Construction Management

Program Description

The construction management program is focused on providing and developing the skill sets necessary for a successful career in construction management. The program provides both disciplinary and integrative education in the areas of constructability, costs, scheduling and ethics. The dedication of the students and faculty have enabled the construction management program to make a claim that very few programs can make: 100 percent of our graduates who desire to work in the industry are employed prior to graduation or shortly thereafter.

A career in construction management is challenging, yet rewarding.  CM’s are able to see the tangible results of their efforts as the construction projects are built.  The construction industry does wonderful things for society through the building of hospitals, schools, roads and bridges; places where people work, live and seek community.  Being a part of this process provides a great feeling of pride and accomplishment.

The construction industry is embracing Building Information Modeling (BIM) which involves the modeling of projects for use in preconstruction, site logistics, scheduling and estimating to name a few.  The construction management program believes that this is an essential skill set for future constructors and is working diligently to incorporate it into the curriculum.

Our faculty are construction professionals who have relevant experience in at least one of the four main construction sectors (residential, commercial, heavy-civil and industrial).   Because of this experience, they don’t just teach what they think – they teach what they know! Faculty continue to collaborate with industry experts to fine tune their course content to align the courses towards relevant experiences that employer’s desire.  Understanding current trends and adapting coursework is a great indicator that our faculty truly care about the success of our students in the classroom, but also into their careers.

In addition to a practical focus and caring faculty, students also have the ability obtain an internship during one or more summer breaks.  The experience and knowledge that students gain through coursework, extra-curricular activities and internships make for a highly sought after employee which is rewarded by some of the highest salaries of any student graduating from WSU.

 

Career Opportunities

Construction management graduates commonly start their careers as field engineers and are qualified to follow career tracks towards any of the following:

• Project Manager
• Superintendent
• Quality Control/Quality Assurance Manager
• Safety Manager
• Estimator
• Scheduler
• Contract Administrator/Manager

As any of these, graduates have the opportunity to work for private and publicly held construction companies, general contractors, subcontractors and specialty contractors, owners or owners groups, consulting firms, architecture firms, real estate developers, or city, state and federal government entities. Graduates also have the opportunity to work in a diverse variety of sectors in the construction industry including commercial, residential, heavy-civil and industrial construction.