Pursuing a Masters in Transportation Engineering provides a holistic overview of systems, policies and designs which collectively make up regional transportation systems. During this program, students are taught certain basic skills which help them in the field of traffic and transit systems.
What Is Transportation Engineering?
Transportation engineering is a branch of civil engineering. It is a field of study which focuses on construction, design and maintenance of safe transport systems. Roads, railways, highways and intermodal operations are a part of these systems. Transport engineers solve different transportation related problems by analyzing the systems, costs, accidents, traffic flow and other statistics.
What Can You Do with a Masters in Transportation Engineering?
Transportation engineers usually have to work from office; however, sometimes they are required to visit the site to supervise the progress of the work. There are multiple opportunities for people who do their master’s in transportation engineering, some of them are given below:
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Construction Managers
Construction engineers coordinate, plan, budget and evaluate construction projects from the beginning till the end. These specialists work on different projects like constructing a building, parks, residential or commercial areas, highways and roads, etc. They have to supervise the construction phase and consult with the clients as well to see if anything needs revision.
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Annual Median Salary, 2019: $95,260
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Annual Mean Salary, 2019: $105,000
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Job Growth, 2018-2028: 10%
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State with the Highest Salary, 2019: New Jersey - $147,410
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State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: Texas - 34,560
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Logisticians
These professionals coordinate and analyze the transportation of goods in an organization. They manage the whole cycle of a product including its production, allocation and delivery. They also supervise activities related to purchasing, inventory and warehousing.
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Annual Median Salary, 2019: $74,750
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Annual Mean Salary, 2019: $78,680
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Job Growth, 2018-2028: 5%
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State with the Highest Salary, 2019: District of Columbia - $95,870
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State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: California - 23,020
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Purchasing Managers
These professionals buy services and products for the organization to resell or use. They negotiate contracts, evaluate suppliers and examine the quality of the products. They are also required to develop the firm’s procurement policies.
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Annual Median Salary, 2019: $121,110
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Annual Mean Salary, 2019: $128,400
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Job Growth, 2018-2028: -6%
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State with the Highest Salary, 2019: New Jersey - $166,940
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State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: California - 7,830
What to Expect from a Masters in Transportation Engineering Program?
Students are expected to learn to engineer traffic in cities during this program. They learn how to collect traffic data and analyze it, learn to design highways and create and implement transportation systems. Most universities require students to complete a thesis or a research project as well.
How to Choose a Masters in Transportation Engineering Program?
Take the following things into consideration while choosing a program:
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Choose an accredited program
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Check if your required specialization is offered or not
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Check the location of the school
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Consider the cost and time needed to complete the degree
Masters in Transportation Engineering Admission Requirements
To apply for a master’s degree in transportation engineering program, students should have a bachelor’s degree in a related field like architecture business administration, civil engineering, mechanical engineering and logistics, etc. They are required to have a CGPA of 3.0 and a good GRE score. Admission requirements may vary from university to university.