Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Sciences

Doctoral students may work with any member of the department’s graduate faculty, which include all tenure-track and tenured faculty, as well as a few academic professional track faculty who have petitioned and been added to the graduate faculty. However, each faculty member only takes on a small number of doctoral students at any one time. Faculty availability may also depend on the grant support available to fund students.

Any faculty member who is a member of the graduate faculty can serve on a doctoral committee. All “core” and “affiliate” faculty can serve on doctoral committees (see the faculty section in the URSC program handbook (PDF) for a complete list of “core” and “affiliate” faculty members).

Any faculty member who is a member of the graduate faculty can serve on a doctoral committee. All “core” and “affiliate” faculty can serve on doctoral committees (see the faculty section in the URSC program handbook (PDF) for a complete list of “core” and “affiliate” faculty members).

We hope that students will complete the Ph.D. program in four years. The average timeline is 5 years. For detailed information on procedural guidelines, refer to the Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Sciences handbook (PDF).

• Research interests that align with those of our faculty.
• Strong Statement of Purpose that clearly articulates the applicant’s interest, motivation, and qualification.
• Wring sample that shows the ability and potential to produce high-quality scholarly writings independently.
• CV/Resume that is well-organized to show relevant trainings, experience, skills, etc. (including publications/presentations and relevant professional experiences).
• Competitive undergraduate and masters GPA from high quality universities.
• TOEFL scores that are competitive.
• Reference letters from those in the relevant fields with sufficient knowledge about the applicant to provide specific and informative evaluations of the applicant and to help contextualize the applicant’s qualifications/preparedness.
• GRE scores are not required but are accepted as additional evidence of scholarly excellence.

Ph.D. applicants go through a two-tiered acceptance process.

In the first tier, prospective students demonstrate that they have the relevant credentials. To do this, you should submit your application and all supporting documents by the application deadline. The admissions committee made up of faculty within the department will make the initial admission recommendations based on the evaluation of the entire application package.

In the second tier, the admissions committee will identify a faculty mentor for each recommended applicant. Preference is given to applicants whose interests align with current faculty research. Only those applicants with a committed faculty mentor or co-mentors will be offered an admission.

Typically, eight to twelve applicants are admitted into the program each year depending on funding available, and the applicants are notified by the end of March.

Learn more about the Ph.D. of Urban and Regional Sciences application requirements.

You do not need to, but we encourage you to contact individual faculty members who can potentially serve as your mentor(s) in advance via emails or meeting at conferences. These faculty may request an interview with you before you apply to the program.

Submit your application at Texas A&M GradCas along with a non-refundable application fee.

Your application should include the following:

1. Transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended
2. Required test scores (TOEFL) (New for fall 2024! The GRE will not be required for Fall 2024 admissions but will be re-evaluated on a yearly basis for reinstatement)
3. Three letters of recommendation that include specific information on applicant skills and performance (academic references are preferred)
4. Statement of purpose that describes applicant’s educational goals specifically related to our program, their research interests and potential faculty mentors, and their career goals after finishing the Ph.D.
5. Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
6. Writing sample that is sole authored and is produced without the use of Generative AI tools.

Read more about the Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Sciences application requirements

Applications must be received by December 1 to be reviewed for Fall admission and considered for scholarships or funding offered. Letters of recommendation for completed applications must arrive by December 15.

Applications incomplete (including missing letters of reference) on December 16 will not be reviewed.

Doctoral students are typically funded as research assistants through externally funded grants by their faculty mentors (from National Science Foundation, National Institutes for Health, etc.) or through departmental assistantships as teaching or research assistants. University fellowships are also available for exceptional candidates.

Assistantships provide tuition for 9 credit hours, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. Monthly stipends range from about $1,400 a month to $2,000 a month depending on funding source and student skills. Some assistantships also cover fees. LAUP typically provides four years of support if the student is in good standing, which is equivalent to about $85,000 over four years. Work assignments include both research and teaching opportunities. International and domestic students receiving financial assistance are eligible for in-state tuition.

For a better understanding of your total cost of attendance, please visit the Texas A&M University cost and tuition rates webpage. This webpage will provide you with an opportunity to review estimated cost of attendance information for undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as other resources such as the tuition calculator and billing and fee explanations.

Learn more about potential grants and other financial resources.

For more information about the Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Sciences program, please contact Michelle Meyer, Ph.D. Program Coordinator, at michelle.meyer@tamu.edu.

Questions about application requirements and process can be directed to Thena Morris at t-morris@tamu.edu.