Interdisciplinary PhD program in Land Use Planning, Management and Design (LPMD)

Coordinator: Saif Haq, PhD, College of Architecture, Texas Tech University

Program Description:

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Land-Use Planning, Management, and Design (LPMD) focuses on various aspects of land and land use. It aims to train students to be leaders in their community and their organizations with enhanced understanding of multidisciplinary endeavors, improved communication skills between compartmentalized systems of knowledge and the ability of bringing knowledge from one discipline to focus on problems and ongoing projects in another. LPMD training prepares students to be leaders in administrative, legislative, research or design organizations that deal with land use.

This program is administered by the College of Architecture with faculty and courses drawn from units across the university. It is designed to provide education in several facets of physical design, with special emphasis on non-urban lands and those in arid and semi-arid environments. Included in the program are studies of the complex factors influencing human use of resources, training in the research and evaluative methods that can be applied to interdisciplinary studies, and education in the institutional structures that shape policy and action.

There are four tracks in this program:

1. Environmental/natural resource management and planning
2. Community planning and design
3. Public policy administration, and
4. Historic preservation.

Students with an interest and background in these fields as well as in architecture and many other aspects of land and land use may find the LPMD program suitable to their needs.

Download LPMD brochure in pdf form by clicking here

Recent Dissertation Titles

Student Requirements

Students into the LPMD program are expected to bring a set of knowledge and skills from their background departments. They will be exposed to various courses in contributing disciplines, and with the assistance of their advisor and/or committee will be expected to demark an intersection which will be focus of the dissertation.

All students are required to complete a minimum of 66 hours beyond the bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 12 (8000 level) hours of dissertation. This includes 24 hours of multidisciplinary core courses, 21 hours of track courses, 15 hours of supporting courses and 6 hours of tool courses. Students will need to specify one track in which 21 hours of courses are selected, of which only 4 courses in one discipline can be taken. Track courses, research projects, and ultimately the student's dissertation will focus on the track selected and will be chosen by the student and approved by the advisor. Students are also required to present evidence of competency in an appropriate tool subject (e.g., computer science, statistics). Each student will also be required to enroll for Arch 5102: Graduate Colloquium, in the first semester of their studies.

Because students come from a variety of backgrounds with different interests and career goals, one standard course of study is not required. Initial advisement and program development is conducted by the program coordinator. A dissertation committee drawn from three or more departments and two or more colleges must be selected. In consultation with this committee a student will finalize a course of study and a dissertation topic in the track of specialization. Each student will therefore follow a "custom-designed" program of study. The dissertation committee will be responsible for administering comprehensive exams and for directing both the dissertation and the student's program.

List of Core Courses

NOTE: The LPMD coordinator can substitute as necessary

1. ARCH 5605: Community Design Studio (6:0:12). Synthesis of human and environmental interaction. Comprehensive architectural design of complex building types involving integration of cultural factors, programming, conceptual issues, construction technology, and cost estimation.

2. LARC 5302. Advanced Environmental Planning for Sustainable Development (3:3:0). An introduction to environmental planning issues with emphasis on integrating related disciplines to attain environmentally and socially sustainable development.

3. PAUD 5333. Environmental Policy and Administration (3:3:0). Analysis of the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of environmental and natural resources policy, emphasizing theoretical foundations, political contexts, and principles of administering environmental policies.

4. LAW 6025 Land-Use Planning (V2 - 3 hrs.) A study of both private and public means of controlling the use of land. Emphasis will be placed on the areas of planning and zoning, including the emerging problem of exclusionary land-use controls. Further topics that will be discussed include subdivision controls, restrictive deed covenants, eminent domain proceedings, and urban renewal.

5. HMGT 5323. Principles of Heritage Management (3:3:0). Provides a theoretical framework and examines issues of evaluation, legislation, sustainability, socioeconomic impact, and communication to foster global responsibility and present integrative approaches to managing heritage.

6. GEOG 5306. Seminar in Geography of Arid Lands (3:3:0). Systematic and regional review and analysis of the physical nature and problems of human utilization of the arid and semi-arid lands of the earth.

OR

ARCH 5324. History and Theory of Historic Preservation (3:3:0). Survey of theory and practice of historic preservation and restoration; overview of the history of the preservation movement in the U.S.

7. One Research Method Course (3 credits)

Transfer of Course work

(quoted from p. 76, Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogue, 2007-2008, Texas Tech University)

"There is no automatic transfer of credit toward the doctorate degree. On the recommendation of the department or program, the graduate school may review transfer courses for acceptance. Transfer credit will not alter the grade point average at Texas Tech University. No more than 30 semester credit hour of an earned master's degree from another institution may be transferred. Grades from transfer courses will not appear on Texas Tech University's transcripts. Doctorate students may take approved courses at another approved institution and transfer up to 12 semester credit hours into their degree program."

Admission Requirements

All students are evaluated holistically and no one factor is considered in decision making. The following are required:

• GRE scores
• Grade-point average / transcripts
• Statement of intent / Individual profile (research interests, goals, and possible match with expertise and resources at Texas Tech University)
• Writing samples and Portfolio (Portfolio required for students with a design background. Other students may submit writing samples only) and
• Letters of recommendation on official letterheads (at least three)

There are two stages of application. The first is to the Graduate School of Texas Tech University. Instructions and application details are available at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/admissions/

The second application is to the College of Architecture. Instructions and forms are available at http://www.arch.ttu.edu/Admissions/Graduate.asp

Please send the completed form with Letter of Intent/Individual profile, Letters of Recommendations, Portfolio/writing samples and Transcripts to the College of Architecture.

Application Dates

The following dates are set by the College of Architecture.

• March 1st for admission into the 1st Summer session,
• March1st/June 1st for the Fall semester,
• October 1st for the Spring semester

In addition, the LPMD program evaluates applications any time they are received, and make all efforts to evaluate them quickly. However, there is no guarantee that a decision will be made in time for admission in the following semester if application is received after the dates shown above.

Financial Assistantship

Elo and Olga Urbanovsky fellowship is available exclusively to LPMD students. It is given to one person for three years. Currently, the amount is set at $30,000 per year.

Students may also find other funding sources at Texas Tech University. They may be in the form of scholarships or various assistantships. Some of the available ones are listed in http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/scholarships/. There may be other opportunities available in various department and centers.

Some Relevant Web sites:

Contact

Saif Haq,PhD
Associate Professor
Coordinator, PhD Program in Land-use Planning, Management, and Design (LPMD).
College of Architecture, Texas Tech University
Box 42091, Lubbock, TX 79409-2091
Phone: 806.742.3169 ext 265, Fax: 806.742.4017
E-Mail: saif.haq@ttu.edu

Or

Lori Rodriguez
Academic Programs Office
College of Architecture
Texas Tech University
Box 42091
Lubbock, TX 79409-2091
Phone: 806.742.3169 ext 272, Fax: 806.742.4017
E-Mail: Architecture.Programs@ttu.edu