Doctorate

The Doctorate Program spans four years, with the first two years primarily dedicated to completing credits and the last two years focused on thesis development.

2025 Courses (Portuguese only)

A total of 450 hours (equivalent to 30 credits) is required, organized as follows:

1st Semester:

• Research Methodology 1 (30 hours or 2 credits)
• Research Methodology 2 (30 hours or 2 credits)

From the 1st to the 3rd Semester:

• Research Seminar (60 hours or 4 credits)
• Advanced Theoretical Seminars (120 hours or 8 credits)
• Specific Courses (90 hours or 6 credits)

4th Semester – Thesis Seminar (120 hours or 8 credits)

At the end of the 4th semester, students undergo the Qualification Exam.

5th to 8th Semesters – Thesis Development and Defense.

Advanced Theoretical Seminars (STA): These are organized into modules of 2, 3, or 4 credits and aim to deepen theoretical and/or methodological issues in Urbanism. The STA modules are designed according to the faculty’s research interests and the theses in development, addressing seminal studies, emerging themes, and current theoretical trends in the field.

Thesis Seminar: Its purpose is to foster discussions on theoretical and methodological issues in thesis research, contributing to its refinement and maturation. The course is open to all faculty and Doctorate students, making it a vital forum for collective engagement and collaboration in the Doctorate Program. It is recognized by PROURB students as a space for creativity and innovation. This is the course where advisors closely monitor the development of the student’s thesis project, preparing them for the Qualification Exam. The seminar involves planned work aimed at producing thesis chapters.

Specific Courses: These are tailored to the theme of the thesis project. They may be chosen from other programs or from PROURB’s Master’s courses. Previously obtained credits can also be validated as specific course credits.

Teaching Internship: This activity complements the graduate training of master’s or doctoral candidates. It provides an opportunity for teaching practice at the undergraduate level, supervised by the academic advisor. The internship strengthens the connection between postgraduate and undergraduate activities. Many students who participate in teaching internships become substitute professors in the unit’s departments and later excel in public exams for permanent positions.

Up to one-third of the credits may be taken in other postgraduate programs. Students are encouraged to enroll in courses from other programs to deepen their understanding of issues related to Urbanism and/or address specific theoretical needs for their thesis projects.

Qualification Exam: After completing the required credits, this exam involves the presentation and defense of the revised Thesis Project and the preliminary draft of at least two thesis chapters. These must demonstrate consistency in the theoretical framework, clear methodology, and, when applicable, empirical direction. The Examining Committee for the Qualification Exam comprises three program faculty members and, in specific cases, may include an external member in place of one of them. This is a crucial stage in the doctoral journey, where the research project is critically discussed by external members, contributing to the consolidation of the thesis’s argument and theoretical-methodological framework. The committee assesses the project’s relevance and maturity, qualifying it to proceed with the thesis development.

Thesis Defense: The Doctoral Thesis Committee consists of a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 7  members, with at least two of them being external to the program.