The winter term at Portland State University starts January 3, 2022, and registration opens December 13 for non-degree students. Students enrolled in a PSU degree program can register online now. Lifelong learning is a guiding principle of PSU, and anyone interested can take transportation courses through the non-degree application process or as a post-baccalaureate student. Taking a course can be a good way to see if one of our graduate degree programs is right for you.

See PSU’s COVID-19 Student Resources for the latest info on our campus vaccination requirement for students and staff. If you're not sure when or where (or whether) to show up for your course, you can find clarification on all of PSU's course delivery methods here.

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Non-degree or non-PSU students should contact the Civil Engineering Academic Program Manager at ceedept@pdx.edu in order to register for a CEE course, as the system requires an approval to process the registration.

458/558 Public Transportation Systems

Performance characteristics of public transportation systems, with emphasis on urban systems. Planning, design, and operational issues related to public transportation systems. Emerging technologies.

497/597 Transportation and Health

Instructor: John MacArthur 

Introduction to the linkages between transportation investments, public policy, and behaviors and various related public and individual health outcomes. Content is divided into four modules covering: a) healthy behaviors, b) exposure to unsafe conditions, c) disaster relief/emergency response and d) integration into practice/health impact analyses.

Urban Studies and Planning

410/510 Urban Informatics

This new course introduces an interdisciplinary approach to understanding, managing, and designing the city using systematic theories and methods based on new information technologies. Urban informatics builds on the science and technologies of information processing, information systems, computer science, and statistics to support the quest to develop applications to cities. In this project-based class, students also have an opportunity to develop applications that combine technical skills and domain knowledge and use information processing, analysis, and presentation to support examining problems/questions in cities. It will introduce students to basic coding, data processing and analysis, visualization and mapping. There are no prerequisites, but it requires some tolerance for experimentation, self-directed trial and error, and an interest in learning to write computer code.

544 Urban Transportation Planning

Introduces fundamental concepts and methods used in multi-modal urban transportation planning, including problem identification, alternatives analysis, evaluation and decision making, plan implementation, and program management. Exposes students to processes and analytical methods from multiple disciplines, such as law, politics, engineering, sociology, economics, finance, management and marketing. Emphasis on analysis of moderately complex technical information and its interpretation for communication with decision makers.

615 Economic Analysis of Public Policy

Introduction to the use of microeconomic analysis in the evaluation of public policy. Intended for entering graduate students with a limited background in economics. Develops basic analytic methods and emphasizes application of the analysis to issues of public policy. Prepares students for advanced classes that use this type of analysis.

Sustainable Transportation Study Abroad

Portland State University presents an introduction to sustainable transportation and land use applications in the context of Denmark and Sweden through a spring 2022 term course (1 hour/week) that culminates in a two-week study abroad program in the summer. The course creates an immersive experience to explore these approaches to cycling, transit, innovative mobility, and land use. The curriculum will feature material that provides a comparison between the U.S. and Denmark and Sweden in terms of problems, priorities, and solutions.

Led by John MacArthur and Hau Hagedorn, this two-week PSU study abroad summer program is open to college seniors and graduates from any university. Apply by Jan 31, 2022.

Friday Transportation Seminars

Friday Transportation Seminars at PSU, though only offered as a for-credit class in the Fall term, still sporadically occur and are open to the public during the Winter and Spring terms! You can always find upcoming seminars on the TREC website.

Graduate Certificate in Transportation

The two disciplines, planning and engineering, also collaborate to offer a Graduate Certificate in Transportation for established professionals looking for a deeper understanding of transportation disciplines. Increasingly, transportation professionals need multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills to anticipate social, environmental, and technological trends and incorporate them into intelligently-integrated transportation systems. The Graduate Certificate in Transportation will offer you advanced education at the intersection of urban planning and civil engineering for those seeking to build upon their knowledge and credentials to move people and goods safely.

Photo by Chase Gilley

The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.