of Philosophy in Planning, Design and Construction program prepares students for advanced research careers and teaching in universities. We train prospective or practicing professionals to address the complex interdisciplinary nature of the built environment.

Concentration Options

This program offers three concentration options:

Environmental Design, which is shared by the Interior Design and the Landscape Architecture programs.
Construction Management.
Urban and Regional Planning.

Degree Requirements

The PhD Curriculum culminates in a dissertation that represents state-of-the-art analysis combined with practical applications. This is a 45-credit program that can start in fall or spring semesters.

Degree Requirements and PhD Student Handbook

Download the degree requirements and the PhD Graduate Student Handbook.

How to Apply

Admissions Requirements

This document outlines the details for admission to our PhD programs.

Contact the PhD Program Director, for academic, research and program-related inquiries.

Dong Zhao LEED®AP

Director, Planning, Design and Construction Doctorate Program
dz@msu.edu

Graduate Program Assistant

For application, admission and administrative inquiries.

Advisory Faculty for PhD Concentrations

Tariq Abdelhamid

Associate Professor, Construction Management
tariq@msu.edu
517-432-6188
George Berghorn, LEED AP BD+C, CGP

Assistant Professor, Construction Management and Research Director for Mass Timber at MSU
berghorn@msu.edu
517-353-8756
Noah Durst

Assistant Professor, Urban & Regional Planning Program
durstnoa@msu.edu
517-353-3184
Mohamed El-Gafy, PE

Associate Professor, Construction Management
elgafy@msu.edu
517-432-6512
Peilei Fan

Professor, Urban & Regional Planning and Interim Director, Center for Global Change & Earth Observations
fanpeile@msu.edu
517-432-6517
Eva Kassens-Noor

Adjunct Professor, Urban & Regional Planning and Global Urban Studies Program
ekn@msu.edu
517-432-8085
Jun-Hyun Kim

Associate Professor and Program Director of Landscape Architecture and Master of Arts in Environmental Design Programs
junhkim@msu.edu
517-353-8554
Zenia Kotval, Ph.D., FAICP

Professor and Program Director, Urban & Regional Planning
kotval@msu.edu
517-353-9362
Zeenat Kotval-Karamchandani, AICP

Associate Professor, Urban & Regional Planning
kotvalze@msu.edu
517-353-5460
Jisun Lee

Assistant Professor, Interior Design
leejisu4@msu.edu
517-884-7882