Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering

Railroad activity in the United States is flourishing, with expansion across the industry – in freight, passenger (inter-urban and commuter), transit, and emerging high-speed rail. With increased activity comes the need for highly trained professionals to ensure operating safety, efficiency, and cost-effective use of resources. Yet many of the most experienced engineers and supervisors are retiring, leaving a gap in knowledge, experience and capability.

This graduate certificate is also designed for engineering professionals working in the area of railroad engineering or for those desiring to expand their knowledge of railroad engineering and related engineering disciplines, to thereby become viable candidates for advancement in the railroad industry.

The Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering is available on-line, allowing students to view the content as their weekly schedule permits. All homework and exams are also available to be taken and submitted on-line.

Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering

The Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering is available on-line, allowing students to view the content as their weekly schedule permits. All homework and exams are also available to be taken and submitted on-line.

Required Core Courses (three courses):

CIEG614 Railroad Geotechnical Engineering
Designing, constructing, maintaining railway track. Developing railway track substructure: materials, mechanics, drainage, loading, slopes, design, maintenance, measurements and management and case studies. Track sub-structure issues related to load freight and high-speed passenger rail traffic.

CIEG617 Intro to Railroad Safety & Derailment Engineering
Explores the engineering issues associated with common types of derailments, including track, equipment and operator derailments. The specific failure mechanisms associated with key classes of derailments are examined along with the technologies available for reducing these types of derailments.

CIEG618 Intro to Railroad Engineering
Introduction to railroad track structures and their major components, including functions and modes of degradation and failure. Explore static and dynamic load environments and engineering design to effectively distribute loads throughout a structure. Provides both theoretical and practical approaches to track design as well as useful design, optimization and maintenance recommendations for key track components.

All graduate railroad engineering courses require undergraduate level background in engineering or equivalent.

Faculty:

Allan M. Zarembski – Railroad engineering, risk management, track component failure and degradation analysis, track inspection technology, safety and derailment prevention

Joseph Palese – Railroad engineering, risk management, track component failure and degradation analysis, track inspection technology, safety and derailment prevention

Admissions Requirements

Matriculated graduate students in civil or mechanical engineering are eligible to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering, using their elective course options to focus on the field and earn the certificate. Students should discuss this with their faculty advisor and notify their department’s Graduate or Undergraduate Academic Advisor.