The formal degree requirements are minimal to give a student maximum flexibility in designing the most effective program. Since progress in graduate study depends so much on an individual student's situation, there are no formal course requirements specified by the Graduate School. However, since work for the Ph.D. degree is considered preparatory to making creative scholarly contributions to the discipline, substantial competence in and knowledge of the theoretical foundations and the major analytical and research methods of regional science are required before students can devote their full time to dissertation research. Successful completion of formal, advanced level course work and appropriate examinations usually demonstrate that competence.
A typical program of course work for the Ph.D. program in regional science would include the courses listed for the master's degree (excluding master's thesis research electives) plus the following advanced courses or their equivalents:
- ECON 6090: Microeconomic Theory I
- ECON 6100: Microeconomic Theory II
- ECON 6170: Intermediate Mathematical Economics I
- AEM 7100 or ECON 6190: Econometrics I
- AEM 7110 or ECON 6200: Econometrics II
- AEM 7120: Quantitative Methods I
- CRP 6320: Methods of Regional Science and Planning
- CRP 8010: Advanced Urban and Regional Theory: Location Theory
- Elective courses in major area of interest
- Elective courses in two minor areas of interest
A student's program is developed with the assistance and direction of a Special Committee, the members of which are chosen by the student after consultation with appropriate faculty members in regional science. The Special Committee of each doctoral student is composed of a chairperson, representing the major subject in regional science, and two other members representing minor subject areas of interest. The members of the Special Committee direct the student's program and decide whether he or she is making satisfactory progress toward the degree. They conduct and report on oral examinations, and they approve the dissertation that is usually prepared under the direction of the chairperson. Students may be uncertain of their subjects of interest at the beginning of their residency. Consequently, they are encouraged to change the membership of their Special Committee as their academic goals become more definite.
The student's major and the chairperson of the Special Committee are usually selected before the end of the first semester in the field. Approved major subjects in the field of regional science include environmental and energy systems, international spatial problems, location theory, multi-regional economic analysis, peace science, planning methods, transportation, and urban and regional economics. The chairperson, in turn, advises the student about minor fields of study and faculty members who might represent those fields on the Special Committee.
There are many opportunities for minor fields that complement well a major in regional science. Examples of minor fields that focus on methodology include statistics, operations research, applied mathematics, and computer science. Minor fields that focus on related social science theories include economics, sociology, and government. Finally, minors in fields in which a knowledge of the theories and methods of regional science could be applied include city and regional planning, rural sociology, civil and environmental engineering, urban studies, public policy, and various area study programs such as the Southeast Asia Program or Latin American Studies. This list is illustrative, and other combinations of minor fields are possible with a major in regional science.
William Staffeld / AAP
