Fall 2026
Applications Open:
August 1
Applications Close:
December 15 for International Applicants
January 15 for Domestic Applicants
PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design Admissions
The PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design at CU Denver is the only doctoral program in planning, architecture, or landscape architecture in the state of Colorado. Since 1997, the program has trained students to become high-impact faculty members, professionals, and intellectual leaders in fields that address urgent social and environmental issues.
Applicants admitted to the PhD Program must already hold a Master's degree and will normally have completed the requirements for the Master of Architecture, Master of Planning, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Geography, or a related program. Students from allied fields are also encouraged to apply, and field specialization and background are open.
Application Information
Admission to the PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design program is competitive and based on merit. We do not admit students directly into research groups; all prospective students go through a single application process. If your background and qualifications are a good fit to the current needs and interests of the program’s faculty, they may accept you with funding from one of their research projects. In your statement of interest, please be sure to describe your research interests and skills, as they will be important for determining whether you receive an offer of admission. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Consistent with the University requirements, applications are evaluated on previous work/life experience, research interests and abilities, prior academic success, and, where applicable, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Applicants whose native language is not English must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, or have a graduate degree from a university in the U.S. or another English-speaking country.
For more information, please visit our International Admissions office.
Application Deadline
*Please note all application materials including letters of recommendation, domestic transcripts, ECE Evaluations (if applicable), and English language proficiency scores (if applicable) must be received by the deadline.
Application Requirements
- Online Application
- Application Fee
- Three Letters of Recommendation: You will submit the contact information in your application for three instructors or other professionals who can attest to your potential for our PhD program. They will receive an email from CU Denver with a link to upload their letters directly to your application.
- Examples of previous research and written works
- Transcript(s):
- Domestic transcripts: Transcripts from each institution you have attended, except for study abroad courses, should be sent to the following:
- Electronic Transcripts: [email protected]
- Mailing Address:
College of Architecture and Planning
University of Colorado Denver
Campus Box 126
P.O. Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364
- International transcripts: An International Credential Evaluation Report is required for any applicant who attended one or more academic institution(s) located outside the United States. All international credentials from the academic institution(s) located outside the United States will need to be verified for authenticity and evaluated by CU Denver or an external evaluation provider (ECE or WES). If you have questions about international transcript reviews, please contact our International Admissions office at [email protected] or visit their website for more information: CU Denver International Admissions Office.
- Applicants for the Fall 2026 term will have the option of choosing: CU Denver to authenticate and evaluate your credentials in-house. ECE or WES to authenticate and provide a credential evaluation report directly to CU Denver. (Applicant will pay the cost of the evaluation fee.
- Students who are admitted and enrolled in the program will be required to subsequently submit official college transcripts to the International Admissions office at [email protected].
- Applicants for the Fall 2026 term will have the option of choosing: CU Denver to authenticate and evaluate your credentials in-house. ECE or WES to authenticate and provide a credential evaluation report directly to CU Denver. (Applicant will pay the cost of the evaluation fee.
- Domestic transcripts: Transcripts from each institution you have attended, except for study abroad courses, should be sent to the following:
- Statement of Personal and Professional Goals (Statement of Purpose)
To help the Doctoral Admissions Committee identify a prospective faculty advisor, please indicate in your Statement of Purpose at least one professor with whom your work has some synergy. Here is a list of all of our PhD faculty members. Although it is not necessary, you may reach out directly to a prospective faculty advisor. You do not need to ask permission to list one of us as your preferred committee member or advisor. Note that faculty members are normally less interested in your previous GPA, class ranking, or where your undergraduate university ranks in international tables. Instead, they appreciate discussing your specific research interests and how your existing background, skills, and knowledge can help you succeed in a research-intensive doctoral program like ours.
- Scores of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for non-U.S. residents whose native language is other than English. For more information, please visit our International Admissions office
- In order for your application to be considered on time, all application materials, including letters of recommendation and transcripts must be received by the application deadline.
- Students admitted into this program must have completed a Master’s degree before they will be able to begin this program. An official conferred degree transcript is required by the university.
Did You Know?
Nearly all accepted students receive multi-year financial packages that cover some or all tuition and fees and a living stipend. PhD students also have opportunities to teach their own courses or work as research or teaching assistants alongside faculty from the college and across the university.
Current students are funded by grants and contracts from agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Forest Service, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, the Babbitt Center, Denver Housing Authority (DHA), the Water Research Foundation, and the Gates Family Foundation.
The doctoral program also provides two additional internal funding opportunities:
- $5,000 Dissertation Completion Fellowships for candidates in the dissertation phase
- $1,000 Conference Travel Fellowships for students/candidates presenting papers at national conferences
In-State Tuition is available to Western state residents.
CAP has WICHE-WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program) status. This means that students who are residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and the U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States are granted in-state tuition.
Learn more about WICHE-WRGP for Graduate Students >>
Meet Our PhD Students
Our students come from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, but one thing they have in common is a shared interest in using critical and engaged research to assess the relationship between communities and the built and natural environment. We empower students with both academic and non-academic aspirations to become the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers, scientists, analysts, and decision-makers.
Contact Us!
Want to learn more about our PhD program, have questions about applying, and/or want to visit us on campus? Meet Advising and Admissions team.
Jeremy Németh PhD
Professor and Director of the PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design
- Administration and Instruction Services (CAP)
- Urban and Regional Planning Department
Email Address:[email protected]
Personal Website | Google Scholar
I am a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Director of the PhD program in Geography, Planning, and Design, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Community Collaborative Research Center, Coordinator of the Climate and Environmental Justice Graduate Certificate, and Director of a long-term partnership between the College of Architecture and Planning and Universidad de Chile’s Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (FAU).
My research explores how planners, designers, and communities can work together to create more socially and environmentally just places. I am particularly interested in the relationship between social equity and the built environment, and my recent work examines gentrification, homelessness, and racial discrimination in U.S. cities.
In 2023, I served a term as a U.S. Department of State Fulbright Specialist at the Universidad de Chile, and in 2015-16 was a Fulbright Scholar at the Università degli Studi Roma Tre. From 2019-22, I was a Chancellor’s Urban Engaged Scholar, which recognizes “outstanding contributions to the Denver metro region through community-engaged scholarship.” I was Chair of the Department of Planning and Design from 2012-15 and Director of the Master of Urban Design program from 2008-15.
I received my PhD in Planning and Public Policy from Rutgers University, an MSc in Development and Planning from the Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London, and a BA in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.
I am an active volunteer for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, National Brain Tumor Foundation, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Miracle Messages, and an infrequent substitute teacher at Denver Language School.
Areas of Expertise
Environmental justice, Gentrification, Homelessness, Public space, Planning theory
Education, Licensure & Certifications
2007. PhD, Planning and Public Policy - Rutgers University.
2001. MS, Planning and Development - University College London.
2000. BA, Architecture - University of California Berkeley.
Resumes/CV:
Awards
2024. Top 2% Most Cited Researchers in the World, Stanford University/Elsevier Study.
2023. Top 2% Most Cited Researchers in the World, Stanford University/Elsevier Study.
2023. Fulbright Specialist. University of Chile, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, US Department of State, Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs.
2019-2022. TIAA Chancellor’s Urban Engaged Scholar. University of Colorado Denver.
2021. Editor’s Featured Article, Urban Studies for “Green gentrification or ‘just green enough’: Do park location, size, and function affect whether a place gentrifies or not?
2021. CU Denver Pandemic Research and Creative Activities – Collaborative Award (with S. Rowan, Anschutz Medical Campus). University of Colorado Denver.
2018. Faculty Award for Excellence in Research. College of Architecture and Planning, University of Colorado Denver.
2016. Fulbright Scholar Award. US Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs. Host: Department of Architecture, Università degli Studi Roma Tre (Italy).
2015. Public Health Hero Award. Tri-County Health District, Colorado.
2012. Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. College of Architecture and Planning, University of Colorado Denver.
2011. Faculty Award for Excellence in Research. College of Architecture and Planning, University of Colorado Denver