$0
in transportation student fellowships since 2010
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graduate student researchers working with faculty each year
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transportation masters and PhD alumni
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national awards for best student research project in transportation planning and policy
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approximate number of students studying transportation graduate each year
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transportation courses offered across three academic programs

Student News & Awards

2024 UCLA ITS Capstone Prizes Monisha Reginald, Carolyn Pugh

This year’s top projects looked at bus shade and lighting and what happens to communities when a freeway transforms into a boulevard.

Alejandra Rios Gutierrez, a dual-degree student in urban planning and Latin American studies, was named master’s student of the year.

Anne Yoon, a recent MURP graduate, was recognized for her impactful capstone research on bus shelter equity in Los Angeles County.

WTS-LA, the Los Angeles chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar International, awarded scholarships to five UCLA graduate students.

Studying Transportation at UCLA

While UCLA ITS does not admit students to UCLA, we support and work with students while they are here. Prospective graduate students wishing to study transportation at UCLA should consider the following degree programs.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Emphasize transportation as part of your undergraduate studies

Undergraduate students interested in transportation can pursue a B.S. in Civil Engineering and B.A. in Public Affairs, both of which can include transportation coursework. Unfortunately, undergraduate students are not eligible for UCLA ITS financial assistance.

GRADUATE DEGREES

Master’s degrees prepare students for professional transportation practice

Students applying to Luskin School programs (MPP, MURP) should be sure to check the box on your application asking about ITS fellowship consideration to be eligible for ITS support.

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

This one- to two-year program allows students to learn about transportation engineering and related planning topics, including traffic system operations and control, intelligent transportation systems, transportation planning, transportation network system analysis, travel behavior and demand modeling, resilient infrastructure systems and health monitoring, and highway safety. Graduates go on to careers in transportation engineering, most often in local, regional, state, and federal governments, as well as consulting, advocacy, and applied research.

Master of Public Policy

This two-year, full-time program is for students interested in careers in transportation policy.  While there is no formally defined MPP concentration in transportation, students can work with Luskin School transportation faculty in crafting a transportation-focused MPP program drawing on the large array of Luskin transportation course offerings. Graduates go on to careers in transportation policy, most often in local, regional, state, and federal governments, as well as consulting, advocacy, and applied research. 

Master of Urban and Regional Planning

UCLA’s most popular two-year, full-time program for students interested in transportation. It emphasizes both transportation planning and policy, as well as its intersections with land use, housing, urban design, economic development, and other planning sectors. Graduates go on to careers as transportation planners and practitioners in local, regional, state, and federal governments; planning consulting; advocacy groups; and applied research.

DOCTORAL DEGREES

Academic doctoral degrees prepare students for careers in transportation research and teaching

Students should be sure to check the box on your application asking about ITS fellowship

PhD in Civil Engineering

Four- to five-year program for those interested in careers in transportation research in consulting, government, and advocacy, as well as research and teaching in university settings.  The UCLA Civil Engineering PhD program (transportation concentration) focuses on new mobility and infrastructure technologies and systems and the intersection of travel behavior, economics, engineering, regulation, and infrastructure. Admitted students will be referred to ITS by the PhD Admissions Chair or their advisor.

PhD in Environment and Sustainability

Four- to five-year interdisciplinary program on environmental sustainability for students interested in physical sciences and transportation. Students are eligible for UCLA ITS fellowship aid if pursuing a transportation course of study and coming to the program with a transportation faculty member as an advisor. Admitted students’ advisors should contact UCLA ITS.

PhD in Urban Planning

Four- to five-year program for those interested in careers in transportation research in consulting, government, and advocacy, as well as research and teaching in university settings.  The UCLA Urban Planning PhD program has placed more graduates in transportation planning faculty positions in the U.S. than any other PhD program. Admitted students will be referred to ITS by the PhD Admissions Chair or their advisor.

LUSKIN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Transportation and Land Use: Parking

Parking is a misunderstood link between transportation and land use. Transportation engineers typically assume that free parking simply is there at end of most trips, while urban planners treat parking as transportation issues that engineers must study. Mistakes in planning for parking help to explain why planning for transportation and land use has in many ways gone slowly, subtly, incrementally wrong.

Transportation and Economic Outcomes

This course is an examination of equity issues related to urban transportation, with a focus on the complex relationships among urban spatial structure, transportation (travel patterns and transportation investments), and economic outcomes. The class also discusses the role of transportation in improving economic outcomes for low-income and minority households and communities.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning

Walking and bicycling are essential components of sustainable transportation systems. In response to growing concerns about access, safety, public health, equity, climate change and community sustainability issues, many government agencies and private developers are planning to improve pedestrian and bicycle transportation. This class examines bicycle and pedestrian planning in the context of overall street design.

Transportation Economics, Finance, and Policy

Overview of transportation finance and economics; concepts of efficiency and equity in transportation finance; historical evolution of highway and transit finance; current issues in highway finance; private participation in road finance, toll roads, road costs and cost allocation, truck charges, congestion pricing; current issues in transit finance; transit fare and subsidy policies, contracting and privatization of transit services.

SAMUELI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Traffic Engineering Systems: Operations and Control

Applications of traffic safety improvements, highway capacity analyses, signal design and timing, Intelligent Transportation Systems concepts, and traffic interface with railroads, urban transit, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Students analyze local roadway and present recommended improvements to public agency officials.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

Introduction to basic elements of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), focusing on technological, systems, and institutional aspects. Topics include systems engineering processes, advanced traveler information systems, transportation network operations, commercial vehicle operations and intermodal freight, public transportation applications, ITS and regional strategic transportation planning, travel demand management, electronic toll collection, and road-pricing, connected and automated vehicles (CAV), data access and exchanges, cybersecurity for ITS, and other smart mobility technologies.

Eric Avila

An urban cultural historian, studying the intersections of racial identity, urban space, and cultural representation in 20th century America.

Tierra Bills

With dual appointments in engineering and public policy, studying the socioeconomic impacts of transportation decisions.

Evelyn Blumenberg

Named a White House “Champion of Change” for her research on the links between transportation access, employment, and poverty.

Jiaqi Ma

Founder of the UCLA Mobility Lab to reduce traffic congestion, crashes, emissions, and energy consumption through advanced technologies such as automation or electrification.

Donald Shoup

International expert and author of the authoritative book on parking who’s been teaching at UCLA for almost 50 years.

How UCLA ITS Supports Students

Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

Incoming Luskin School graduate students (MPP, MURP) are eligible for scholarships and fellowships to cover tuition and fees

Travel Support

Travel Support

Provides funding for students interested in attending the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., and other conferences

Student Groups

Student Groups

Provides support for UCLA student clubs like the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the Women in Transportation Seminar

Research Project Support

Research Project Support

Provides support for final-year capstone student projects, including project ideas, fellowships, grants for direct costs, and prizes for exemplary projects

Students-Only Forum

Students-Only Forum

Dedicated space for students to learn about scholarship, research and employment opportunities

Alumni Network

Alumni Network

Multiple opportunities to connect with more than 600 alumni throughout the world, with high concentrations in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area

Our Students Have Interned and Worked With Local Agencies and National Firms

among many others

Thank you for your interest!