Postgraduate Certificate Public Interest Design

The Graduate Certificate in Public Interest Design at Portland State University prepares future leaders in architecture, urban planning, sustainability, community development, and other fields to aid currently underserved populations through human-centered design methods rooted in the “triple bottom line” of sustainability (social, environmental, and economic).

PSU’s Graduate Certificate in Public Interest Design is the first program of its kind in public interest design in the United States.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Interest Design at Portland State University provides an educational foundation for graduate students and professionals preparing to enter the emerging field of Public Interest Design, through study in multiple disciplines and environmental studies, and hands-on field experience, working directly with communities in need.

What can you do

The field of architecture has begun to embrace sustainability and equity in practice, as the profession evolves in the face of a changing world. Architecture students who earn a Graduate Certificate in Public Interest Design often go on to work in architecture firms and projects focusing on affordable housing, healthy communities, and equitable access to resources, serving communities in need of high-quality architectural and urban design.

For students who are not pursuing an architecture degree, the Graduate Certificate in Public Interest Design offers a multidisciplinary view into the ways that design can benefit communities in need, empowering them to creatively and collaboratively address social, environmental, and economic issues.