The graduate certificate in Transportation Systems is an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of Civil Engineering. The certificate program allows students to specialize in transportation applications, while simultaneously receiving a degree in their home department. The certificate in transportation systems combines elements of transportation engineering with transportation policy, planning and project management. The program is especially appropriate for students intending to pursue careers as developers of transportation technologies, or as implementers of technologies within government agencies.
International Students: This program is not eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings, and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.
- A minimum of 18 units is required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Transportation Systems
- Required Core Courses: 18 units
- Program prerequisites may be satisfied after enrollment in the certificate program by taking the indicated courses or their equivalent. Courses shoud be selected in consultation with an advisor. Graduate students cannot present courses numbered below 400 for any USC graduate certificate or degree
- The courses taken for the certificate may be applied later to the M.S. in Civil Engineering - Transportation degree
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Fall | December 15 |
Visit our
Application Deadlines page for more information.
APPLICATION CRITERIA
- An undergraduate degree in engineering, math or hard science from a regionally-accredited university.
- Satisfactory cumulative undergraduate GPA (grade point average)
- GRE: General GRE test scores are not required for 2024
- Satisfactory performance in previous coursework related to the intended major.
APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR ALL APPLICANTS
Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
- Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
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- Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
- If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
- For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
- If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
Resume/CV (Required)
Statement of Purpose (Required): The statement of purpose should succinctly describe your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
Letters of Recommendation (2 Required): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
English Language Proficiency: In addition to the general admission criteria listed above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS examination to be considered a candidate for admission. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. For more details on English Proficiency Criteria for the University of Southern California, please visit USC Graduate Admission - Proficiency in English.
IMPORTANT: USC does not accept Duolingo and TOEFL Essentials test scores.
USC GRADUATE APPLICATION
The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION
| Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
| Fall 2024 - Summer 2025* | $2,543 | $7,629 | $10,172 |
| Fall 2023 - Summer 2024* | $2,424 | $7,272 | $9,696 |
| * Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students |
STUDENT FEES
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
| Student Health Center Fee for 2023-24 (2024-25 not yet available) | $600/semester | | |
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $11/semester | | |
| Graduate Student Programming Fee (On-Campus students) | $40/semester | | |
| Graduate Student Programming Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $20/semester | | |
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | | |
| Transportation Fee | $117/semester | | |
| Health Insurance (U.S.-based health insurance is required, but it does not have to be through USC) | Fall 2023: $948
Spring 2024: $1,765 | | |
Detailed Information on Tuition & FeesWant to find out where our graduating class of 2019 Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's students did their internships and where they went after commencement? Visit our Civil and Environmental Engineering Employment Outcomes page.
This program is not available via DEN@Viterbi.
Please complete the following form for more information.
