Urban Studies: PhD in Regional Science
Regional science brings a variety of social science perspectives to bear in analyzing the growth and development of metropolitan areas, states and regions. The regional science program shares the same core requirements as the Urban Studies Ph.D. program. Beyond these, students in regional science design a program of study around two field areas. The first field, shared by all regional science students, includes a three-course sequence providing the field's conceptual foundation:
- USP 676 Activity Location
- USP 672 Regional Economic Development
- USP 636 Economic and Political Decision Making
The first field also contains two required methods courses:
- USP 539 Statistical Methods in Regional Science and Planning
- USP 510 Econometrics for Public Policy Analysis
The second field is designed around one of four substantive areas:
Transportation
Housing
Economic Development
Environment
The only required course in the second field is USP 691 Current Research in Regional Science. Subject to prior faculty group approval, students may organize second field areas around topics other than the four identified above. It is recommended that the second field area include additional methods courses that support the field's topical focus. For example, in the transportation field area the supporting methods courses might include coverage of demand modeling, cost-benefit analysis, GIS, and spatial analysis.
Students in the regional science program must pass a comprehensive examination in their two field areas. This is a single examination, developed in consultation with two members of the regional science faculty group.
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