Graduate Certificate in Urban Design

Two things about cities, their design and planning, have become abundantly clear in the early 21st century: even at the largest scales, the details matter, and good policy is important, but it's not enough to create a great place. Together, these two lessons of the last 100 years of planning in America have brought new interest and attention to urban design.

What is Urban Design? The term generally means the process for shaping urban growth, conservation and change - making design decisions about individual buildings as well as big plans, about the design of streets as well as collections of buildings. In other ways, urban design is the translation of policy into 3D, and therefore is something of critical importance at all scales, from the block on up to the region and beyond. 

Urban design combines the aesthetic and three-dimensional design skills of the architect with the analytical, plan-making, and management methodologies of the urban planner. What excites the urban designer is the making of memorable and artful places - places that are pleasant to be in as well as go through, places that reflect the uniqueness of different communities.

The Graduate Certificate in Urban Design at Portland State University, a joint effort of the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning and the Department of Architecture, has been created to offer planners, designers, and architects the opportunity to engage and incorporate in their own work the principles and methods of urban design. It utilizes the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region as a laboratory, an urban place renowned for its use of urban design and attention to urban design concerns.

Eligibility

This certificate is intended for those who:

• Have an undergraduate architecture or landscape architecture degree;
• Have a graduate design or planning degree; or
• Are enrolled in a graduate architecture, landscape architecture, or planning degree program.

If you do not meet one of the three criteria, above, please contact the program directors if you believe that your experience would qualify you for this program.

Course of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Urban Design consists of five required core courses and 3 electives, for a total of 27 SCH (Course descriptions can be found in the PSU Bulletin):

Core Courses

(required):

Theory:

USP 595 Reshaping the Metropolis (3)

ARCH 532 History and Theory of Urban Design (3)

Methods:

USP 588 Sustainable Development Practices (3)

ARCH 521 Urban Design Methods (4)

Practice:

USP 575 Urban Design Workshop (4)

Elective Courses:

(Choose 3 from the list below or from among other related classes selected in consultation with and the approval of the program coordinator):

ARCH 525 Architectural Computer Graphics I (4)

ARCH 526 Architectural Computer Graphics II (4)

ARCH 531 Contemporary Urban Design (4)

USP 513 Introduction to Landscape Architecture (3)

USP 523 Real Estate Development I (4)

USP 524 Site Planning (3)

USP 531 Geographic Information Systems for Planners(4)

USP 542 Land Use Implementation (3)

USP 544 Urban Transportation Planning (3)

USP 565 Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning (3)

USP 570 Transportation and Land Use (3)

USP 577 Urban Environmental Management (3)

USP 581 Environmental Psychology (3)

USP 598 Introduction to Finance and Real Estate (3)

Application and Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study at Portland State University is granted on the basis of evidence of suitable preparation and the probability of success in the intended field of study. Admission requires a minimum of an accredited baccalaureate degree and a GPA which meets university graduate admission standards. Students admitted to graduate study at Portland State have an undergraduate or graduate (minimum of 12 credit hours) GPA of at least 3.0.

To apply, please submit the following information to either the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning or the Department of Architecture:

• A recent resume.
• Sealed transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
• Completed application form
• A credit card authorization or a check to Portland State University for $50.00

Applications are accepted at any time of year. Students may take courses prior to being admitted to the program. Please send or deliver your materials to one of the following:

Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning
Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, Oregon 97201-0751
(Office Location: Room 350, Urban Center, 506 SW Mill Street)

or

Department of Architecture
Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, Oregon 97201-0751
(Office Location: Shattuck Hall 235, 1914 SW Park Avenue)

If you are currently admitted to a masters or doctoral program at PSU, in good academic standing, and currently registered for classes, use the GO-19M or GO-19D form to request addition of the Graduate Certificate program:

Current Masters Students: GO-19M Form

Current Doctoral Students: GO-19D Form

For more information, please contact the program directors:

Ethan Seltzer, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, seltzere@pdx.edu, 503-725-5169

or

Rudy Barton, Department of Architecture, bartonl@pdx.edu, 503-725-3339