Curriculum

The Ph.D. program in environmental design and planning is designed as an interdisciplinary, three year post-masters degree program. The program will consist of 71 hours. In most cases students will enter the program with a masters degree in one of the design disciplines of architecture or landscape architecture, planning, or construction science. Students with advance preparation may take slightly less than three years. Students from other disciplines including engineering, business, or the social sciences may be required to take prerequisite coursework as the core courses require some previous coursework experience.

The curriculum is divided into five content areas as indicated below. Those content areas include: core courses, concentration courses, elective courses, comprehensive examination, and dissertation research. Students will select a field area from the traditional fields of architecture, landscape architecture, planning, or construction science to build disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary foundations. Concentrations will be developed subject to faculty expertise and student interest. Concentrations might be drawn areas such as: urban design, health care, energy, development, restoration, sustainability, landscape ecology, and building practice and technology.

CORE CURRICULUM
CONTENT AREA	COURSES	HOURS
Theory/History	Advanced Theory Disciplinary Readings in Primary Field-Architecture, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Construction.	3 6
Methods	Advanced Methods Courses - from selected options	6
Other Core Courses	Research Design Instructional Design Delivery Environmental Design and Planning Colloquium Contemporary Issues in Environmental Design & Planning Studio/Research Workshop in Env. Design & Planning	6 1-3 4 3 3-6
Concentration Courses	Concentration coursework both within and outside the college.	15
Electives	To add depth and breadth to the program.	6-9
Total Before Dissertation		47
Dissertation		24
Total Program Hours		71

Core Courses - The core consists of 29-35 hours of coursework. Those hours will include advanced theory/history, advanced methods courses generally taken outside the college, a readings course within a primary field area, a contemporary issues seminar, courses in research design and teaching technique, and a colloquium and workshop. The core provides a foundation with some flexibility to tailor curriculum to individual needs within primary fields of study as well as a forum to address issues of the built environment in an interdisciplinary setting.

Concentration Courses - Concentration courses may be taken within or outside college. These courses add both breadth and depth in the student's area of concentration. Students develop an individualized course of study to reflect their individual focus and career objectives. Coursework must be approved by faculty advisor and committee members.

Electives - These courses add additional breadth and depth to the program. Students may add to their concentration coursework, select diverse offerings to complement concentration or develop a minor with nine hours in a second concentration.

Degree Plan and Comprehensive Exam - Students will be assigned a program advisor on entering the program. A program evaluation will be conducted and a dissertation advisor and dissertation committee will be selected at the end of the first full year of study. A curriculum plan for the remainder of the degree program will be developed at that time. Comprehensive and oral examinations will be administered following the completion of the second full year in the program. Dissertation credit can not be taken until comprehensive exams are scheduled.

Dissertation Research - Students will develop a dissertation in their area of concentration. A minimum of 24 hours in dissertation research will be taken.

Sample Curriculum

FIRST YEAR CREDITS		Credits
Fall
EDP 801	Advanced Theory	3
EDP 805	Readings in the Fields of Architecture, Planning, Landscape     Architecture, or Construction	3
EDP 812	Environmental Design and Planning Colloquium	1
	Advanced Methods Course (e.g., EX ST 801)	3
	Fall Semester Credits	10
Spring
CRP 870	Seminar in Sustainable Development	3
EDP 812	Environmental Design and Planning Colloquium	1
EDP 806	Readings in the Fields of Architecture, Planning, Landscape   Architecture, or Construction	3
EDP 820	Instructional Design Delivery or VT ED 876	1-3
	Advanced Methods Course (e.g., EX ST 803)	3
	Spring Semester Credits	11-13
SECOND YEAR CREDITS
Fall
EDP 815	Research Design	3
EDP 812	Environmental Design and Planning Colloquium	1
EDP 809	Research Workshop in Environmental Design and Planning	3
EDP 810	Contemporary Issues in Environmental Design and Planning	3
	Elective or Concentration course	3
	Fall Semester Credits	13
Spring
EDP 816	Research Design	3
EDP 812	Environmental Design and Planning Colloquium	1
EDP 809	Research Workshop in Environmental Design and Planning or   Elective or Concentration course	3
	Elective or Concentration course	3
	Elective or Concentration course	3
	Spring Semester Credits	13
	Total Credits	47-49