Stuart Weitzman School of Design
102 Meyerson Hall
210 South 34th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
3a. Coursework
The Graduate Group requires that instructors in courses that satisfy doctoral coursework requirements hold a PhD or terminal degree in their respective fields or are members of Penn’s Standing or Associated Faculty. The GGC will handle requests for exceptions to this rule on a case-by-case basis. If you enroll in masters-level courses in any school, you must complete assignments of greater scope and depth than the lower-level students. If your instructor is unaware of this requirement, please inform him or her and make appropriate arrangements.
You must maintain an overall GPA equal to or greater than 3.00 in all coursework. If you earn a grade lower than B- in a course, you cannot apply it to the 20 course-unit requirement.
If at any point during your coursework, your GPA falls below 3.00, you will be ineligible to continue as a doctoral student and dropped from the Program. If you incur two or more grades of Incomplete (I) you will be permitted to register for four (4) courses minus the number of Incomplete courses in subsequent semesters until you extinguish the Incomplete grade(s).
3.a.1. Course units: You complete 20 course units during two and half years of full-time study at the rate of four course units per semester, or a shorter time depending on transfer credit. The Graduate Group in City and Regional Planning does not designate a formal list of required courses other than the Doctoral Seminar but allows you to work with the GGC and your principal advisor to develop a study plan consistent with your research and future teaching interests.
3.a.2. Doctoral Seminar: You enroll in four (4) course units of CPLN 8000 Doctoral Seminar in four consecutive semesters beginning with your initial enrollment in the program. This seminar explores how scholars define and answer important research questions and assists you in developing your research agendas, including selecting your dissertation topic and crafting your draft thesis proposal. Through its guest lecturer series and reading, the seminar reviews important research in City and Regional Planning. It also affords you the opportunity to discuss your research with your peers and the Graduate Group Faculty. Finally, it addresses a number of issues not covered by other courses including a critical analysis of the varied forms of scholarly writing.
3.a.3. Research Methods: You also take and pass with a grade of B or better two (2) graduate-level methods courses relevant to your proposed field of research identified and submitted to the GGC. The Graduate Group maintains a list of courses in quantitative and qualitative methods and spatial analytics offered in various schools of the University. The Graduate Group highly recommends that you take CPLN 5080 Urban Research Methods, preferably in your first semester. The GGC must approve your selection of research methods courses. (Although you may fulfill this requirement by waiver examination or transfer of credit for prior coursework, you will need to present evidence of strong methodology training to secure GGC for approval.) The Research Methods requirement will show as completed on your Degree Audit Path.
Email the GGC to identify the courses and provide background information on the instructors (e.g., PhD., standing faculty). Attach course syllabi and your transcript and submit the paperwork to the GGC for approval. (Before submitting the formal request, discuss the prospects for such transfers with the GGC to determine if the courses are consistent with your course of study.) Transfer credit is official when it appears on your Penn transcript, viewed through Path@Penn. Should you encounter any problems related to processing transfer credit, contact the Weitzman Registrar.
Next section, Prepatory Requirements
