You can use the Paint Selection tool to select and subdivide faces.

1. Select a mesh.
2. In the Toolbox, select the Paint Selection Tool.
3. In the Paint Operations section of the tool settings window, turn off Add to Current Selection.
4. Change the pick mask to Poly Faces.
5. In the Stroke section, Type the following in After Stroke Cmd: polySubdivideFacet -dv 1 -m 0 -ch 1
6. Paint the faces you want to subdivide. Each painted face subdivides automatically as you finish the stroke.