Application Deadlines
All applications received by December 1 will be reviewed for Fall admission, and considered for scholarships and for departmental funding through assistantships.
Applications received after December 1 may be considered for admission, but considerations for financial aid may be limited.
Applicants can expect a response letter from the department regarding a decision on their application sometime between late February and the end of March. A separate offer letter will follow if financial aid is being offered. April 15, 2023 is our deadline for applicants to return offer letters to the department to indicate their intention to study in the URSC program at Texas A&M University.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the university graduate admission requirements, the Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Sciences program requires the following.
Submit all required materials through the Texas A&M GradCas system.
Minimum Education
A masters degree is required for admission to the Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Sciences program.
Admitted applicants who are still earning the prerequisite degree are admitted contingent on the completion of that degree. Applicants who do not meet this contingency must reapply after graduation.
Resumé or CV
Resumés or Curriculum Vitae (CV) should include your employment history, educational record, publications, awards, and any community/volunteer experiences you may have. Please upload your resumé to the Texas A&M GradCas System.
Statement of Purpose
Your statement of purpose should clearly demonstrate your interest in the URSC program, your educational goals, and your later career goals upon completing the degree. Statements of purpose are used to gauge whether an applicant will be a good fit in our program based on research interests, prior experiences, and educational and career goals. We encourage you to specifically identify faculty whose interests coincide with yours in your statement of purpose. You may list faculty even if you have not spoken with them about joining their team, though we recommend reaching out to faculty before applying.
References
You should provide three letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with your academic and professional achievement and potential. If you have been out of school for a number of years and are unable to contact former professors, you may submit non-academic references (e.g., employers). The best letter writers are those who can provide specific examples of your interests, strengths, and skills.
Applicants can access the electronic letter of recommendation system available via the Texas A&M GradCas System.
Sole Authored Writing Sample
Please submit at least one sole-authored writing sample as a PDF file in lieu of the GRE requirement for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. This can be a recent publication, report, or other form of writing that demonstrates your writing ability, supports your Statement of Purpose, and demonstrates your research skills. This writing sample is meant to show your own ability to communicate in written form and your subject matter knowledge relevant to our program. Thus, this writing sample should not use Generative AI tools like ChatGPT or other similar tools.
Additional Writing Sample(s)
Submit at least one additional writing sample as a PDF file . The second writing sample can be sole-authored or co-authored.
Test Scores
New for admissions for Fall 2024, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is not required for applicants applying to the Ph.D. program in Urban and Regional Sciences. The GRE requirement will be re-evaluated on a yearly basis and may be re-instated for future admission cycles. GRE scores are optional and can be included if you feel the scores support your application. Some students will be required to submit English language test scores (TOEFL scores) for admission to Texas A&M University.