Transportation Planning, Graduate Certificate
This is the first version of the 2026–27 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The graduate Certificate in Transportation Planning requires 12 s.h. of credit.
In order to cover the variety of topics needed for professionals in transportation planning, the certificate curriculum includes transportation planning history, policy, analytic methods, and the relationship between travel, city form, and urban design. For the capstone course, students undertake a real-world transportation project in collaboration with a community partner through the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities.
The first course in the certificate program introduces students to the fundamentals of urban planning history, theory, and the symbiotic relationship between transportation systems, urban form, and sustainability. Elective courses deepen knowledge through specialization in areas of policy, travel behavior analysis, and traffic safety. Students complete the capstone project as their last course to earn the certificate.
The certificate may be completed in one calendar year or completed over a two-year span if students complete one transportation course per semester. This option accommodates part-time students and those currently enrolled in a two-year master's degree program at the University of Iowa.
Courses are taught primarily in hybrid or online formats. Some elective courses are offered on campus only. Courses are taught by faculty members in the School of Planning and Public Affairs and the College of Public Health.
The Certificate in Transportation Planning requires the following work.
Required Coursework
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course (typically completed first): | ||
| URP:6266 | Transportation, Urban Form, and Sustainability | 3 |
| Two of these: | ||
| URP:4262 | Transportation Research Methods and Analysis | 3 |
| URP:6202 | Land Use Planning: Law and Practice | 3 |
| URP:6233 | Public Finance and Budgeting | 3 |
| URP:6260 | Transportation Policy and Planning | 3 |
| CPH:4220 | Global Road Safety | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| URP:6210 | Sustainable Communities Lab II (with advisor approval) | 3 |
| URP:6315 | Independent Study in Planning (with advisor approval) | 3 |
Master of Science in urban and regional planning students may apply to the certificate program through the Graduate College. See Planning and Public Affairs in the catalog for information about graduate study and degree requirements in the school.
Graduate education prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills in specialized fields. At the University of Iowa, the Graduate College advocates for student-centered graduate education and supports equitable application of rules and policies across graduate programs.
Academics
University of Iowa graduate credentials are regulated by policies and requirements found in the Graduate College Manual of Rules and Regulations. This includes minimum grade-point average (GPA) requirements for academic standing and degree conferral. The Graduate College sets the minimum requirement. Individual graduate programs may establish higher GPA requirements.
Admissions
Graduate student applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the program to which they have applied. University of Iowa graduate admission requirements are published by the Graduate College and on the Graduate Admissions website.
Financial Support
Graduate students might be eligible for financial support. Several contingencies apply, including degree program and award type, satisfactory progress toward degree, satisfactory completion of all duties related to an appointment, and availability of funding. Graduate students should inquire directly with their program for more information about funding availability. The Graduate Student Employment Standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters except wages, which are covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Transportation Planning, Graduate Certificate
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| The graduate certificate in transportation planning requires 12 s.h. of credit. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| URP:6266 | Transportation, Urban Form, and Sustainability | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| Certificate: transportation planning elective course a | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Spring | ||
| Certificate: transportation planning elective course a | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Summer | ||
| URP:6315 or URP:6210 |
Independent Study in Planning or Sustainable Communities Lab II |
3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- a
- Students must complete two courses from URP:4262, URP:6202, URP:6233, URP:6260, CPH:4220. These courses are all typically offered only in spring semesters.