The Ph.D. program in urban planning has as its goal the education and training of scholars and researchers in the general field of urban and regional planning. Substantive areas of study include such policy areas as affordable housing, regional transportation planning, urban economic development, and international development. These substantive concerns are approached both theoretically and methodologically. In the former instance, students draw, for example, from organization theory, neo-classical economics, participatory democracy, and law. In the latter instance, they utilize key informant interviews, statistical analysis of secondary data, mixed methods, and case study design among other research designs. Emphasis within the program is given to the role of space and of collective action on the part of governments and civic organizations. Of particular concern are issues of social justice and democracy.