Ph.D. in
Urban Studies and Public Affairs
Program Information
For more information, please contact:
Office of Student Services
Levin.
216.687.4506
urbanprograms@csuohio.edu
The Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Affairs degree program integrates
knowledge from a number of academic disciplines. The mission is to prepare
scholars for research, teaching, and reflective practice in positions related to
urban studies and public affairs in universities or public-policy organizations.
Graduates of the Ph.D. program are faculty members and practitioners
throughout the United States and abroad.
Through disciplinary integration, doctoral students analyze, design, test, and
evaluate strategies for urban policy-making and management within the
public and private sectors. The program places a heavy emphasis upon theory,
research methods and literature, and effective professional communications
to both expert and lay audiences. The student’s understanding is informed by
political theory and philosophy, economics, statistical and mathematical model
building, research methods, concentration in an important substantive domain
of public concern, as well as real-world knowledge of specific circumstances,
cases, and issues.
Degree Requirements (66 credit hours)
Students select from three different fields of study:
• communication
• urban policy and development
• public administration
Students complete prerequisites, a core of 16 credit hours, specialization
area, and elective courses. After completing this coursework students will
take a comprehensive exam. Following the successful completion of the exam,
students may begin the 18 credit hour research and dissertation phase of the
program.
Levin College of Urban Affairs
Nationally recognized as one of the premier colleges of Urban Affairs, the
Levin College is ranked among the top schools of Public Affairs and ranked
highly in the specialization of City Management and Urban Policy by U.S. News
and World Report. The only College of Urban Affairs in Ohio, Levin is home to
nationally recognized faculty as well as The Urban Center, a collection of fee
and contract-supported applied research programs with specializations in the
fields of public management, nonprofit management, community planning and
development, and economic development.
Levin gives you the flexibility, affordability, and resources to complete your
degree and achieve your career goals.
csuohio.edu/urban/phd
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program in Urban Studies in the fall semester only. Students entering the
program with a master’s degree are expected to have a grade-point average of 3.5 or better. Both undergraduate
and graduate grade-point averages are considered in determining eligibility for admission. Cleveland State also
permits students with bachelor’s degrees to enter the program. Bachelor entry-level students must have achieved
at least a 3.5 grade-point average in their undergraduate work.
Applicants are expected to have earned a minimum combined 50th percentile on the quantitative and verbal
sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), plus at least a 4.0 on the analytical writing section. In
addition to the application requirements of the College of Graduate Studies, an applicant must submit three letters
of recommendation, a writing sample, preferably a recently graded research paper, and a statement of purpose
for seeking a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Affairs. The application deadline is January 31.
Non-native English speakers who do not have an earned bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S.
institution must demonstrate proof of English-language proficiency as indicated in this bulletin under “Admission
Requirements for International Students and Permanent Residents”
Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Grants
Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Grants are competitive, and are awarded to qualified students who have been
admitted to Urban Affairs graduate degree programs. Candidates must have an undergraduate or graduate GPA of
3.0 or higher to qualify for and retain a graduate assistantship.
Graduate Assistants work 20 hours per week and are required to be enrolled for at least 8 credit hours per
semester. Additional employment is generally not permitted. Assistantships provide a tuition waiver for 8-12 credit
hours (at the Ohio-resident tuition rate) and a stipend of $3,600 per semester for master’s degree-seeking students
and $5,900 per semester for Ph.D. students.
Tuition Grant recipients work for up to 10 hours per week, and receive an award equivalent to the amount of
graduate tuition (at the Ohio-resident rate) for 1-12 credit hours.
While Graduate Assistant and Tuition Grant applications will be accepted throughout the year, the priority
application deadline is March 1st for the upcoming academic year (starting in August of the same year).
The application can be completed online at csuohio.edu/urban/students/graduate-assistantships-andtuition-grants.
Levin College Scholarships for Graduate Students
Students who have been accepted into the Levin College are eligible to apply for scholarships ranging from $200 to
full tuition. Please visit us online at csuohio.edu/urban/students/scholarships-financial-support for updated
information on scholarships. Scholarship applications are due in March for the upcoming academic year.