Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook

Transportation EngineeringGraduate Student HandbookZachry Department of Civil Engineering2017-2018

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Table of ContentsOverview . 5Program Overview . 6Faculty Members . 8Degree Programs . 9Degree of Master of Engineering . 10A.Advising Committee . 10B.Degree Plan . 10C.Courses . 10D.Writing Requirement and Waiver of Final Exam . 11Degree of Master of Science . 12A.Advising committee . 12B.Degree Plan . 12C.Course . 12D.Thesis Proposal . 13E.Final Exam. 14ATTACHMENT A: Masters Courses Outside of Transportation Engineering . 15Doctor of Philosophy . 16A.Departmental Requirements . 16B.Transportation Area Requirements. 16C.Recommended Coursework: . 18Funding Opportunities . 19Research Assistantships . 21Teaching Assistantships . 21Fellowships . 21Tuition Waivers & In-state Tuition . 21Other job opportunities. 21Additional Information . 233

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Full-Time Enrollment. 24Student Offices . 25Academic Probation. 25Frequently Asked Questions. 26Degree Plans . 27Assistantships . 28Probation. 294

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Overview5

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Program OverviewTransportation Engineers are involved with the safe and efficient movement of both people andgoods. They plan, design and maintain all types of transportation facilities, including: Highways and streetsMass transit systemsRailroadsAirfieldsPorts and harborsTransportation Engineers apply technological knowledge as well as an understanding of theeconomic, political, and social factors in their projects. They must work directly with urbanplanners because the quality of a community is directly related to the quality of thetransportation system.Research areas of our faculty include:Transportation PlanningTraffic ManagementTraffic ControlHighway CapacityTraffic Flow TheoryIntelligent Transportation SystemsGeometric DesignSafetyTransportation EconomicsAutomated and Connected VehiclesTransportation Systems Modeling and DesignTransportation Network OptimizationPerformance/Risk/Decision AnalysisScheduling AlgorithmsInnovative TransitDemand Responsive ServicesFreight transportation and logistics6

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018WHY PURSUE A GRADUATE DEGREE?-acquire advanced knowledge in your specific area of interestchallenging courses that help you gain problem solving and engineering skillsprepares you for a more challenging, more interesting, and higher paying jobpractice in solving a complex problems using many skill setsadditional post-graduation job opportunities and career advancement opportunities7

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Faculty MembersAdministrationRobin AutenriethDepartment Head:Nasir GharaibehDivision Head:Transportation Engineering FacultyNameBurris, MarkHawkins, GeneLord, DominiqueQuadrifoglio, LucaTalebpour, AlirezaWang, BruceZhang, eduyzhang@civil.tamu.edu8

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Degree Programs9

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Degree of Master of EngineeringA minimum of 30 credit hours of approved courses is required for the Master of Engineeringdegree (M.E.). The university places limitations on these credit hours in addition to therequirements of the Transportation Engineering program that are listed below. A completediscussion of all university requirements is found in the current Texas A&M University GraduateCatalog (available on the Internet at http://www.tamu.edu/admissions/catalogs/) under theheading “The Degree of Master of Engineering.”A. Advising CommitteeAn advisor (chair) will be determined during the first semester. The Master of Engineeringprogram in transportation does not require an advising committee.B. Degree PlanThe degree plan of M.E. students should be prepared in consultation with the advisor (chair)and submitted before the end of the student’s second semester otherwise students will beblocked from registration for courses.C. CoursesRequired Courses in Transportation Engineering – M.E. students are required to take all ofthe following courses for a total of 13 Credit Hours: CVEN 617: Traffic Engineering: CharacteristicsCVEN 618: Traffic Engineering: OperationsCVEN 635: Street and Highway Design (CVEN 766 may be taken in place of CVEN635. Students that took CVEN 456 as an undergraduate are required to take CVEN635) CVEN 672: Engineering and Urban Transportation SystemsCVEN 681: Transportation Seminar (can use only 1 Credit Hour on degree plan)Optional Courses in Transportation Engineering – M.E. students are required to take two ofthe following courses for a total of 6 Credit Hours. CVEN 454: Urban Planning for EngineersCVEN 625: Traffic Engineering: DesignCVEN 626: Highway SafetyCVEN 632: Transportation Engineering: Economics10

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook 2017-2018CVEN 635: Street and Highway Design (If CVEN 635 is taken as a required course, itcannot be taken as an optional course) CVEN 696: Urban Traffic Facilities (Stacked with CVEN 457, students that took CVEN457 as an undergraduate cannot take CVEN 696 for credit) CVEN 689: Traffic Flow Theory for Connected and Automated VehiclesCVEN 765: Advanced Civil Engineering SystemsCVEN 766: Highway Design (Stacked with CVEN 456, students that took CVEN 456 asan undergraduate cannot take CVEN 766 for credit. If CVEN 766 is taken as arequired course in place of CVEN 635, it cannot be also considered as an optionalcourse)Courses Outside of Transportation Engineering – M.E. students may take any combination ofother courses approved by their committee to satisfy the remaining 11 Credit Hours on theirdegree plan. Students may consider Optional Courses in Transportation Engineering listedabove (and not yet included in their degree plan), other commonly taken courses listed below(Attachment A) and other courses as well.The degree plan will be developed by the student and their advisor and will include corecourses and other courses that are appropriate for that student’s specific interest/area of studywithin Transportation Engineering.D. Writing Requirement and Waiver of Final ExamThe University has a writing requirement for all graduate degrees. The M.E. degree requiresthe preparation and defense of a report, which might be from one of the classes on the degreeplan or be the result of CVEN 685: Directed Studies.At the same time you submit your report, you will schedule the Final Exam, which might alsobe waived, if your chair agrees.You must provide a minimum of 2 weeks for the review of the report. It is your responsibilityto ensure enough time is provided in order to meet the deadlines by the university’s Office ofGraduate Studies (http://ogs.tamu.edu/).11

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Degree of Master of ScienceA minimum of 32 credit hours of approved courses is required for the Master of Sciencedegree (MS). At least 25 semester credit hours must be coursework. The university placeslimitations on these credit hours in addition to the requirements of the TransportationEngineering program that are listed below. A complete discussion of all university requirementsis found in the current Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog (available on the Internet athttp://www.tamu.edu/admissions/catalogs/) under the heading “The Degree of Master ofSciences”. For example, university requirements include a final examination and submission of athesis to the university.A. Advising committeeAn advisor (chair) will be determined during the first semester. An advisory committee willhave to be formed at the beginning of the second semester.B. Degree PlanThe student’s advisory committee, in consultation with the student, will develop theproposed degree plan. The proposed degree plan must be typed on the official form as itappears on the Internet at http://ogs.tamu.edu/ and submitted electronically to your graduateadvisor and advisory committee for their electronic endorsement. The office of graduate studiesblocks students from further registration if a degree plan is not filed before the end of theirsecond semester of study. If you are blocked, you are not considered a full time student andbecome ineligible to receive any assistantship.C. CourseRequired Courses in Transportation Engineering – MS students are required to take all of thefollowing courses for a total of 13 credit hours: CVEN 617: Traffic Engineering: CharacteristicsCVEN 618: Traffic Engineering: OperationsCVEN 635: Street and Highway Design (CVEN 766 may be taken in place of CVEN635. Students that took CVEN 456 as an undergraduate are required to take CVEN635) CVEN 672: Engineering and Urban Transportation SystemsCVEN 681: Transportation Seminar (can use only 1 credit hour on degree plan)CVEN 691: Research (4 to 8 credit hours on the degree plan)12

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018Optional Courses in Transportation Engineering – MS students are required to take oneof the following courses for a total of 3 credit hours. CVEN 454: Urban Planning for EngineersCVEN 625: Traffic Engineering: DesignCVEN 626: Highway SafetyCVEN 632: Transportation Engineering: EconomicsCVEN 635: Street and Highway Design (If CVEN 635 is taken as a required course,it cannot be taken as an optional course) CVEN 689: Traffic Flow Theory for Connected and Automated VehiclesCVEN 696: Urban Traffic Facilities (Stacked with CVEN 457, students that tookCVEN 457 as an undergraduate cannot take CVEN 696 for credit) CVEN 765: Advanced Civil Engineering SystemsCVEN 766: Highway Design (Stacked with CVEN 456, students that took CVEN456 as an undergraduate cannot take CVEN 766 for credit. If CVEN 766 is takenas a required course in place of CVEN 635, it cannot be also considered as anoptional course)Courses Outside of Transportation Engineering – M.S. students may take any combination ofother courses approved by their committee to satisfy the remaining credit hours on their degreeplan. Students may consider Optional Courses in Transportation Engineering listed above (andnot yet included in their degree plan), other commonly taken courses listed below (AttachmentA) and other courses as well.D. Thesis ProposalAs soon as the research project can be outlined in reasonable detail, but no later than the endof the 3rd semester of study, the thesis research proposal should be completed. The ResearchProposal shall describe the proposed research, including relevant background information,and clearly demonstrate how this research will make a unique contribution of new knowledgeto the student’s area of study. Upon approval of the Research Proposal by the advisorycommittee chair, the Research Proposal must be submitted to other members of the advisorycommittee at least 2 weeks (10 working days) prior to the Oral defense of the proposal. Anoral defense of the proposal can be waived upon approval of the chair and all members of theadvising committee.13

Transportation Engineering Graduate Handbook2017-2018E. Final ExamThe M.S. degree requires the preparation and oral defense of a thesis. The completed thesisneeds to be submitted to all committee members for review at least two weeks before thescheduled oral defense date.14