Department Overview

The Department of Transportation and Urban Infrastructure Studies (TUIS) in the School of Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate programs in transportation. The Department evolved from the Center for Transportation Studies, established in 1981 to offer the M.S. degree in transportation. Since its inception, scores of young men and women have graduated from the transportation program to assume various leadership positions in the public and private sectors. The Department launched its one-of-a-kind undergraduate program, B.S. degree in transportation systems, in 2009 and the Post Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in transportation in 2010, making it one of the largest transportation programs in the nation.

Department Vision

It is the vision of the Department to be a global leader and one-stop resource center for transportation education and research .

Department Mission

It is the mission of the Department to provide top-notch education/training and research opportunities for a diversified student body poised to tackle the crosscutting transportation issues of the global community.

Program Description

The B.S. degree program in Transportation Systems provides a hybrid curriculum that prepares students for entry-level professional positions in transportation planning, systems analysis, management, and logistics; or for pursuing advanced studies. The program is technical with an applied science focus, and requires a minimum of 130 credit hours of coursework, which includes 48 credit hours in general education, additional 20 credit hours of mathematics and science, 56 credit hours in core courses, and 6 credit hours in electives. The core courses expose the students to the major transportation concentration areas, including planning, engineering, economics, management, and logistics.

Program Objectives

The program graduates will:

• Utilize system approach to articulate, study, and mitigate transportation problems
• Apply latest technology and sustainability paradigm to efficiently plan, implement, analyze, evaluate, and manage components of the transportation systems
• Utilize effective communication, team, and total quality management skills to work productively within their professions and communities
• Pursue professional development to meet the emerging and evolving demands, and increasing responsibilities of a successful career
• Conduct themselves as responsible professionals and citizens

Program Outcomes

The program graduates will be able to:

• Develop knowledge of local and global cross-cutting issues and challenges in transportation and engage in life-long learning
• Formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet desired needs
• Apply mathematics, science, technological tools, and principles of engineering, planning and management to solve complex transportation-related problems
• Understand the impact of solutions in a global and societal context
• Communicate effectively and function on multidisciplinary team
• Design and conduct experiments as well as analyze and interpret data
• Understand professional and ethical responsibility as documented in the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Canons of Ethics for Members

Admission to Program

Students enroll in the B.S. program in Transportation Systems as first-time freshmen, transfer students from other institutions, or transfer students from other academic departments at the University. The first and second groups (first-time freshmen and transfer students from other institutions) follow the usual University Admission process administered through the office of Admissions. Students are admitted in the fall or spring upon satisfying the general admission requirements of the University, which include 2.0 minimum GPA, 850 SAT (combined critical reading and math), or 17 ACT (composite score), and a guidance counselor and teacher recommendation. Once admitted into the University, students can declare transportation systems as their major. Newly admitted students are required to take the University Placement Tests on mathematics and English language. Based on their test scores, students enroll in the appropriate mathematics and English courses. All new students in the program are assigned academic advisors (usually the Chair of the Department) to provide guidance in course registration, and to mentor the students and monitor their academic progress.

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid has full responsibility for the administration of all student financial aid programs such as loans, grants, scholarships and career-related student work programs. Interested students may seek information and applications at the Office of Financial Aid. The goal of the Office of Financial Aid is to assist in the efforts of students to meet their responsibilities to bear the cost of a college education. Students are encouraged to seek out other sources of aid, especially state and private scholarships, and to submit early applications for funding.

Employment Opportunities

Transportation offers employment opportunities in a wide variety of public and private organizations including transportation/engineering consulting firms, colleges/universities, public transportation agencies at all levels of government, regional and city planning commissions, regional planning agencies, airlines, and railroad and shipping companies. The demand for well trained transportation planners, managers and engineers continues to grow as the nation prepares to develop and maintain energy efficient, economical, and socially and environmentally acceptable transportation systems.