School of Public Policy, Contributing to a Livable World



















Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics

Location

The TPOL program is offered at the TPOL center on George Mason’s Arlington campus, conveniently located one block from the Virginia Square/GMU Metro station (Orange Line). It is also offered via distance learning to select locations in Virginia and elsewhere via interactive video conference.

The TPOL faculty brings to the classroom a wealth of knowledge, research, and practical experience from federal and state transportation departments, the private sector, regulatory agencies, and defense logistics.

TPOL students are also eligible for the Malcom P. McLean Scholarship, which provides $15,000 towards the awardees' tuition.


Curriculum and Program Requirements

The TPOL degree requires 36 credits of graduate coursework, including 27 credits of core courses (eight classes) and nine credits of electives (three classes). The complete curriculum includes:
  • PUBP 715 – Introduction to Transportation Systems
  • PUBP 716 – Transportation Operations and Logistics
  • PUBP 718 – Transportation Planning and Policy
  • PUBP 721 – Transportation Economics
  • PUBP 501 - Policy and Organizational Analysis
  • PUBP 502 – Governance and Policy Processes
  • PUBP 503 – Culture, Organization, and Technology
  • PUBP 722 – Practicum
  • Three electives (Nine credits)

Electives offer an opportunity for the student to delve more deeply into particular specialties and, through an internship, to gain work experience in the industry. Electives are offered on a rotating basis and are typically taught on a two-year cycle, allowing students the maximum choice.

All TPOL students are required to participate in a final project or practicum (PUBP 722) in the final spring semester of their program. The practicum engages students in an in-depth field study of ongoing transportation policy, operations, or logistics situations, and the design and delivery of actions to manage or resolve problems and opportunities. The range of application areas for these practica depends jointly on the particular interests of the student body and opportunities faculty identify for "clients" or real-world projects. Illustrative domain areas include surface transportation (highways and transit), airports, and aviation.


TPOL Program Description
Certificates
Course Descriptions