In coming weeks doctoral applications in planning are due. Why apply? For professional planners, a PhD sometimes sounds interesting compared with doing a regular job in a municipality. Some designers remember studio professors who seemed to float into class, unprepared, for a few hours per week. Compared with the ups and downs of private design practice, this can seem quite appealing. Of course, some people genuinely like studying and research, want to make a contribution in that area, and have a flair for teaching.
In coming weeks doctoral applications in planning are due. Why apply?
For professional planners, a PhD sometimes sounds interesting compared with doing a regular job in a municipality. Some designers remember studio professors who seemed to float into class, unprepared, for a few hours per week. Compared with the ups and downs of private design practice, this can seem quite appealing. Of course, some people genuinely like studying and research, want to make a contribution in that area, and have a flair for teaching.
But is it for you? Maybe not.
While it looks as if academics work only a few hours per week, and some notoriously do, for the vast majority of faculty members this is a full-time calling requiring one work many, many hours per week. Time studies of academics show a lot of this is administration of various sorts. Research, far from being glamorous, is mostly pretty mundane; the other part is difficult.
While many people doing PhDs don't become faculty members, but move into other positions, it is important to consider whether the PhD is really needed for such work. Might a second masters degree, say in statistics or public health, equip you as well and at a more modest opportunity cost? You may better paid as well!
It isn't a way to avoid the world of practical work either. Dr. Jennifer Dill from Portland State has good advice at: http://web.pdx.edu/~jdill/resources.php
"I encourage all prospective PhD students to think about and clearly articulate why they want to pursue a PhD. Too often I encounter masters students who really enjoy the topics they are studying and want to continue doing so and thus enter a PhD program. Simply wanting to continue learning about a topic isn't enough for pursuing a PhD. I also generally recommend that in the field of planning, students get some professional experience before pursuing the PhD."
In the past it may have been be possible to find a teaching job without planning work experience. These days most programs want people with advanced research skills who can also teach basic planning workshops and studios or do outreach in communities. Those without such skills and experiences are passed over--with a few exceptions typically limited to highly specialized, technical sub-fields.
So, overall, you have to really like research and teaching and be prepared to pay some opportunity costs. I have a PhD but obviously don't recommend it for everyone.
If you are still interested after reading this what should you do?
You should try out doing research, perhaps in your masters degree, perhaps as part of your job, or maybe as a volunteer. I have some advice aimed at students doing exit projects, but including a useful reference list, at: http://www.annforsyth.net/CRP_ForsythEssentialInfo_070710clean.pdf. Some of my blogs on exit project may also be helpful: choosing an exit option, getting started, troubleshooting common problems, managing your committee, using sources, writing a literature review, and actually finishing.
You should try teaching or public speaking, for example delivering a conference paper. Some like doing this but others don't.
You should read research in the areas that interest you, figure out where the authors are from, and identify schools with at least two potential supervisors (two because you need to be able to choose among them for good fit, plus someone will likely be on leave at some time). Look for research and not professional or journalistic work.
You should NOT necessarily email faculty members about your work. My advice is only do so if they specifically request it (on their web site or as part of the application). I respond to such letters with a standard reply because there is a general admissions process where I work and I want to allocate my time to enrolled students. However, universities differ and some faculty members like such contacts.
Overall, it is a complex decision, not an easy choice.
In future blogs I will go back to my focus on masters and undergraduate students.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Write for Planetizen
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.