Graduate
Certificate in Urban Design
Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, College of
Urban and Public Affairs
Department of Architecture, School
of Fine and Performing
Arts
March 25, 2008
Introduction -
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. Urban design combines the
aesthetic and three-dimensional design skills of the architect with the
decision-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. This
certificate is intended for those who are currently seeking an advanced
planning or architecture degree, or who are currently employed as a
professional planner, architect, or designer.
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 (3)
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. Typically, students admitted
to graduate study 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:
Copy of a recent resume.
Sealed transcripts from all undergraduate and
graduate institutions attended.
Completed Graduate Certificate application
form:
http://www.gsr.pdx.edu/forms/certapp.pdf
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: 2121 SW 4th Avenue,
3rd Floor)
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: www.gsr.pdx.edu/forms/go-19m.pdf
Current
Doctoral Students: www.gsr.pdx.edu/forms/go-19d.pdf
For More
Information –
Ethan Seltzer, Toulan School
of Urban Studies and Planning,
seltzere@pdx.edu,
503-725-5169
Rudy Barton,
Department of Architecture
bartonl@pdx.edu,
503-725-3339
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