A. Description of Proposed Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations & Logistics
1. History and Mission of the School of Public Policy
Since its inception in 1991, the Institute (and now School) of Public Policy (SPP) has emphasized interdisciplinary and alternative approaches to policy decisions. Our specialty is the effect of technology on public policy, with emphasis on international and global scenarios. SPP’s programs focus on the interplay of culture, organizations, and technology in a quest to find alternative approaches to public policy decisions and policy making.
SPP makes substantial contributions to public policy debates every day through research, outreach, and consulting activities. Our students and faculty are not just academics – they are practitioners in fields such as telecommunications, information technology, organizational learning, environmental science, regional economic development, intelligent transportation systems, and other policy-related fields.
In July 2000 the GMU Board of Visitors changed the “Institute” of Public Policy to the School of
Public Policy. With the change in name, the School received an increase in state funding from the university. This increase is being used to build the program by increasing the number of instructional faculty from 22 to 34 FTE which will in turn increase the enrollment capacity to 350 FTE students and degree production to 200 annually. The school also is attracting external financial support for research and instruction from major corporate partners in the northern Virginia area, including grants, contracts, and private contributions. This represents a name change and, more importantly, a continuing commitment to the University's strategic plan – the School is dedicated to becoming the best public policy school in the
National Capitol Region which includes Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and southern Maryland.
Academically, the School of Public Policy pursues five themes:

National governance: the public business of the national government, from the analysis of policy alternatives to the evaluation of intended and unintended policy outcomes;

Regional development: the public business of state and local governments, their interaction with regional economies, and emerging public/private partnerships to accomplish public objectives;

International commerce and policy: the public business of international trade and investment in the political, social, and technological context of the global economy;

Science and technology: the public business of creating and maintaining an environment that facilitates innovation and the development of science and technology with practical applications; and

Culture and values: the public business of dealing with issues of culture, values and ethics brought on by changing demographics, new lifestyles, the rapid advances in science, technology, medicine, and increases in the number of capitalistic societies.
Currently the degree programs consist of a Ph.D. in Public Policy, a Master of Arts in International
Commerce and Policy (MICP), and a unique George Mason University (GMU) program called Master of
New Professional Studies (MNPS), with three sub-specialties: Organizational Learning, Transportation
Policy, Operations and Logistics, and Public Policy. This current proposal will convert the Transportation
Policy, Operations and Logistics sub-specialty in the MNPS program to a full Master of Arts in
Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics.
The Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics (TPOL) will provide a degree for aspiring or experienced professionals in the transportation industry who seek career advancement through cutting-edge education and training in an increasingly digital and global environment. This program is designed for students and practicing professionals engaged in the planning, regulation, management and operation of transportation facilities and services. Through this program, students will obtain a working knowledge of the theory, policy, law, research and practices required for effectively and efficiently supplying and operating transportation facilities and services.

2. Overview of the Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations & Logistics
2.1 Program Format
The program begins with a series of five required courses common to all students in the Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics program. These core courses include both substantive and methodological topics aimed at building perspectives, concepts, and skills common to all TPOL students. These specific knowledge and skills are essential to the modern transportation professional, who must master new concepts and technologies in an increasingly global environment. The core courses introduction to transportation systems, transportation policy and planning, transportation operations and logistics, transportation economics and methods of analysis for transportation managers.
Before completing the degree, all students will be required to demonstrate professional-level expertise in some aspect of transportation policy, operations and logistics, either through three years of work experience in the transportation industry area or by participation in an intense, supervised internship in a transportation position. A paper must be submitted that describes the experience and its relationship to what was learned in the TPOL program.
2.2 Summary of Credit Hours and Time to Degree
Each student must complete 36 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or better and successfully meet the professional experience or internship requirement (worth a maximum of 3 credit hours). The plan of study includes:
Transportation Policy, Operations And Logistics Core Courses 18 credit hours
Elective Courses 18 credit hours
36 credit hours
A full-time student should be able to complete the requirements within two years; part-time students are expected to finish the degree within three years.
2.3 Admission Requirements
All students who hold a B.S. or B.A. degree or equivalent from an accredited university or college will be considered for admission. Students may also be admitted for non-degree study, take individual courses that satisfy requirements for a certificate, or apply courses toward the master’s degree should they choose to apply to the TPOL program, subject to appropriate faculty review of course content.
To enter the program as a degree candidate, a student must meet the following minimum requirements:

Graduate admissions application, along with application fee (no fee waivers).
 A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

A GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 credits of undergraduate study.

Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.

A current resume of education and work experience
 An expanded “goals” statement that describes the student's reasons for applying to the Program, and the student's expectations of the Program (maximum of 3 pages).

Two letters of recommendation, preferably from academic institutions.
Results of the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT taken within the last five years are recommended. Students whose first language is not English, or who have not received a degree from an English-speaking institution, must achieve a score of 575 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
2.4 Transition for MNPS Degree Students in Course
Students currently admitted to the Master of Science in Professional Studies in Transportation Policy,
Operations and Logistics will have an option to transfer to the Master of Arts in Transportation Policy,

Operations and Logistics (TPOL). The Director of the Master of Arts in TPOL will evaluate the record of each student who requests such transfer and make appropriate substitutions of courses taken to date for required courses in the new degree. Transfer students will have to complete 36 credits, which is greater than the Master of Science in Professional Studies degree requirement of 33 credits.
1..1
2.5 Cooperation with the School of Information Technology & Engineering (IT&E)
The School of Public Policy will cooperate fully with the School of Information Technology and
Engineering (IT&E) and the Department of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE) to allow students in the degree programs of both units to take maximal advantage of the course offerings in both units through cross-listing and cross-registration whenever possible, within the constraints of maintaining the focus and academic rigor of each program.
3. Courses and Course Requirements
To earn a Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics degree, students must complete 36 credit hours of course work through a combination of 18 core credit hours and 18 elective credit hours. Graduate Certificates will be awarded to non-degree students upon the completion of 15 credit hours that include 9 credit hours of core courses and at least 6 credit hours of electives.
The TPOL core courses comprise the required knowledge foundation for the Master's degree. A substantive policy concentration builds on the core foundation knowledge, perspectives, and skills by adding depth in a particular area of policy work. These specializations are related to the core capabilities needed by analysts and managers in today's public policy arenas.
3.1 Course Requirements (see New and Revised Course Descriptions, Appendix A)
Take all six of these core courses:
PUPB 715 Introduction to Transportation Systems
PUBP 716 Transportation Operations & Logistics
PUBP 717 Analysis for Transportation Managers
PUBP 718 Transportation Planning & Policy
PUBP 721 Transportation Economics
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
PUBP 722 Practicum in Transportation Policy, Operations & Logistics (3:3:0)
18 credit hours
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
Take a total of 18 credit hours from the following courses:
PUBP 601 Theory & Practice of Regional Development (3:3:0)
PUBP 714 Topics in Transportation Policy, Operations & Logistics 1 (1-3:3:0)
PUBP 719 Transportation Law
PUBP 723 Metropolitan Transportation Policy
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
PUBP 724 Intelligent Transportation Systems & Technology
PUBP 725 International Transportation Logistics
PUBP 727 Transportation Evaluation
PUBP 728 Fleet Operations
PUBP 729 Transportation Asset Management
PUBP 741 U.S. Financial Policy Processes and Procedures
PUBP 742 Transportation Safety & Security
PUBP 745 Transportation and the Environment
PUBP 746 Maritime Transportation
PUBP 747 Air Transportation
PUBP 748 Public Transportation
PUBP 749 Highway Transportation
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
(3:3:0)
1

PUBP 794 Internship
PUBP 799 Master’s Thesis
18 credit hours
(1-6:0:0)
(1-6:0:0)
4. Program Goals for Students
By the time of graduation, students with a Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations and
Logistics (TPOL) are expected to be well-versed in both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of transportation systems. They will understand transportation policy within the context of the international political arena and the global economy, and they will grasp the centrality of operations and logistics on all aspects of transportation system performance. They will have practical training in some aspect of the transportation industry (many if not most will start the program with substantial transportation experience), and they should be able to enter a transportation career field at a middle-management level, or advance to a higher level if they are already functioning in a transportation career in middle management.
5. Faculty
The School of Public Policy has a distinguished faculty who are noted for their scholarly contributions as well as their extensive experience in public policy practice, frequently at high levels of policy-making or consulting for various government agencies. They include five endowed chairs and two University
Professors, and their fields of expertise are wide-ranging, including information technology, national and international economics, regional development, national and international governance, organizational technology, cultural studies, and institutional policy. With over 200 refereed articles and 30 books in the past two years and an average of $250,000 in externally funded policy research support per faculty member per year for the last five years, this is an outstanding group to be leading this new TPOL program.
6. Program Administration
General administrative support for the program will be provided by the current administrative structure of SPP, including a Dean, an Associate Dean for Administration, an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, an Assistant Dean for Student Services, a Director of Admissions, and several ancillary staff.
In addition, there will be a faculty Director of the Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics who will coordinate all aspects of the TPOL program, including curriculum development, faculty assignment, student advising and evaluation, and external relations including contact with potential sources of student placement.
7. Comparison with Other Master's Degree Programs
The Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics (TPOL) at George Mason
University (GMU) will be distinct in several respects from other transportation programs at the master’s degree level in the U.S. and abroad. Most degrees in transportation are centered either in civil engineering programs or business schools. Some of the more progressive programs incorporate faculty from additional disciplines such as urban and regional planning, economics, sociology, and public policy.
The George Mason University degree, however, will be housed in the School of Public Policy, with its diverse, multidisciplinary faculty, including all of the disciplines mentioned above. This uniquely positions the TPOL degree to offer students the education necessary to become leaders in the global transportation industry.
Since the program opened under the MNPS: Transportation Policy, Operations and Research framework (Fall 2000) 27 students have been admitted to the program and over 300 inquiries have been received. We believe these numbers will grow as a clearly specified TPOL program is articulated since this is a program that more students and employers will recognize. The master’s in TPOL is only a slight modification of MNPS: TPOL so it is essential that students in the latter be allowed to transfer to the former (when approved) with no loss of credit.

B. Evaluation of Program Effectiveness
1. Student Learning Goals

Knowledge of the Transportation Industry: students will achieve a general knowledge of the transportation industry and its role in society and the global economy, including the public policy process, national governance systems, transportation system operations, and logistics and supply chain management.

Methodological Proficiency: students will demonstrate skill in several analysis and evaluation techniques, including statistics, microeconomics, cost/benefit analysis, and management science.

Work Experience or Internship: students will demonstrate working knowledge of a transportation problem on which they have taken some leadership role in an actual working environment.

Other Professional Development: students will learn how to examine transportation problems and develop solutions in a team environment, learning how to incorporate divergent viewpoints, explore alternative approaches, and bring objective standards to bear on solutions. They will learn effective communication in oral, written, and electronic modes.
2. Other Outcome Goals

Timing: Fulltime students are expected to complete the program in two years, part-time students in three years (counting summers).

Placement and advancement: Graduates without prior transportation experience should be placed at management positions, taking leadership in some area of the transportation industry. Graduates with prior experience in the transportation industry should be promoted to positions higher than their prior positions, with commensurate gains in leadership responsibility. Although a lower priority for this program, students should be qualified for admittance to a Ph.D. program in relevant subject areas, such as public policy, political science, government, or transportation engineering if they wish to exercise that option.
3. Methods of Evaluation

Practicum: Students must take a practicum course (PUBP 722) near the end of their program. That course is a group project on a real-world transportation policy, operations or logistics problem. The final product of the project, which we anticipate to be a report and/or a formal presentation, will be reviewed and evaluated by a group of faculty and transportation practitioners.

Exit interviews. The program director will conduct exit interviews for students near or after graduation from the program. Part of the exit interview will be a review of the professional goals statement submitted by the student as part of his/her application to assess the extent to which the student achieved those goals and how those goals changed over the course of the program.

Post-graduate follow up. The program director will contact program graduates and employers a year or more after graduation to learn how well satisfied employers are with the employees and how well students are satisfied with the program.

Internship/experience paper: The paper describing the student’s work experience or internship will be evaluated for satisfactory performance by the TPOL Director and a faculty member in the student’s concentration (see section A 3.2).

Graduate Survey: Every two years following the first graduating class, a survey of graduates will assess their satisfaction with the knowledge and skills attained through the master’s of TPOL degree; the extent that it helped in job placement, job advancement, or admission to a Ph.D. program in public policy; satisfaction with current job and position; and recommendations for improving the TPOL program.

Employer Survey: Every two years following the first graduating class, for those employed, a survey of employers will be made to determine whether the graduate is working in the transportation industry, the leadership level of the position, the satisfaction with the graduate’s preparation for the position, and any recommendations for improving the TPOL program.

4. Benchmarks for Success
The program will benchmark itself against the few other comparable programs in the U.S. and abroad, including New York University’s new (January 2002) M.S. in Infrastructure Management, the University of Michigan’s M.S. in Infrastructure Systems Engineering, Delft University of Technology’s M.S. in
Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management. The benchmarking format will focus on student placement upon graduation, student achievement within their first five years of graduation, faculty research output which incorporates recognized student contributions, graduate student activity levels in terms of student organizations will be measured as will their external involvement in public and private organizations with transportation focus purposes, and independent assessment from an external review committee.
C. Justification for Proposed Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations & Logistics
1. Student Demand and Projected Enrollment
Student demand is reflected in inquiries of over 300 students between in the year ending September 30,
2001, the enrollment of 33 students in the MNPS: Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics (15 in their second year and 18 in their first year), and an additional 12 students applying late and accepted into
Extended Studies who will move into the program in the spring of 2002. We expect an additional 10-15 students to be accepted in the fall for enrollment in the spring. This would bring the total already enrolled to be well over 50 students under the very limited MNPS: Transportation Policy, Operations and Logistics title. Hence, meeting our projected goal of 10 FTE steady state seems conservative.
2. Demand for Graduates
An informal survey of Washington employers indicates a strong demand for TPOL graduates in: i) federal agencies, ii) state agencies, iii) local governments, iv) non-profit organizations especially as they relate to government transportation activity in the Washington region and special interest organizations, and v) in businesses particularly in Northern Virginia that provide transportation services to federal defense and civil agencies. Last but not least the students in the existing program are already employed and are upgrading their knowledge and skills, often with the support of their employers. Given the uniqueness of the program nationally, demand from the transportation industry is bound to be strong.
3. Summary of Projected Enrollments
Year 1 – 9.75 FTE (Fall 2000/Spring 2001/Summer 2001) [actual]
Year 2 – 10 FTE (Fall 2001)
Year 3 – 10 FTE (Fall 2002)
Year 4 – 10 FTE (Constant 2003 and thereafter)
D. Projected Resource Needs
This program will be housed in the new School of Public Policy and will be built on the existing resources. The School of Public Policy at George Mason University operates on a budget of $10 million per year, of this state resources are 40% and grants and contracts are 60%. The latter places the program in the top ten nationally in both federal support and total R&D support (NSF ’99 Web Site on Disciplines by
Institutions). Further, it should be noted that the TPOL program receives development support from the
National Center for Intelligent Transportation System Implementation Research, sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Transportation.
No additional state resources are required to support this program.