Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Transportation Planning and Management

Introduction

Graduate study in Transportation Planning and Management at Texas Southern University focuses on developing an interdisciplinary program, which is designed to train outstanding students for successful careers in the field of transportation. Through a rigorous graduate program of instruction, students can develop analytical and problem-solving, design, planning and systems analysis as well as appropriate research skills for use in public and private transportation-related agencies and organizations.

Graduate students and their faculty advisors form research partnerships based on their particular interest and needs of transportation industry. Majors in transportation are provided with unique opportunities to work with transportation experts through the Innovative Transportation Research Institute (ITRI), Center for Transportation Training and Research (CTTR) and National Transportation Security Center of Excellence for Petro-Chemical Transportation (NTSCOE-P). These centers provide programs or training with specialized internships and research exposure through on-going applied and empirical research and demonstration activities.

Learning Goals for the Academic Program

• To provide students with the professional knowledge and skills in planning transportation system and developing policies for system management
• To provide the students with the professional knowledge and skills in functionally designing, operating and managing the transportation facilities and systems to satisfy the demands of both passenger and freight transportation services
• To prepare graduates with good communication skill and who are able to effectively work in a team.

Admission Guideline

Admission Deadlines

(Master’s and Doctoral application deadlines may vary by program.)

Fall: July 15, Spring: November 15, Summer: May 1.

Criteria for Admission

For admission to the Graduate School as a degree applicant, all of the following conditions must be met:

1. Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited college or university.  An example of the “equivalent” as indicated above may be an international student who has graduated from a college university that issues a diploma or certificate instead of a degree.
2. A satisfactory undergraduate sequence of courses in the proposed major.
3. A grade point average in all undergraduate work of 2.5 (C+) or better or a grade point average of 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work.
4. A score of at least 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 79 on the internet-based test of the TOEFL if the applicant is an international student. If applicant took IELTS instead of TOEFL, a minimum score of 6.0 is required.

Online Application Requirements

1. Transcripts

Undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or better; or 3.0 on last 60 hours

For international students, 2 copies sent directly to TSU from the institutions. Contact one credential evaluation agency to get transcripts evaluated and request to send the evaluation report to The Graduate School directly.

Approved Evaluation Services:

• SDR Educational Consultants
• Span Tran Services Educational Consultants
• Foreign Credentials Services of America
• Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.
• World Education Services
• CEIE Specs, INC

View details at:

http://coset.tsu.edu/transportation/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/10/aproved-evaluation-services-1.pdf

2. TOEFL

Please request ETS to send TOEFL reports to TSU Graduate School directly.

3. Three Recommendation letters

For those who chose to apply online, 3 recommendation providers submitting reference letters on your behalf may send their letters to our admissions office electronically through online application system.

Application system: https://app.applyyourself.com/AYApplicantLogin/fl_ApplicantLogin.asp?id=tsu

4. Personal Essay (300 – 500 words)

5. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (current)

6. Certification of Finances Form

For international students, fill the Certification of Finances Form and included it in the application.

Download: http://www.tsu.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/the-graduate-school/pdf/certification-of-finances-13.pdf

7. Research Assistant (RA) scholarship

For those who need financial assistance, fill the application for Research Assistant (RA) scholarship and send it to the Department.

Download: http://transportation.tsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/01/Graduate-Research-Assistantship-Application.pdf

8. Payment of the application fee ($75)

Your application will not be processed until the fee is received.

9. Mailing address

Transcripts, payment if not paying online, and test scores should be mailed to:

The Graduate School

Texas Southern University

TSU Box #1254

3100 Cleburne

Houston, TX 77004

Additional documents can also be emailed to our graduate admissions email address at: graduateadmissions@tsu.edu. Please be sure to mail the application fee of $50 ($75 for international applicants), check or money order payable to Texas Southern University, to the address above. No applications will be processed without payment of the application fee.

10. Useful websites

For more information, please visit:

• TSU graduate school website at http://www.tsu.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/the-graduate-school/admission-requirements.php
• TSU International student office website at http://em.tsu.edu/internationalstudents/
• TSU Transportation Studies Department website at http://transportation.tsu.edu/

11. Help and contact

You can contact TSU Graduate School at:

E-mail:  graduateadmissions@tsu.edu, Phone: (713) 313-4410, Fax: (713) 313-1876.

Transportation Department at

E-mail:  Rita.Didikiri@TSU.EDU, Phone: (713) 313-1841, Fax: (713) 313-1856.

Degree Requirements

1. Completion of a total of thirty-nine (39) semester credit hours of prescribed coursework
2. A minimum 3.0 (A = 4.00) quality point average for all graduate work attempted
3. Demonstration of acceptable grasp of the core courses by successful completion of the written comprehensive examination
4. Completion of an internship/project report for all non-thesis option students
5. Completion and successful defense of a thesis with the quality of scientific research for all thesis option students
6. All other requirements of the Graduate School in Texas Southern University

For students electing thesis option, the culmination of the program is the successful completion and defense of a thesis, which is based upon independent research. The thesis must be prepared in a way that demonstrates rigorous, independent, empirical or applied research. This option will require that the final product of independent research is prepared in a way that demonstrates that the student has acquired a high level analytical ability. The research must exhibit substantive depth, logical organization, high level of creativity, and clarity of ideas. A faculty committee guides the studentís work and evaluates the thesis. Students choosing this track must enroll in the thesis class for a total of 6-9 hours, 3 of which can be substituted for by the internship class.

Students electing the non-thesis option are required to submit a final report on an investigation conducted while completing the internship or a project report assigned by the faculty advisor. Placements of internships will be sought with various public/private transportation agencies and firms. Students choosing this track must enroll in the 3-hour internship class.

Learning Outcomes for the Academic Program

• Students will demonstrate a basic professional knowledge and skill of transportation planning and policy which includes cost-benefit analysis for the transportation projects, urban transportation planning process, travel demand forecasting, transportation policy and management, and public transit planning.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to develop creative solutions to complex transportation planning and policy within the context of socioeconomic and environment considerations.
• Students will demonstrate basic professional knowledge and skills in transportation system design and operation, and technology implementation which includes use of transportation analysis tools, roadway design principles, basic concepts about highway traffic operations and transportation logistics.
• Students will demonstrate ability to develop creative solutions to complex transportation system and technology -related problems in the context of socioeconomic and environment considerations multimodal transportation system.
• Students will be able to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• Students will be able to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal.

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For more details about the program, please click here.