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Program Description
The Rail Transportation Engineering (RTE) minor at Penn State Altoona is designed for students who wish to gain specialized knowledge in the rail industry, supplementing their primary engineering studies. Penn State Altoona is home to the nation's only bachelor's degree in Rail Transportation Engineering, and this minor builds on that unique foundation to provide students with targeted skills in rail infrastructure, operations, and safety.
The RTE minor is open to students in civil, mechanical, and electromechanical engineering fields who are interested in adding a rail focus to their studies. The program includes coursework in railroad track and track practicum, operation and operation practicum, mechanical and mechanical practicum, and railway safety and economics overview. By completing this minor, students will gain a well-rounded understanding of the technical and operational aspects of rail transportation, enhancing their qualifications for a variety of career paths in the transportation and infrastructure sectors.
Graduates with an RTE minor will be well-prepared to enter the rail industry, where there is a growing demand for engineers skilled in rail-specific applications. This minor offers students the opportunity to broaden their professional options and pursue impactful roles in an essential and evolving field.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Surveying | ||
| Professionalism, Economics & Construction Project Delivery | ||
| Construction Management I | ||
| Engineering Mechanics of Soils | ||
| Materials Science for Civil Engineers | ||
| Structural Analysis | ||
| Fluid Mechanics | ||
| Electric Drives | ||
| Mechanical Drives | ||
| Measurement Theory and Instrumentation | ||
| Engineering Thermodynamics I | ||
| Computational Tools | ||
| Mechanical Engineering Design Methodology | ||
| Circuit Analysis, Instrumentation, and Statistics | ||
| Mechanical Design | ||
| Vibration of Mechanical Systems | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
Railroads and American Society  | ||
| Railroad Industry Overview and Economic Regulation | ||
| Railroad Track Location, Construction and Maintenance | ||
| Railroad Operation and Safety | ||
| Railroad Communications and Signals | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following list of 400-level courses: | 6 | |
| Railroad Operations Practicum | ||
| Railroad Track Practicum | ||
| Railroad Mechanical Practicum | ||
| Special Topics | ||