Many students enter programs to earn a master’s degree in transportation engineering in order to apply their engineering degrees or professional experience to mobility. The program prepares students for careers in the automotive and aeronautical industries.
What is a Master in Transportation Engineering? This advanced degree gives students in-depth knowledge of transportation design and systems. Students interested in vehicle prototypes, automotive design, computer-integrated vehicle and aircraft systems, airworthiness engineering and safety systems will find the coursework and development projects invaluable. Program participants learn prototyping and design skills for cars, trucks, special vehicles and airplanes, as well as certification and legal standards required for safety and for governmental and environmental regulations. Graduates are prepared for engineering careers in the auto and airline industry, as well as many regulatory and government institutions.
This master’s degree program benefits both engineering students and engineers already pursuing careers who want to develop specific mobility design skills and the knowledge necessary to work within regulatory standards. Graduates are at an advantage over individuals with more general engineering experience when applying for positions in the transportation industry.
Each institution will have its own program requirements for cost and duration, but most programs take approximately two years to complete. Cost varies for each school. Interested students should research each institution to ensure their requirements are met.
Program graduates have a wide variety of career options in transportation design and systems. Many graduates choose to enter the automotive industry, applying their skills to creating prototypes for new cars or designs for automated systems within the vehicles. The airline industry is also open to graduates, offering careers in aircraft design, as well as careers working with the many computer-integrated systems within planes, towers, radars and communication equipment. Engineers with this degree are in high demand in many government and private transportation agencies as well.
There are international options for engineers interested in a transportation graduate degree. Our extensive database can direct prospective applicants to appropriate institutions. Search for your program below and contact directly the admission office of the school of your choice by filling in the lead form.
What is Transportation Engineering?
From the construction and development of highways, air transportation, pipeline, waterway, port, aerospace, coastal to the ocean and urban transportation, the Transportation Engineers play a pivotal role. Transportation Engineering is the study of planning, designing, development, construction and maintenance of efficient transportation structures and systems. As a prominent one in the different types of Civil Engineering, It encompasses the designing of airport pavement, toll plaza, traffic signal, highway elements, interchanges, parking facilities etc. It aims to design systems that can ensure the safe and comfortable movement of people and goods.
What does Transportation Engineers do?
Other than planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the transport system, here are a few basic tasks of a transport engineer.
- Transport Engineers are responsible to supervide on any construction site where they are required.
- When there is anew development plan initiating, the transport engineer is primarily in-charge of determing the traffic impact from this project.
- A transport engineer is responsible for setting real goals and criterias for new projects.
- They are required to proepare work plans for the department that they are working with.
- In case of analytical skills, they are made to draw or plan work flows for their employees and colleagues.
- Transport Engineers are also responsible for researching and evaluating traffic volume, practices, efficiency, and accidents to keep a check on safety measurements.
- After a certian project is done, the transport engineer is responsible for creating reports on traffic and transportation related matters.
- They also gain skills of developing their own models when it comes to transportation scenarios.
- In case od projects, they are responsible for creating accurate budgets and identifying soultions.
Skills Required
To become a transportation engineer, you must possess a certain skill set that will help you in tackling different situations, handling construction projects as well as other related tasks. Here are the major skills required to build a successful career in Transportation Engineering:
- Management Skills
- Mathematical skills
- Technical skills
- Critical Thinking
- Observational Skills
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Leadership Qualities
- Time Management
- Problem-solving skills
- Decision-making
Eligibility Criteria to Study Transportation Engineering
The eligibility criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for Transportation Engineering is more or less the same. Here is a detailed list of both.
For undergraduates
- The candidate must have completed their 12th standard from a recognised school or board.
- While passing out the student must score an aggreagte of 50%.
- Universities require the student to have a backgrounf in science, mathematics, physics, chemistry or any other rquivaelnt courses.
- In terms of foriegn university, the candidate is also required to submit their enligh proficeincy test scores.
- Entrance examinations are also held in some cases.
For Postgraduates
- Candidate must have passed their 10+2 from a recognised instituion or board with an aggregate of 50%
- The candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or any other equivalent courses from a recognised instituiton.
- Must have appeared for the GATE exams in order to meet of the criterias.
- In case of foriegn universitites, they are required to submit their language proficiency scores.
Courses in Transportation Engineering
Now that you know what Transportation Engineering is, take a look at the major bachelor’s, master’s level and doctorate level programmes offered in this field.
Bachelor’s Level Courses
- BEng (Hons) Civil and Transportation Engineering with Foundation Year
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering – Transportation Engineering
- BEng Hons. Future Transport and Engineering
Master’s Level Courses
- Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering – Transport Engineering
- MSc Sustainable Transport Engineering
- Master of Philosophy – Transport Engineering
- Master of Engineering Studies-Transportation Engineering
- MSc/PgDip/PgCert Transport Engineering and Planning
- Master of Science in Highways and Transport Engineering
- Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering – Transportation Engineering
- Master of Science in Civil Engineering – Transportation Engineering
- Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering in Transport Engineering
Doctoral Level Courses
- Doctor of Philosophy- Transport Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering – Transport Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Environmental Engineering – Transport Engineering
Best Engineering Courses for Future
Subjects in Transportation Engineering
To understand the answer to what is Transportation Engineering, you must first have a look at the subjects covered in this particular field of study. Given below are some of them:
| Environmental Engineering | Water Resources Engineering | Hydraulic Engineering |
| Urban Engineering | Transportation engineering | Materials Engineering |
| Land development | Structural engineering | Geotechnical Engineering |
| Coastal and Ocean Engineering | Construction Engineering | Fire protection engineering |
| Irrigation Engineering | Bridge Engineering | General E |
Popular Universities
There are numerous universities and colleges across the globe that provide a wide array of programmes in this specialised branch of Engineering. Glance through the following list of popular universities offering courses in Transportation Engineering:
- University of Canterbury
- University of Alberta
- The University of Queensland
- Wayne State University
- University of British Columbia
- University of Wisconsin
- Lowa State University
- Oklahoma State University
- The University of New South Wales
- University of Southern California
- The University of California- Davis
- Texas A & M University
- University of Salford
- University of Virginia
- University of Minnesota
- University of Colorado- Denver
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Newcastle University
- George Washington University
- University of Hartford
- University of Memphis
- The University of Auckland
