Construction Management
While the construction industry will always require many persons educated
solely as architects, engineers, accountants, and other specialists, it
is increasingly clear that the most effective education for the industry’s
leaders at all levels of managerial responsibility is a meaningful synthesis
of construction, engineering, and business management education at the
undergraduate level.
The construction industry’s high regard and demand for our graduates are
evidence that a meaningful synthesis has been accomplished.
There are two degree options available to those seeking the BS in Construction
Management: The construction management option, accredited by the American
Council for Construction Education, is available for those who wish to
focus their career in the areas of construction project management. The
Architectural Project Management (APM) option is available for those who
wish to focus their career in the design/build method of project delivery.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OPTION
The CM student’s management knowledge and
skills learned in the classroom are augmented by their application to actual
construction projects in the CM computer labs. CM scheduling, estimating,
cost management, and equipment simulation are conducted with state-of-the-art
software. Traditional technical skills are enhanced through use of soils,
survey, and testing labs.
ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT OPTION
CM students can also select the
APM option. Other course work is further complemented by a comprehensive
study of design and construction development projects. The program offers
a wide variety of courses in design, art, CAD, professional practice, and
law. Special emphasis is placed on constructibility and cost-effective
design alternatives. A degree with this option may provide two years of
credit toward the architectural licensing requirements.
Faculty and Facilities
The varied academic background of the faculty enables students to develop
a wide diversity of theoretical and technical competencies. A primary requirement
of construction management (CM) faculty is extensive industry experience
in managing construction operations, which assures students of the faculty’s
theoretical application being tempered by invaluable knowledge gained from
practical experience. The teaching faculty’s industry experience includes
management of construction for heavy civil works, buildings, industrial,
and real estate development. The faculty’s strong technical and diverse
academic preparation includes degrees in construction management, architecture,
civil and electrical engineering, business administration and industrial
education.
Student Organizations
The IOTA IV Chapter of Sigma Lambda Chi is the international honor society
for leaders in construction. The fundamental purpose of Sigma Lambda Chi
is to recognize outstanding students in the field of construction. Membership
in the society is an honor and is based upon scholarship, leadership, and
character, regardless of gender, race, color, or creed.
Experiential Education
Many students gain experience through work with highway, building, electrical,
mechanical, and other contractors in estimating, project engineering, contract
administration, or in the construction trades or with architectural firms.
Career Outlook
The construction industry is one of the largest goods-producing industries
in the U.S. As a result there continues to be a high demand for CM graduates.
The number of job offers per graduate exceeds two, which reflects the continuing
demand. In the 2001-2002 academic year over 80 employers recruited graduates
and interns on campus through the Construction Management Department. Opportunities
abound with construction general contractors, specialty subcontractors,
design firms, and material and equipment manufacturing and supply companies.
Types of project assignments are very diverse and may include such areas
as heavy civil (roads, bridges, tunnels, marine work), commercial, institutional
and residential building. Typical starting job titles may include: field
engineer, scheduler, cost engineeer, assistant estimator, superintendent,
office engineer, and assistant project coordinator.
|
