Construction Management

  What is Construction Management?

The field of construction management encompasses all facets of the design-build-construct continuum. Construction managers are knowledgeable in areas of construction methods, theories and practices, personnel administration, scheduling, project costing and job site and project controls.

The bachelor of science program in construction management (CM) combines course work in architecture, management, engineering and business to prepare students for a career in this exciting area.

  Success Factors

Successful construction managers have excellent leadership skills and are able to plan and conduct operations for successful construction projects from design to occupancy.
 
Typically, they are interested in the challenge associated with working on major construction projects with design and construction professionals, optimizing the use of manpower and materials, solving problems and thinking creatively for successful construction projects. Clear communication, teamwork and organization are important proficiencies required of CMs.

  Career Possibilities

The bachelor of science degree in construction management is a recognized credential for a professional executive career in construction. Graduates typically are employed by general contractors, specialty contractors, construction management firms, building owners, corporate builders, developers, engineering firms, manufacturers, utility companies, government agencies, educational and health institutions. They often gain responsibility quickly, becoming job-site superintendents, project managers and officers of companies. Placement opportunities are available worldwide.

  Majoring in Construction Management

UC’s CM program is a bachelor’s degree program designed to be completed in five years. Course work toward the degree encompasses these areas:

General studies provide a strong foundation in the liberal arts, including communications, ethics and leadership.

Foundational studies are focused on mathematics and science and include calculus and physics.

Concentrated study in the major includes concentration in drawings and construction documents, project delivery systems, estimating, cost control and financing, scheduling, value engineering, construction and project management.

  Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

Course Name	Course Number	Credits
First Year
English Composition I, II	32 ENGL 101,102	6
Humanities/Social Science Elective		3
College Algebra and Trigonometry	32 MATH 180	5
Calculus I, II	32 MATH 244, 245	8
Physics for Technology I, II & Labs	32 PHYS 181,182,186,187	8
Construction Materials	32 BLTN 107	3
Construction Drawing I, II	32 ARTN 121, 122	6
Fundamentals of Speech Communication	32 COMM 172	3
General Psychology	32 PSYC 171	3
Microcomputer Applications II	32 IET 321	3
Co-op for CAS	36 PD 132	1
Construction Seminar I, II	32 CM 101,102	2
TOTAL		51
Second Year
Physics for Technology III & Lab	32 PHYS 183, 188	4
Fluid Mechanics & Lab	32 CVTN 251, 261	4
Surveying	32 CVTN 242	4
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies	32 CVTN 213	3
Applied Structural Mechanics	32 CVTN 223	1
Structures II & Lab	32 CVTN 212, 222	4
Construction Safety Management	32 CM 276	3
Construction Estimating	32 ARTN 289	3
Construction Documents and Quality Control	32 CM 272	3
Accounting Concepts I	32 ACCT 245	3
Intermediate Composition	32 ENGL 289	3
TOTAL		35
Third Year
Construction Equipment	32 BLTN 310	3
Water Supply and Waste Disposal Systems	32 ARTN 373	4
Accounting Concepts II	32 ACCT 246	3
Structures III, IV & Labs	32 CVTN 313, 314, 323, 324	8
Soil Mechanics & Lab	32 CVTN 378, 388	4
Construction Management I	32 CM 301	3
Electrical Systems	32 ARTN 372	3
Mechanical Systems	32 ARTN 573	4
Survey of Economics	32 ECON 286	3
TOTAL		35
Fourth Year
Probability and Statistics	32 MATH 371	4
Construction Management II, III	32 CM 402, 503	6
Accounting for Decision Making	32 ACCT 271	3
Scheduling	32 CM 411	3
Structural Systems I & Lab	32 CVTN 401, 411	4
Construction Methods	32 BLTN 318	3
Economic Analysis	32 ECON 386	3
Project Costing	32 CM 582	3
Managerial Psychology or Psychology of Work Teams	32 PSYC 373 or 32 PSYC 371	3
TOTAL		32
Fifth Year
Construction Finance & Strategic Planning	32 CM 581	3
Structural Systems II	32 CVTN 571	3
Leadership/Decision Making	32 CM 505	3
Senior Special Project I, II	32 CM 575, 576	10
Construction Law	32 CM 571	3
Business Law	32 BLAW 272	3
Intro to Management	32 MGMT 261	3
Humanities/Social Science Electives	300-400 Level	9
Technical Electives		9
Free Elective		3
TOTAL		49

 

Approved technical electives areas are as follows: business law, finance, management, marketing, real estate (UC College of Business). All other courses taken as technical electives must have prior approval of the department head.

Free electives must have prior approval of either the adviser or department head.

Full-time students must also complete cooperative work experience to fulfill requirements for the bachelor’s degree.  Cooperative work quarters are not listed in the above schedules.

For a printer-friendly copy of the bachelor's degree in construction management, CLICK HERE.

  UC Advantages and Special Opportunities

The construction management program is one of four offered by the Department of Construction Science at the UC College of Applied Science. (A master's of business administration with concentration in construction management is also offered, in conjunction with the UC College of Business). A dual degree may be obtained in the Department of Construction Science. In six years you may earn baccalaureate degrees in both architectural engineering technology and construction management. Our faculty comprises registered architects and engineers with industrial as well as teaching experience. Classes are small and the faculty is readily available to discuss academic and career goals.

Please note that the construction management curriculum is very demanding and time-consuming. For this reason, we do not recommend that full-time students work part time while in the program. Co-op opportunities may provide ample employment and income for tuition, books and materials. Co-op (cooperative education) is a learning experience that enables students to alternate academic studies with paid, on-the-job training. The co-op program is required for all full-time students who wish to receive the bachelor of science degree in construction management. Co-op students participate in a year-round schedule. Each work session is 13 weeks long. Alternating 13-week sessions continue until the fifth and final year, in which all students return to school.

  Special Programs

Honors Program
The University of Cincinnati honors program offers small, interactive classes that allow students to receive personalized instruction and to learn more effectively. Certificate programs explore topics such as global studies and leadership in greater depth. The honors program enriches the educational experience of top students through courses, seminars and out-of-class experiences. Special topics courses allow honors students to broaden their intellectual horizons regardless of the discipline in which they are majoring. Students may also earn honors credit through experiential learning. The College of Applied Science honors program is one of the most active honors programs at UC.

Scholarships
Many scholarship opportunities are available for students who have demonstrated strong leadership skills and excelled in the program. These include four internal scholarships to students in the Department of Construction Science and several external scholarship opportunities offered through professional associations.

Study abroad
Students in the program have excellent opportunities to travel abroad to study international construction projects or for cooperative education.

  Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the CM bachelor's degree program must:

1. Be a graduate of an accredited high school with the following units:
    English (4 units)
    College-preparatory math (3 units)
    Physics (1 unit)
    Chemistry (1 unit)
    Social science (2 units)
    Foreign language (2 units)
    Fine arts (1 unit)
    Additional units of above (2 units)
2. Score at least 550 math on SAT or 24 math on ACT college entrance examination.

  Transferring to UC Requirements

Transfer students must be in good standing according to standards of the college from which they wish to transfer and must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average.

  Changing Majors within UC Requirements

Students changing majors from other programs or colleges within UC will be considered based on the same criteria as outside transfers.

  Application Deadlines

Applications should be filed as early in the year as possible. Suggested filing dates are:

Fall quarter: previous October -- June 1 (Some programs may close by December 15 for the following fall.)
Winter quarter: October 1 -- November 15
Spring quarter: October 1 -- February 1
Summer quarter: October 1 -- May 1

  Accreditation

The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

 

The construction management program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Construction Education (ACCE).