Why Come to Iowa

An environment for transportation education

Beginning with the university's early years, Iowa State University has played an important role in the development of transportation professionals:

• Early in the 20th century, Iowa State College (as Iowa State University was then called) was the original home of the Iowa Highway Commission (now the Iowa Department of Transportation).
• Iowa State College faculty were instrumental in forming the Highway Research Board (now the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council).
• An Iowa State College professor was the Highway Research Board's first chair.

Today, Iowa State University maintains its transportation heritage. It has close ties to the Iowa Department of Transportation. The two institutions, both in Ames, share resources and work in collaboration to resolve transportation issues and improve the state's transportation system. In addition, the university and its faculty maintain close ties with transportation carriers, user groups, the highway construction industry, and others.

Academic excellence

Since its beginning, Iowa State University has had strong core programs in transportation education within the College of Engineering. More recently, the Colleges of Design and Business have begun strong transportation related programs. The logistics and management information systems program is the dominant business program in the region and is complemented by outstanding programs in community and regional planning and transportation engineering.

In addition, the MS degree in transportation is supported by excellent programs outside the core transportation areas in economics, political science, industrial engineering, statistics, sociology, and psychology.

Research opportunities

The transportation degree program is integrated with the research programs at the Center for Transportation Research and Education. As a transportation student, you will have many opportunities to conduct meaningful research.