Ph.D. Program in Urban Systems
The jointly offered Ph.D. Program is built upon the unique strengths of New Jersey's two senior public research institutions: New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Rutgers, State University of New Jersey at Newark (RU-N).
The Joint Ph.D. Program in Urban Systems is designed for students who wish to conduct advanced research to deliver innovative solutions to the challenges cities face based on multidisciplinary approaches. Our doctoral students engage in research to develop a knowledge base in urban systems, including buildings, infrastructure, transportation, humans, socio-economics, and the interconnections between them, through original research. The program consists of three tracks:
- Technology at NJIT
- Environment with a possible sub-specialization in Urban History at NJIT
- Global Urban Studies at RU-N
Technology Track
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Students in the Technology track come to the program with previous degrees in architecture, engineering, science, or other related fields. Once in the program, they focus on the development and/or application of advanced building and digital technologies for the design of urban systems or elements of the built environment based on multidisciplinary approaches.
Environment Track
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Students in the Environment track come to the program with previous degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning. Once in the program, they focus on the physical and spatial aspects of cities and larger metropolitan areas, taking a contemporary perspective, a historical perspective or a combination of both. They choose dissertation topics in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, infrastructure, urban development, and urban agriculture, and pursue those topics in relation to social, cultural, ecological, and regulatory issues.
Degree Requirements
To graduate, students in the Technology track or the Environment track must have an approved dissertation and complete a total of 51 credits, which consists of a 14-credit core curriculum, a 21-credit elective component, and a 16-credit dissertation research. Students need to get departmental approval for the courses they take for their degree requirements. In rare circumstances, highly-qualified students without a master's degree may be admitted and asked to take additional courses.
Curriculum
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Core |
14 |
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Qualitative methods (3 Credits) 1 |
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Quantitative methods (3 Credits) 1 |
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Additional research methods or theory course (3 Credits) |
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Additional research methods or theory course (3 Credits) |
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USYS 791 Colloquium (2 Credits) 2 |
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Electives 3 |
21 |
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Dissertation Research 4 |
16 |
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USYS 792 |
Dissertation Research (6 Credits) |
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USYS 790 |
Dissertation Research (10 Credits) |
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Total Credits |
51 |
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1 |
Students pursuing a sub-specialization in Urban History within the Environment Track take research methods in architectural and urban history in place of the two core methods courses (i.e., qualitative methods and quantitative methods). The courses that fulfill this requirement will be determined by the student's dissertation advisor. |
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2 |
Ph.D. Students must register two semesters for 1 credit of colloquium (i.e., total 2 credits). |
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3 |
Electives are chosen in consultation with the program director and, eventually, the student's dissertation advisor. No more than 6 credits may be USYS 725 Independent Study I or USYS 726 Independent Study II. |
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4 |
Ph.D. students must register for 3 credits of pre-doctoral research (USYS 792) until they successfully defend the dissertation proposal. |
For general information or admissions questions, contact:
Hyojin Kim, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Architecture
Coordinator, Ph.D. Program
Hillier College School of Architecture and Design
Phone: (973) 642-7199
Email: hyojin.kim@njit.edu