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Ph.D. in Planning, Design and Construction

The Ph.D. in Planning, Design and Construction (PDC) program prepares students for advanced research careers and teaching in universities. We train researchers and professionals to address the planning, design and construction of the built environment —buildings, facilities, interior spaces, infrastructure, neighborhoods, and communities — an integral part of our society.

The PDC program offers three concentrations for the PhD degree:

  • Construction management (CM)
  • Environmental design (ED)
  • Urban and regional planning (URP)

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. degree requires completion of 45 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA and culminates in a dissertation of original research which makes a significant contribution to knowledge.

Detailed degree requirements please see PhD Student Handbook

Please contact the Ph.D. Program Director for academic, research and program-related inquiries.

How to Apply

Applicants to the Ph.D. program must obtain a master’s degree in a related discipline and demonstrate strong capabilities to succeed in graduate study.

Applicants are highly encouraged to reach an agreement with an Advisory Faculty Member (listed below) in a desired concentration to serve as Major Professor and to secure possible funding support such as graduate assistantship.

Application deadline is February 1. Perspective applicants should complete their application by January 1 for full consideration for financial aid including fellowships, assistantship, and scholarship which are often very competitive.

Detailed application requirements please see Admissions Requirements.   

Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for application, admission and administrative inquiries.

START YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION HERE

Once you submit an application for admission, you will receive a confirmation email. You should then log into the student portal to see the status of your application and upload any needed documents.

Dong Zhao LEED®AP

Dong Zhao LEED®AP

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

Graduate Program Coordinator

Jordan Kenyon

Jordan Kenyon

Graduate Program Coordinator
kenyonj6@msu.edu

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

    Associate 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, Ph.D., ASLA

    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

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Ph.D. in Planning, Design and Construction

  • PhD Concentration in Construction Management
  • PhD Concentration in Environmental Design
  • PhD Concentration in Urban and Regional Planning
  • Doctoral Students
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School of Planning, Design and Construction

  • Home
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  • Doctoral Program
  • Ph.D. in Planning, Design and Construction

  • PhD Concentration in Construction Management
  • PhD Concentration in Environmental Design
  • PhD Concentration in Urban and Regional Planning
  • Doctoral Students
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