Planning, Governance, and Globalization

The Ph.D. program in Planning, Governance and Globalization (PGG) is one of two Ph.D. programs available in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), the other being the Ph.D. in Public Administration. The Ph.D. in PGG attracts students with widely differing backgrounds and interests. In order to accommodate this diversity, curriculum requirements are defined in two tracks with several thematic areas. These are:

Urban & Environmental Design & Planning Track
Thematic Areas:

• Metropolitan Development
• Community & Economic Development Planning
• International Development Planning
• Environmental Planning & Sustainability
  
• Landscape Planning & Landscape Analysis
• Transportation Planning
• Physical Planning & Urban Design

Governance & Globalization Track
Thematic Areas:

• Governance: Institutions & Civil Society
• Globalization: Identities, Security, & Economies

What You'll Need

Transcripts

Include a scanned copy of your college transcripts with your online application, then arrange for an official copy to be sent to us after you receive an offer of admission.

Letters of Recommendation

Check to see whether your department requires letters of recommendation from references. If so, you can include the letter writers' email addresses in your online application, or have the people you ask to write those lettes send paper copies directly to your program’s department.

Graduate School Testing Requirements

The Graduate School does not require entrance tests, but check to see whether your department requires you to submit GRE, GMAT, or subject test scores with your application. If so, have the testing agency send official scores to Virginia Tech Graduate School, code 5859. 

International students may be required to submit TOEFL scores. 

Application Fees

Degree-seeking students must include a $75 fee with their application, though check to see if you qualify for a waiver or reduced fee. All application fees are non-refundable.

Refund procedure

All application fees are non-refundable.