The construction industry is booming and those who have degrees of master’s or bachelor’s in construction management are highly sought-after. These degrees are specialized and give you the ability to communicate with design professionals like architects and engineers as well as the management skills to oversee the skilled tradesmen who do the actual building work.
A typical curriculum for a degree in construction management starts with an exploratory core, then moves on to more specific construction courses which teach the technical skills to build a structure from the ground up. You may also learn advanced engineering concepts like modeling and analysis of structural structures. A lot of programs offer opportunities to gain hands-on experience working on real-world projects with local businesses or taking part in a design contest for students.
In some programs, your senior year will involve working with other students in order to conceptualize, plan and present a project to the panel. This is a great opportunity to gain professional experience and expand your network and often results in a pre-graduation offer.
You can also specialize in particular areas for example, civil engineering or green building and sustainability. Specialized programs can prepare you to work in areas like research and development, design or cost estimation and control. Doctoral degrees in construction management are usually three to five years long and comprise a substantial amount of research to be included in your dissertation. Some programs offer teaching assistantships as well as graduate assistantships which can assist you in paying for tuition.