New Jersey School of Architecture
 Ph.D. in Urban Systems
 
 

 

The Program

The jointly offered Ph.D. Program in Urban Systems is built upon the unique strengths of New Jersey's three senior public research institutions: New Jersey Institute of Technology, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey at Newark. The program is designed to prepare students to develop research-based knowledge in urban systems and to participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of policy and services for urban populations. Students in the program have full access to library, computing, and other student services at all three campuses.

The program is designed as a 48-credit program with three major specializations: (1) urban health systems, (2) urban environment studies and (3) urban educational policy. Specific full-time and part-time curriculum plans are tailored through developmental advisement to facilitate academic progression. Faculty for this program comprise an interdisciplinary team of experts from the health sciences, architecture, public administration, sociology, political science, economics, planning and policy, history, management, information systems, and computer sciences.

 

 

Admission to the Program

The criteria for admission to the PhD Program in Urban Systems include academic achievement, scholarship, professional character, scientific inquisitiveness, accountability, dependability, and interpersonal skills. While a completed master's degree is preferred from applicants, outstanding individuals without such training are also considered. 

 

 

Application Submission

• Completed Application to the PhD Program in Urban Systems. 

• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or its equivalent (e.g., MCAT, GMAT, DAT, or other acceptable examination). Inquiries regarding the substitution of other examinations should be addressed to the Program Director. 

• International students, and all students whose first language is not English, must provide competitive scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). 

• Official transcripts of all prior academic work. 

• Three letters of recommendation (faculty preferred). 

• Written Statement of Purpose. 

• Interview (Optional). 

 

Applications for admission to the program may be obtained from the Office of University Admissions, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102, from the NJIT Office of Graduate Admissions  web pages, or by calling 973-596-3300. 

 

For General Information or Admissions-related Questions, Click here or contact:

Joseph Holtzman, Ph.D, Urban Systems Program Director
973.972.8564

Fred Little, Graduate Program & Admissions Coordinator, New Jersey School of Architecture
973.642.7576

For Questions regarding specific Program Tracks, contact:

Urban Environment: Peter Papademetriou, Track Director, 
 973.642.7399

Urban Health: Elizabeth Parietti, Ph.D., Track Director
973-972-0748 or 3876

Urban Education Policy: Alan Sadovnik, Ph.D., Track Director
973.353.1216 or 5434

 

 

Degree Requirements

The curriculum consists of a 21-credit core curriculum, a 12-credit research core, a 15-credit specialization component, and a 24-credit dissertation sequence.

 

21-Credit Core Curriculum    
  History and Future of the Metropolis 3 credits
  Urban Populations: Demography and Trends 3 credits
  Process of Urban Planning, Policy Evolution and Assessment 3 credits
  Urban Government and Politics 3 credits
  Urban Economic Systems 3 credits
  Urban Health Systems: History, Structure and Challenges 3 credits
  Elements of Infrastructure Planning 3 credits
     
Research Core    
  Logic of Scientific Inquiry 3 credits
  Research Seminar I: Quantitative Methods 3 credits
  Research Seminar II: Qualitative Methods 3 credits
  Early Research Program 3 credits
     
Specialization Urban Environment Studies1  
  Development of the American Cities 3 credits
  Architecture & Health: The Pathology of Urban Studies 3 credits
  Architecture Perspectives in Urban Research 3 credits
  Electives 6 credits
     
Specialization Urban Health Systems2  
  Health Status of Urban Population 3 credits
  Health Beliefs and Practices of Urban Populations 3 credits
  Survey of Health Informatics 3 credits
  Electives 6 credits
     
Specialization Urban Educational Policy3  
  Sociology of Urban Education 3 credits
  Educational Policy and Urban School Development 3 credits
  History of Urban Education 3 credits
  Electives 6 credits

 

1Specialization in Urban Environment

Students in the Urban Environment specialization complete 15 credits in this area, nine credits of which are required and six credits are elective. The Urban Environment specialization provides students with the unique opportunity to examine the physical and spatial complexities of the built domain and the forces that gave rise to specific urban manifestations such as rapid social change, frequent demographic shifts, technological innovations, and shifting public policies. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the environmental field, the curriculum comprises a set of courses drawn from the related disciplines of architecture, architectural history, urbanism, and city planning. The course work exposes students not only to extensive scholarship and rigorous analysis of architectural and planning theory and practice, but it also creates linkages to other urban systems. 

 

Ph.D. Faculty -- Urban Environment

Erv Bales, Assistant Professor of Architecture,  University of Illinois,Ph.D., 1967

Zeynep Celik, Professor  of Architecture,  Istanbul Technical University, B.Arch.,1975;  Rice University, M.Arch.,1978;  University of California--Berkeley, Ph.D. ,1984

Gabrielle Esperdy, Associate Professor of Architecture, Smith College, B.A.; City University of New York,  M.A., Ph.D. 

Karen Franck, Professor of Architecture, Bennington College, B.A. 1970; City University of New York,  Ph.D. 1981

David Hawk, AIA, R.A., Professor of Architecture, Iowa State University, B.Arch. 1971;University of Pennsylvania, M.Arch., M. City Planning, 1974; Ph.D., 1979 

Richard Olsen, Director, Environments for Health & Aging, Center for Architecture & Building Science; Catholic University of America, B.A.1970;  City University of New York, Ph.D., 1978 

Donald Wall, Associate Professor of Architecture, B.Arch Program Director; University of Manitoba, B.Arch., 1958; Cornell University, M.Arch., 1959; Catholic University of America, D.Arch, 1970
 

 

2Specialization in Urban Health Systems

Students in the Urban Health Systems specialization will complete 15 credits in this area, nine credits of which are required and six credits are elective. A systems approach, explicit in the urban health systems specialization, utilizes knowledge from diverse disciplines to study thecomplex web of health care delivery to urban populations, explores economically viable alternatives to traditional delivery, establishes ethical implications for that delivery that are human-centerd, proposes research-generated health policy solutions, and assesses outcomes. Coursework exposes students to research related to the health status of urban populations, health beliefs and preactices, health informantics, and theories related to pulbic policy, planning, health economics, evaluation methods, health and other related topics.Students in the Urban Health Systems specialization will complete 15 credits in this area, nine credits of which are required and six credits are elective. A systems approach, explicit in the urban health systems specialization, utilizes knowledge from diverse disciplines to study the complex web of health care delivery to urban populations, explores economically viable alternatives to traditional delivery, establishes ethical implications for that delivery that are human-centered, proposes research-generated health policy solutions, and assesses outcomes. Coursework exposes students to research related to the health status of urban populations, health beliefs and practices, health informatics, and theories related to public policy, planning, health economics, evaluation methods, health and other related topics
 

 

3Specialization in Urban Educational Policy

Students in the Urban Educational Policy specialization complete 15 credits in this area, nine credits of which are required and six credits are elective. The specialization in Urban Educational policy is designed to prepare students to develop research-based knowledge of urban educational systems and policies. Through an interdisciplinary approach to understanding urban educational systems and problems, students are prepared to think critically about systemic, urban school improvement. Based on the belief that urban education cannot be understood outside the larger context of urban systems, the program is designed to help students connect the study of urban education to the history, sociology, politics, and economics of urban life. Through course work, research, and internships, students will engage in-depth examinations of urban educational policy and practice. Using New Jersey’s historic Abbott v. Burke case as a foundation for understanding national trends, students will examine urban educational reforms in the state’s thirty urban Abbott districts resulting from this decision, including whole school reform, mandated early childhood education, and equity financing. Based on their research, students will explore the limits and possibilities of urban educational policy in improving schools for all children. Graduates will be prepared to take positions as university faculty, educational researchers and policy makers at the national, state, local and foundation levels, or to work as policy analysts in school systems. 

 

Ph.D. Faculty -- Urban Educational Policy

Jean Anyon, Professor  B.S. University of Pennsylvania; M.S.; Ph.D. New York University
Jeffrey Kidder, Assistant Professor B.S. Edinboro University of PA; M.S.; Ph.D. Cornell University

Jamie Lew, Assistant Professor B.A. Washington University, St. Louis; M.A. Ph.D. Teachers College, Columbia University

Alan Sadovnik, Professor of Education and Sociology; Chair B.A. Queens College; M.A.; Ph.D. New York University 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

posted February 20, 2002
updated October 12, 2002
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