Master's in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics
Develop the analytical thinking and critical skills needed to effectively and efficiently supply and operate transportation facilities and services with the transportation policy, operations, and logistics master's program.
Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs reports that another 2.5 billion people will live in urban areas around the globe by 2050. With this rapid growth, the pressures to design and implement policies and practices to ensure safe and cost-effective practices in the fields of transportation system management, operations, and logistics will also increase, creating a high demand for policy and planning professionals.
Unlike a traditional urban planning degree, the Schar School’s Master's in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics explores the intersections of planning, policy, and practice within the fields of logistics, operations management, and transportation policy. As a student in the program, you will master the knowledge and skills needed to effectively and efficiently supply and operate transportation facilities and services.
Effective transportation policy strengthens communities and global competitiveness. In the spirit of advancing the public good, the Schar School's transportation policy master's degree program will equip you to think critically and analytically about the challenges and opportunities in the transportation field and shape our world's communities.
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Notice:
Mason will move to a mix of in-person instruction and expanded online classes for its on-campus programs for the spring 2021 semester. Faculty and staff who normally work on-campus are teleworking and are fully available to support students. Visit Mason's Coronavirus Information page for more information, including affected dates and frequently asked questions. For questions as a prospective student, please don't hesitate to contact the Schar School Office of Graduate Admissions at schar@gmu.edu.
CURRICULUM AND COURSE SCHEDULE
The Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics program requires 11 courses (34 total credits), including 8 core courses and 3 elective courses. Transportation policy courses are held in the evenings on Mason’s Arlington, Virginia campus, and students may take the program on a part-time or full-time basis. From Transportation Planning and Policy, Transportation Economics, and Theory and Practice of Public Policy to Culture, Organization, and Technology, the Master's in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics program coursework will prepare you for influential roles in urban planning, regional planning, operations, and logistics fields.
For detailed curriculum and course schedule information, click here.
“I had talented professors that challenged me, helped me grow, and provided me the flexibility to follow my interests through substantive research, which later turned into practice.”
—Paul DeMaio, Master’s in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics '05
"I really appreciate that not only am I learning from my professors—many of whom are renowned experts in their fields—but I'm also learning a lot from my fellow students and their real-world experiences."
—Emily Norton, Master's in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics '16
“The infrastructure and Arlington and D.C.’s ability to forward-think in the transportation world makes it a great environment to be in when you’re studying this ever-evolving topic of mobility.”
—Chris Stockwell, Master’s in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics '17
With George Mason University's prime location in the Washington, D.C. area, Schar School students gain access to leading scholars and practitioners who bring real-world experience to the classroom, providing you with the mentorship and skillsets needed to advance in your career.
The Schar School as a whole has 80+ faculty members, as well as hundreds of adjunct faculty, allowing students to gain access to a variety of perspectives and subjects through elective courses. Notable faculty members in the transportation policy program include program director Laurie Schintler, Terry Clower, Frank Shafroth, Jonathan Gifford, Sheldon Edner, and more.
FACULTY DIRECTORY
In addition to university-wide resources, the Schar School has a dedicated team of student services and career development advisors to assist you in your academic and professional plans. The Master's in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics program prepares students for a range of industries and roles in the public and private sectors. In a recent graduating class career outcomes survey, the following were the top employers of transportation program graduates:
During a sample course offered by the Schar School of Policy and Government, topics of focus include emerging technologies in smart cities, ride-sharing services, big data, and other areas, as well as addressing the social, ethical, and institutional issues that go along with these technologies.
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Just one year after earning his master’s degree from George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, Chris Stockwell, MA Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics ’17, is flying high as senior manager of partnerships at Bird—the shared scooter company that’s been making waves in headlines across the nation.
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Thousands of commuters may wonder if there's enough parking at the new Wiehle-Reston East stop on Metro's Silver Line, but few, says Jeong Yun Kweun, will think about the public-private partnership that made it possible.
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It's an annual right of passage with Schar School professor Laurie Schintler's capstone transportation class: examine a problem for a client, develop a solution, present the findings, and make the world a better place.
READ MOREReady to apply?
The Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics program accepts students for both the fall and spring semesters. Browse our application guide to learn more about application requirements and deadlines.
HOW TO APPLY