Portland State University’s graduate certificate programs are intended for professionals who want to gain technical knowledge and build analytical skills in order to specialize or advance in their careers. They feature interdisciplinary coursework and draw on resources across the university, city, and state.
The Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning offers graduate certificates in Affordable Housing Development, Applied Social Demography (not currently accepting applications); Real Estate Development; Transportation; and Urban Design. We also collaborate with other schools and departments on other graduate certificates: notably Emergency Management and Community Resilience; Gerontology; and Sustainable Food Systems, among others.
Graduate certificates are designed to be completed in one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study.
Affordable Housing Development
Affordable housing is a complex field. Development involves multiple layers of financing, public sector partners, and complicated tax incentives. Once a building is complete, the leasing and ongoing community management require policy and program compliance and specialized resident services. Property maintenance and management often requires re-capitalization and more layers of finance and government relations. The Graduate Certificate in Affordable Housing Development prepares real estate professionals in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors to be able to enter and advance in this specialized field.
Applied Social Demography
Not currently accepting applications. The Graduate Certificate in Applied Social Demography at Portland State University offers students the opportunity to explore the complex issues and relationships between demographic change and its impact on communities. The program draws on the expertise of faculty from departments across the university, providing an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues, perspectives, strategies, and solutions involved in understanding and framing the components of population change: fertility, mortality, and migration/immigration.
Real Estate Development
The Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development is for experienced professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of real estate financing, land use, economic development and valuations. Ideal candidates for this certificate include legal professionals seeking further specialization in real estate law, public employees seeking career advancement, and private sector professionals wanting to rise to the next level of commercial or residential development.
Transportation
The Graduate Certificate in Transportation focuses on building engineering, practical and problem-solving skills for transportation specialists and junior planners who want to advance their careers and pursue jobs such as transit planners, transportation planners, and transit managers.
Urban Design
The Graduate Certificate in Urban Design was created for those who are currently seeking an advanced planning or architecture degree, or who are currently employed as a professional planner, architect, or designer. 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.
Course Overlap Between Degrees and Certificates
Graduate courses can be applied to both a master’s or a doctoral degree and a graduate certificate. However, graduate courses cannot be applied to two graduate certificates. See the PSU Bulletin for more information.