Transportation is vital to our society's proper functioning, providing mobility of people, goods and services. It enables people to access job markets and participate in recreational, cultural, educational, and social activities. It adds value to products by moving them to their destination in time for their use. The transportation field also is a major contributor to the economy, as a consumer of resources and as a supplier of jobs.

Transportation functions in a very complex environment which, at the beginning of the 21st Century, is characterized by constant change in the technological, regulatory and legal frameworks. Transportation professionals must not only be able to meet the technological challenges of new systems, they must also be capable of fitting these systems into the social, economic, and physical environments in a manner that improves the quality of life for all.

Through the NJIT-based Institute for Transportation, the transportation graduate program provides excellent opportunities for students to engage in research on all forms of transportation, including all phases of activities concerned with the provision of services and the movement of people and goods. The Institute for Transportation is a major resource for public and private organizations and is well-known for its academic programs and research activities.

Off-Campus Programs: At the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJ DOT), in Trenton, NJIT offers sufficient courses to fulfill all degree requirements. All courses are taught by NJIT faculty and are open to non-DOT employees. For further information about extension programs, call the associate vice president of continuing and distance education, Division of Continuing Professional Education, 1 (800) 624-9850 or (973) 596-3060; e-mail cpe@njit.edu

Admission Requirements:
Applicants should have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with some undergraduate background in economics, mathematics, probability and statistics, and computers.

Bridge Program: Students who lack an appropriate background may be admitted and required to make up deficiencies by taking a program of courses designed in consultation with graduate advisors. These courses are taken in addition to the degree requirements. See the undergraduate catalog for descriptions of 100- to 400-level courses. Students may be required to take or demonstrate that they already have taken courses equivalent to the following:

Three general areas of specialization are available. While they share a common methodological core, each is designed to suit various interests:

Transportation Engineering focuses on traffic engineering, physical design and operational aspects of transportation systems. This area is best suited for students with an undergraduate engineering degree.

Transportation Planning emphasizes the analysis and planning aspects, in particular the integration of transportation systems with urban and regional considerations such as economics, land use, and the environment.

Advanced Transportation Systems and Technologies emphasizes the use of emerging technologies such as intelligent transportation systems in planning, design and operations of multi- and inter-modal transportation systems.

Core:
Required for all specializations

9 credits:

Transportation Engineering:
Required:
9 credits:

Admission Requirements:
Students should have adequate preparation in mathematical and other analytical techniques, and substantial knowledge of the ideas and techniques of synthesis. A thorough understanding of the social and economic factors intrinsic to the functioning and development of transport in urban areas also is necessary. It is expected that students will have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5 in a master's degree program in engineering, planning, or business administration from an accredited university. Outstanding students with baccalaureate degrees also may be accepted. All applicants must take the GRE. Full-time study is preferred for doctoral studies.

Degree Requirements:
Requirements consist of a minimum of 54 credits of course work beyond the bachelor's degree, including at least 12 credits of 700-level courses, passage of a qualifying examination, a minimum of 36 credits of Tran 790 Doctoral Dissertation and Tran 791 Doctoral Seminar. Independent original research must be conducted by the candidate in a specific area of transportation. Dissertation work must be of publishable quality.

Dissertation: A program committee must approve a dissertation topic and an NJIT faculty member, approved by the program, must be available to supervise the dissertation research. An oral defense of the dissertation is required after the dissertation committee accepts the written document.

Qualifying Examination: All doctoral students must pass a doctoral qualifying examination. To prepare adequately for the examination, students should take appropriate course work in transportation engineering, transportation planning, and advanced transportation systems and technologies, as well as other related subjects.

The examination has four parts: the first three are written, and the fourth is oral. The oral part is given after the written parts are evaluated.

Part I Analytical Techniques

Part II Transportation Facilities and Operations

Part III Transportation Planning and Technologies

Part IV Oral (includes a field problem)

For additional information about doctoral degree requirements, refer to the Academic Policies and Procedures section of this catalog.