The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is designed for individuals who are interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills that are needed to conduct substantive, innovative, and original research that contributes to the theoretical and methodological foundation of architecture and to disseminate it through teaching, publication, and practice.

To this end, the curriculum is structured so that students move gradually from an overview of architectural research to the identification and pursuit of major and minor areas of specialization and—finally—to highly specialized original dissertation research. This framework promotes stimulating intellectual discourse among individuals with varying research philosophies and interests. Both faculty and students interact within this framework to develop an enhanced understanding of how specialized research contributes to the definition and evolution of an improved theoretical and methodological basis for the discipline of architecture.