CRP600 PH.D. THESIS
| Course Code: | 1210600 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 0 (0.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 130.0 |
| Department: | City and Regional Planning |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | PhD |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. EMİNE YETİŞKUL ŞENBİL |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to support doctoral candidates in conducting original, substantial, and methodologically rigorous research that makes a significant contribution to the theory, methodology, and/or practice of city and regional planning. Under the close guidance of a faculty advisor, candidates will design and execute an independent research programme, engage critically with the scholarly literature, advance conceptual and methodological debates in the field, and produce a doctoral thesis that demonstrates originality, depth of analysis, and scholarly excellence.
Course Content
Program of research leading to Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning arranged between student and a faculty member. Student register to this course starting from their third semester while the research program or write-up of thesis in progress.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, doctoral candidates will be able to:
- Identify and articulate a research problem that addresses an advanced and original question within city and regional planning, with clear theoretical and practical significance.
- Critically evaluate, synthesise, and extend existing literature to position the research within contemporary academic and professional debates.
- Design and apply advanced research methodologies—qualitative, quantitative, spatial, computational, or mixed methods—at a standard expected for scholarly contribution to the discipline.
- Collect, analyse, and interpret complex empirical and/or theoretical data with methodological sophistication and analytical precision.
- Generate original theoretical, methodological, and/or empirical contributions that advance the knowledge base of city and regional planning.
- Engage in sustained, independent research management, demonstrating autonomy, scholarly integrity, and adherence to ethical standards in all stages of the research process.
- Produce a doctoral thesis that meets international standards for originality, methodological rigor, conceptual clarity, and scholarly impact.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Developing a philosphical perspective by using his/her theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of urban planning, regional planning, urban design, urban policy and any other related research area | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Using any necessary research method in the study of urban issues, problems and processes and evaluate the findings in the conceptual level | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Researching on the problems of his/her expertise by using theoretical and methodological knowledge, interpreting the findings within the context of urban and regional space and developing solutions to address these problems | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Defining the needs of interdisciplinary appraoch in the fields of urban planning, regional planning, urban design, urban policy and any other related research area, interpreting and using the findings and solutions of different disciplines within the context of urban and regional space | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Internalizing the concepts of social responsibility and public interest | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Prioritizing to use these concepts in the academic and practical milieux | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Conducting individual studies independently | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Taking the responsibility and acting as a leader in the team works | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Acquiring a highest profeciency level to perform at the highest quality when performing his/her part in the projects and plans | ✔ | |||
| 10 | Communicating efficiently and cooperating effectively with the national and international academics and professionals in his/her field of expertise | ✔ | |||
| 11 | Expressing his/her ideas by using professional terminology in Turkish and English | ✔ | |||
| 12 | Presenting his/her original research findings and knowledge regarding his/her expertise area in the field of urban and regional planning in the academic and professional milieux in Turkish and English | ✔ | |||
| 13 | Writing up the findings of his/her scientific research and practical work as academic papers and articles that can be published in the national and international publication media in Turkish and English | ✔ | |||
| 14 | Having gained the awareness, consciousness and skills of life-long learning | ✔ | |||
| 15 | Having life-long learning knowledge in the fields of urban planning, regional planning, urban design, urban policy and any other related research area | ✔ | |||
| 16 | Acquiring the skills of process design and management | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution