What it’s about:

Construction management is the art of orchestrating all the components necessary to complete a building project within budget and on time. This major combines courses in business management, technology, and the liberal arts to provide the practical knowledge and critical thinking skills that a leadership role in construction requires.

What the study of this major is like:

Construction management is both an on-site job (making sure that the project is going smoothly and according to plan) and a desk job (dealing with bids, contacts, insurance, and other paperwork). A successful manager has expertise in three areas: construction, management, and people skills.

This major helps you develop this expertise by blending business management training with technical know-how. Course work covers creative problem solving, emerging technologies, best practices, and ethical principles. The goal is to prepare you to become a professional manager who can combine business acumen with an awareness of the diverse interests of the developer, contractor, owner, architect, and engineer.

Beginning with basic studies of blueprints and drawings, construction materials and techniques, you progress to an understanding of more complex components such as site logistics, specifications, cost estimating, and design, mechanical, structural, electrical and legal issues. You learn to consider construction drawings as a picture not only of the planned structure but also of the complex process involving five dimensions-which include time and money, referred to as “schedule” and “budget.”

Crunching numbers may not sound much like construction work, but nothing gets built before a budget is in place. That’s why courses in estimating and accounting are usually required. You’ll learn, step by step, how to figure the costs for everything from building materials to labor. You’ll practice looking for clues in floor plans, you’ll get a handle on competitive bidding.

Many students enjoy the technical and graphic aspects of the major but find that writing skills do not come as easily. To help bring these skills do not come as easily. To help bring these skills together, most programs require a capstone project in the final year. For that you research a topic of your own interest and present a professional quality report to be reviewed by faculty or invited professionals.

Most programs include practical exposure to the profession. Lectures and lab courses are supplemented by opportunities for internships in which you do hands-on work under the guidance of a mentor. Actual construction experience is as essential as a degree when it comes to finding a job after graduation.

While construction management can be considered a business major it is usually housed in a school or department of technology, engineering, or architecture. The emphasis on business management skills may vary depending on the overall strength of the college’s business program. Architecturally based programs usually focus on design and on a team approach to problem solving.

This major is offered at both associate degree and the bachelor’s degree level. Four-year programs include more business management skills and liberal arts requirements. Two-year programs usually concentrate on construction technology.

Career options and trends:

Construction manager; general contractor; site inspector; cost estimator; specifications write; contract administrator.

Even though the construction industry has been hard hit lately, the bureau of Labor Statistics still projects good job prospects for construction managers because there are not enough graduates in this filed to meet expected demand. As the economy recovers that demand will become more acute. Employment in this filed will always be subject, however, to cyclical fluctuations in the industry.

Prospects will be best for those with a bachelor’s degree and construction work experience gained through internships and summer jobs.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors