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Online Master of Sustainable Transportation

Admissions

This degree is primarily designed for transportation planners and engineers working in a variety of roles and work environments. Most students have educational and professional backgrounds in civil and environmental engineering, urban planning and design, public affairs and policy, environmental science, or economics.

Application Dates and Deadlines

A new cohort of the Master of Sustainable Transportation program starts each fall. The priority application deadline is May 1. Those who apply by that date will be notified of an admissions decision by June 1. The final application deadline is September 10. Late applications will be considered on a space-available basis.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or its equivalent from a foreign institution
  • A minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for the last graded 60 semester credits or 90 graded quarter credits
  • Demonstrated English-language proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English

Required Application Materials

  • UW Graduate School online application and fee
  • Unofficial transcripts from every college or university attended
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • Statement of purpose
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if English is not your native language)

Application Steps

To apply to the Master of Sustainable Transportation, submit your application materials online through the UW Graduate School website. We recommend you begin your application early in order to complete all requirements on time.

Step One: Prepare to Apply

  • Get transcripts from each college or university attended. Download unofficial transcripts or scan printed copies.
  • Update your resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Write your statement of purpose. This statement should provide information about you not found in transcripts and other official documents. Describe your degree and career objectives, and how participation in this graduate program will help achieve them. 
  • Find people to write your letters of recommendation. Two letters of recommendation are required to apply. Consider getting recommendations from current or former employers, supervisors or teachers. Make sure you choose people who can judge your capacity to undertake graduate studies in sustainable transportation. You will need their email addresses for the Graduate School application.

Step Two: Apply Online

  • Start your online application to the UW Graduate School. You can save your application and come back to it at any time to continue working on it. 
  • Select “Civil and Environmental Engineering - M. of Sustainable Transportation (Online)” for the program name.
  • Upload all required documents.
  • Designate the people who have agreed to write your letters of recommendation. Each of these people will be sent an email directing them to a secure website where they will submit their letters.
  • Pay the nonrefundable application fee.

Graduate Non-Matriculated Students

If you aren't sure that you want to pursue the full degree, you might consider enrolling as a graduate nonmatriculated student. Although GNM student status does not guarantee admission to the Master of Sustainable Transportation program, you can apply up to 12 credits toward degree requirements if you are later accepted for the degree.

You can also apply credits earned in the UW Certificate in Sustainable Transportation: Planning & Livable Communities toward a Master of Sustainable Transportation should you be accepted into the degree program. To quality for that credit, you must enroll in the certificate program and apply for GNM status before you register for the first course.

To apply for GNM status, you must follow the same procedures noted above and apply online to the UW Graduate School by the program application deadline.

International Students

Because the Master of Sustainable Transportation program is completely online, no visa is required and international students are welcome to apply.

International applicants must meet all admission requirements for the program. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. The UW Graduate School’s Policy 3.2 describes several ways to do this. Test scores must be sent directly to the UW by the Educational Testing Service using institution code 4854. Only scores less than two years old will be accepted.