The USC Viterbi School of Engineering (VSOE) is at the forefront of research in information technology, biotechnology and a full spectrum of engineering disciplines. The Viterbi School consistently ranks in the top ten in the U.S. News and World Report rankings.

Transportation related education is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students of transportation generally select degrees in one of four Viterbi Departments – Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), Electrical Engineering (EE), and Computer Science (CS).   Undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level degrees are offered in each department. 

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

Transportation related education is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the USC Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

At the undergraduate level, there are 2 degree programs — the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and the Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.   The BSCE offers four tracks — General Track, Building Science, Structural Engineering, and Environmental Engineering.

Master's students may pursue a Master of Science in Civil Engineering, and may select one of five specializations — General Option, Construction Engineering and Management, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Sustainable Infrastructure Systems, which consists of:  Transportation Systems and Water and Waste Management.

Master's students may also choose to pursue a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering or the Master of Construction Management.

The Viterbi School also offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering, with the choice of specializing in the following areas:

Specialization areas for Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering

• Coastal Engineering, Water Resources Engineering  
• Earthquake Engineering  
• Informatics For Intelligent Built Environments
• Geotechnical Engineering and Geomechanics  
• Structural Engineering and Design  
• Structural Mechanics  

Specialization areas for Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering

• Air Pollution Engineering and Control  
• Water Quality Engineering  
• Solid and Hazardous Waste Remediation Engineering
• Energy and the Environment

Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE)

Transportation related education is also offered through the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Undergraduate degrees offered are the Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering with Emphasis in Information Systems Engineering.

At the graduate level, the ISE Department offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Systems Engineering as well as several Master of Science Degrees, all of which can be customized to relate to transportation. Masters degrees are the Master of Science in Engineering Management, Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering, Master of Health Systems Management, Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering/Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering, Master of Science in Operations Research Engineering, Master of Science in Product Development Engineering, and Master of Science in Systems Architecting and Engineering.

There are several graduate certificate programs available which may also be of interest to transportation students— Graduate Certificate in Netcentric Systems, Graduate Certificate in Engineering Technology Commercialization, Graduate Certificate in Transportation Systems, and Graduate Certificate in Optimization and Supply Chain Management.

Electrical Engineering

At the undergraduate level, the Department of Electrical Engineering offers two bachelor degrees, namely the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with Emphasis on Computers.

At the graduate level, the Department offers the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with the following specific degrees:  Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Thesis Option Aerospace Controls Option), , Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Computer Networks), Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Multimedia and Creative Technologies), Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (VLSI Design), Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Wireless Health Technologies), Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Power), Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications), and Master of Science in Financial Engineering *.

At the doctoral level, the Department offers two Doctor of Philosophy Programs-the Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering.

Students who are interested in advanced study with intentions to pursue a degree in practice as opposed to academics, may also wish to consider the Electrical Engineering Engineer Degree. The degree is intended to fulfill a growing need by industry for students with comprehensive advanced engineering training, but not necessarily with the research orientation developed by the Ph.D. student.  This is a terminal degree, and students who complete it will not be considered for admission to the Ph.D program.

Computer Science (CS)

Students considering a career in transportation may also consider the Computer Science program, offered both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Department of Computer Science offers four bachelor’s degrees — Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Games), Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business Administration.

At the graduate level, the Master of Science in Computer Science is offered.  In addition to the general Master of Science in Computer Science, the Department of Computer Science also offers the degree with the following specializations, Data Science, Game Development, Computer Security, Computer Networks, Software Engineering, Intelligent Robotics, Multimedia and Creative Technologies, and High Performance Computing and Simulation.

Graduate students may also pursue the Graduate Certificate in Software Architecture, the Master of Science for Technical Professionals, and an expanded Master of Science for Scientists and Engineers, designed specifically for students with an academic background in engineering or science, but a limited background in computer science.

The Department also offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.