The construction industry is one of the largest industries in the United States. It accounts for nearly 8 percent of the nation's gross national product and employs millions of people. The industry is divided into four sectors including residential building construction, industrial construction, commercial building construction, and heavy civil construction. The Construction Management program prepares nationally competitive students for successful careers in the construction industry.
Construction Management is a combination of technology, construction techniques, and management to meet the needs of the rapidly growing construction industry. Construction management studies less math and engineering concepts than construction engineering but focuses more on business-related courses. The program is designed to prepare students for the art of achieving maximum profit by efficient use of people, machines, materials, and other resources to complete a construction project on time and to the satisfaction of the owner. A meld of engineering, construction, management, and business gives the student a background and understanding of a management point of view in the construction industry. The program leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Construction Management degree is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).
A minor in Business Administration offered by the College of Business is required for all B.S. in Construction Management students. Students are required to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 to be admitted into the minor program. A minor in Business Administration requires a minimum GPA of 2.50 in the courses that satisfy the minor. In addition, a cumulative GPA of 2.50 overall is required to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management degree.
The Construction Management undergraduate program prepares nationally competitive graduates for successful careers in the construction management profession.
The Program Objectives support the department and program missions and are further connected to the Program Learning Outcomes.
The Construction Management program has adopted the 17 Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) defined by ACCE as the Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs). Upon graduation from the Construction Management program, graduates shall be able to:
CURRICULUM
First-year construction management students at NDSU begin their education with fundamental courses in English, chemistry, mathematics, and an introduction to the construction and economics basics. Second-year courses become more specific with an emphasis on surveying, physics, and construction science and methods courses. Third-year courses reflect the key areas of construction management along with business fundamentals. The senior year continues with key construction management courses and also provides 9 hours of business electives and a senior capstone project.
Accelerated PROGRAM
The BSCM + MCM accelerated program provides opportunities for current students in the Construction Management program to pursue the Master of Construction Management (MCM) offered by the department. Students in the Construction Management program have an option to obtain a Master's degree through the accelerated BSCM + MCM program, which requires at least a total of 30 course credits. Up to 9 credits (three courses) from the Master of Construction Management program can be used in the undergraduate program. These courses must be taken in the 600- or 700-level. In that sense, the interested students could accelerate the master's study by shortening three courses, so that they could complete the remaining 21 credits and graduate in one year.
FACULTY
The department has well-qualified and dedicated faculty members. They are nationally and internationally recognized experts, with the knowledge and experience to prepare graduates for successful careers. Most faculty members in the department have a doctoral degree. Many of them are licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) or Certified Professional Contractor (CPC). In addition, the department has many adjunct faculty members who worked or are currently working in the industry.
FACILITIES
The department has excellent laboratory facilities for undergraduate education across all civil, environmental, and construction areas, including the teaching laboratories for civil engineering materials, construction management and engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, and water resources engineering. Students also have access to computer clusters and many state-of-the-art research laboratories. The program has the most updated modern teaching and research equipment such as GPS units, robotic total stations, drones, and VR units.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Students participate in many professional departmental student organizations in the department, which helps them develop leadership and teamwork skills. The major student organizations include the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Water Works Association (AWWA), Associated General Contractors (AGC), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Materials Research Society (MRS), National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), Sigma Lambda Chi, and Water Environment Federation (WEF), as well as Steel Bridge, Concrete Canoe, Associated Schools of Construction and Residential Construction Management, GeoWall, and Quiz Bowl competition teams. Students may also participate in several student organizations within the College of Engineering, including the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Grand Challenge Scholars of NDSU, Habitat for Humanity, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The student organizations have won several national and regional awards.
PREPARATION
High school students who wish to prepare for some courses at the college level should attempt to complete the four units of high school mathematics. Incoming freshmen prepared to enroll in calculus frequently complete their construction management degree in four years. Transfer students who have studied two years of construction-related courses at another institution typically complete the construction management degree in two additional years.
SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID
The department awards numerous scholarships each year, which mostly range from $500 to $10,000. The AGC of North Dakota and the Fargo/Moorhead Home Builders Care Foundation (a charitable arm of the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead) offer annual scholarships to incoming first-year and outstanding other students. In addition, many other scholarships, such as the Cossette Construction Management and Engineering Scholarship, Excellence in Construction Safety Scholarship, and Interstates Construction Management and Engineering Scholarship, are available to students. Students should check with the department for more information. Other forms of financial aid are available through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Construction management graduates are in high demand after graduation by contractors in all types of construction, from general contractors to specialty contractors. Positions available include superintendent, project manager, and construction executive. The starting salary for fresh graduates has been between $65,000 and $85,000 in recent years. Construction management students find summer internships or employment in the construction industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5-percent growth in employment for construction managers from 2022 to 2032 which is above the average growth rate for all occupations (3 percent).
