School of Architecture launches hybrid option for Ph.D. in Design and the Built Environment
February 25, 2025
Clemson University’s School of Architecture announced a new hybrid option in the Ph.D. in Design and the Built Environment (DBE) program. The new option provides greater flexibility for working professionals and researchers who wish to advance their careers without relocating to campus.
The DBE program, co-directed by Dina Battisto, Vincent Blouin and Ufuk Ersoy, prepares future academics, researchers and industry leaders in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, historic preservation, real estate development and other fields.
The program’s new hybrid option will allow Ph.D. candidates to complete their coursework through synchronous online learning while only requiring participants to be on campus once a year for key milestones such as dissertation proposal presentations and final defenses.
“Our new hybrid option is ideal for working professionals who value flexibility, independence and the ability to pursue a Ph.D. without disrupting their careers, family lives, or financial stability,” explained Battisto.
“Interested students will be able to gain expertise in a specific area or transition to a higher-level position,” shared Blouin. “Many professionals are already established in their fields but desire further academic credentials to boost their expertise, leadership capabilities or credibility.”
Program Information
The hybrid option requires 61 credit hours, including core courses, electives and dissertation research. Students can enroll full-time, which requires completing 20 credits per year over three years, or part-time, taking 12 to 14 credits annually over four to five years. The program leverages HyFlex, a dual-mobility format where students join synchronously online alongside traditional face-to-face instruction, ensuring remote students can engage with their professors and program colleagues in real time.
“This hybrid option allows professionals working anywhere in the United States to obtain a Ph.D.,” said Ersoy. “Students will still benefit from being part of a vibrant research community and be supported by a close-knit network of faculty from various academic programs.”
Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort are now open. Interested candidates must hold a master’s degree in a design-related field and meet all application requirements, including submission of a research statement, academic transcripts, recommendation letters and GRE test scores.
“The School of Architecture is committed to expanding access to high-quality doctoral education while maintaining the collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that defines it,” explained the Director of the School of Architecture, Jim Stevens. “The new hybrid option for the DBE program allows working professionals and researchers to engage in rigorous scholarship and contribute to the advancement of the built environment without having to relocate or impact their career.”
For more information on the hybrid Ph.D. option and application details, visit https://www.clemson.edu/caac/academics/architecture/programs/phd-dbe/index.html
