Welcome to the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning
Housing, jobs, parks and open space, pollution, traffic and social equity. From the air we breathe to the length of our commute, myriad factors influence the “livability” of our cities. We prepare and inspire the students of Portland State University’s Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning to take on the challenges that urban communities face — whether close to home or around the globe.
The Toulan School’s location in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon affords students the unique opportunity to learn from, influence, analyze and share the urban innovations for which Portland and the Pacific Northwest are known. Undergraduate and graduate students engage directly with Portland-area non-profit organizations, business and governmental agencies and private sector firms, gaining practical experience and real-world understanding of the complexity and challenges of creating socially just and sustainable metropolitan regions.
Home to the nation’s oldest continuously operating program in urban studies, nationally recognized graduate programs, and four centers for research and innovation, the Toulan School provides an interdisciplinary training that equips students for careers in urban planning, real estate development, community development, sustainability, urban research and higher education, working in the public, private and non-profit sectors.