Graduate Certificate in Public Interest Design at Portland State University

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.

• Complete the graduate application
• Send the Graduate School’s Admissions office your official academic transcripts
• Submit evidence of English language proficiency
• Provide financial documentation demonstrating adequate financial support for at least the first year of study
• Depending on the individual graduate program that you are applying for, additional department requirements may include:
  • Personal essay or statement of purpose
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Standardized test scores, e.g., GRE (not required by all programs)
  • Resume
  • Writing samples
  • Portfolio