MS in Transportation Management: Enrollment Open for California Candidates

Enrollment is open until Tuesday, November 1, throughout California for Master of Science in Transportation Management (MSTM) classes that start in January 2012. The degree is offered through the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University, which uses the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) broadcast network to deliver live, interactive classes at all Caltrans district offices and other transportation agency sites. Students go to the nearest district office to attend class one night per week. This arrangement allows working people to continue their employment while earning a graduate degree

The curriculum for the fully-accredited program is led by nationally recognized professors and instructors who are academic or industry experts. Students can complete an MSTM degree in a little more than two years, taking one course at a time, one night per week for each 10-class session. The typical pace is four courses per year. Ten courses, including some electives, are required for completion. Three Certificates in Transportation Management also are available, each requiring only four courses.

“The curriculum was created for transportation professionals – or even career changers – with an undergraduate degree who want to advance their management prospects,” said Peter Haas, PhD, education director for MTI. “Many of our students have had technical experience, but they want the additional knowledge to compete for promotions. Nationally, there is growing demand for educated transportation managers because more than 50 percent of the state transportation agency workforce is eligible to retire in the next ten years, not to mention losses from other agencies and consulting companies. This will be a monumental loss of experience, but it will create many opportunities for qualified individuals.”

Course topics include Fundamentals of Transportation Management; Introduction to Transportation Funding and Finance; Transportation Systems Planning and Development; Leadership and Management of Transportation Organization; Emergency Management Issues for the Transportation Professional; Multi-Modal Transportation in California; Transportation Policy and Regulation; and more. Individual classes meet one evening a week from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Besides the 12 Caltrans district office sites, the live streaming, interactive classes are available at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in Irvine, LA Metro in Los Angeles, and the Mineta Transportation Institute in San Jose.

For admission into the program, MSTM students must pass the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). However, they may take up to two courses in the meantime. While the enrollment deadline is Tuesday, November 1, undergraduate college transcripts must be received by Tuesday, November 15. Tuition is $975 per course, which may be reimbursable through employer education programs. Some fellowships also are available. The GMAT is not required for students in the Graduate Certificate Program.

For information, including enrollment forms and class descriptions, contact Viviann Ferea, Education Program Manager, at viviann.ferea@sjsu.edu or 408-924-7570.

ABOUT THE MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE

The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) conducts research, education, and information and technology transfer, focusing on multimodal surface transportation policy and management issues, especially as they relate to transit. MTI was established by Congress in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and was reauthorized under TEA-21 and again under SAFETEA-LU. The Institute is funded by Congress through the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration, by the California Legislature through the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and by other public and private grants and donations, including grants from the US Department of Homeland Security. DOT selected MTI as a National Center of Excellence following competitions in 2002 and 2006. The internationally respected members of the MTI Board of Trustees represent all major surface transportation modes. MTI’s focus on policy and management resulted from the Board’s assessment of the transportation industry’s unmet needs. That led directly to choosing the San José State University College of Business as the Institute’s home.