MS in Civil Engineering - Transportation Engineering
Application Deadlines
SPRING:
Extended to: October 1
FALL:
Scholarship Consideration Deadline: December 15
Final Deadline: January 15
- Program Overview
- Application Criteria
- Tuition & Fees
- Meet Our Students
- Career Outcomes
- DEN@Viterbi - Online Delivery
- Request Information
A region's physical, economic, and social structure is fundamentally tied to its transportation system. The field of Transportation Engineering focuses on the planning, design, construction, management, and performance of these vital systems. Transportation systems consist of facilities, vehicles, control mechanisms, technology, and policies that combine to permit the efficient transit of people and freight. The MS in Civil Engineering (Transportation Engineering) program offers students an opportunity to acquire special academic depth in several aspects of this exciting field.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
- This program requires completion of 28 units of coursework
- Thesis option and Directed Research (research without thesis) may be requested after completing first semester. Thesis option is not guaranteed
- Program Curriculum Details
- USC Catalogue (Full Course List)
- USC Schedule of Classes
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Spring | September 1 (extended to October 1) |
| Fall | December 15 (Scholarship consideration) January 15 (Final deadline) |
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the Master of Science program in Civil Engineering - Transportation Engineering must have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Most applicants have degrees in engineering or closely related fields, such as Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Applicants without a bachelor's degree in a directly related field may still be considered if they have completed and demonstrated strong proficiency in the following coursework (or equivalent):
| Engineering |
| Math |
| Physics |
This is not an exhaustive list. Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (2 required)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2026 applications.
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
Use the link below to download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
DAVID CORONA
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
As I was researching Masters programs for Transportation, USC came up as one of the most renowned graduate schools for Civil Engineering in the country. With the university's emphasis on research and reputation in the transportation sector, I wanted to challenge myself from the work I became accustomed to in my undergraduate studies. As I am striving towards working for companies like the Department of Transportation or CalTrans, USC was perfect for me given its location in the City of Los Angeles as well as the many networking opportunities with professors, organizations, alumni, and even fellow students.
Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC.
Definitely, the first time I walked into the Memorial Coliseum for the first football game of the Fall semester, I was in awe at the excitement and level of school spirit around me, something I hadn't felt since my high school years. To have the chance to share that experience with some of the friends I made in the first short weeks of going into graduate school, to me it was truly an unforgettable experience.
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
My most recent personal achievement was having the chance to present research I conducted to the Transportation Research Board. I was given the opportunity to present my findings on efficient forms of concrete paving methods to board members and engineers across the country.
What advice would you give future Viterbi students?
One word: balance. When you're in graduate school, it's important to always stay ahead of your work, to get to know your fellow classmates, and to not be afraid to ask questions to your professors. At the same time, you'll want to take a moment every now and again for yourself, whatever that may be. There were times when I felt that my research would get the better of me, but after spending a day with friends or going out for a hike, I felt refreshed and ready to tackle the next task in my work. Work-life balance is important for a healthy lifestyle.
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ZHENLU HUANG
What attracted you to civil, and more specifically, transportation engineering?
Civil Engineering was a popular major when I started university, so my parents and I decided to choose civil engineering as my major. There are also many sub-majors under civil engineering. I chose transportation because it is the most related to people’s daily life — it influences people’s decisions of their living place, workplace, travel routes, travel mode and many others. I hope to improve the people’s travel experience in the future.
Why did you choose USC for your graduate studies?
I chose USC based on the US News and QS university rankings, because it ranks in the top 30 for both, which means it has high-quality education resources. The major I was admitted under was transportation engineering, which focuses on the planning, management, and performance of transportation systems. It was the closest to what I was most interested in learning. Additionally, I knew the students in this major have many opportunities to participate in the local professional society, which would have great benefit on my career development.
What classes, professors, or research during your time at USC had the biggest impact on you?
USC provides students with precious academic resources, and we learn so much knowledge both in class and out of class. Professors are knowledgeable and well-prepared. They also encourage the students to join professional organizations and sponsor them for some activities, which are useful to connect with professionals and to explore our career interests. Professor James Moore and the transportation center METRANS had a great impact on my career development. I learned about METRANS events in my first year of studying at USC, and I found them very helpful for learning what is happening in the transportation area. I not only attended METRANS events but also contributed by volunteering at several seminars. I am grateful for the opportunities METRANS events give students studying in the transportation field to learn new transportation technologies and get in contact with professionals. I also joined the METRANS Mentor Program, which helped her learn more about transportation organizations like ITS and WTS Orange County Chapter.
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YI LI
How has your degree program impacted your your career?
I learned several technical tools in USC that really helps me to land the job, for example, ArcGIS, data analysis skills, some programming languages. When attending interviews, the employer highlighted these skills. USC has equipped lots of excellent courses. As I know, our MSCE program also has some courses which combines the frontier skills into our Transportation study, which is super helpful in my career.
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ZESHENG ZHANG
How has your degree program impacted your your career?
MSCE is not only great advancement in learning theoretical knowledge but also in line with industry reality. The software we learned in class is also very normal in the market. Many professors are also experts in the industry, and they know the current needs of the industry. That really helped me get a good job.
2024 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*
Alumni Employment - 2024*
Companies & Job Titles multiple positions may be listed)
Average Reported Salary: $70,000
- Arup - Graduate Transportation Planner
- Corgan Associates Inc. - Aviation Planner
- Hout Construction Services, Inc. - Project Engineer
Previous Years
- AECOM Technical Services Inc. - Graduate ITS / Tech Engineer
- Arup - Graduate Rail Engineer / Graduate Transportation Planner
- Boston Consulting Group - Associate Consultant
- HDR Inc. - Transportation Coordinator
- HNTB Corporation - Entry-Level Aviation Planner
- Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering - Civil Engineering Associate I
- Los Angeles Department of Transportation - Transportation Engineering Associate III
.Internships (Previous Years)**
Aperture LLC; Barry & Wynn Architects, Inc.; Condon Johnson & Associates; Corgan Associates; DPR Construction; Mark G. Anderson Consultants, Inc.; Nebraska Department of Transportation; Structural Focus; Tipping Structural; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency; VINCI Construction LLC; W.E. O'Neil; Walter P. Moore and Associates, Inc.; West Power Energy; WSP USA Inc.
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* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2024 graduating class.
** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.
- For courses within this program that may be online, please visit the USC Schedule of Classes (courses will have a DEN@Viterbi section)
- For a full list of the 40+ engineering graduate programs available online, please visit Online DEN@Viterbi Offerings
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