About Construction Management

Construction managers are the leaders of the building process. Construction managers work for owners, builders, designers and sub-contractors and multitude of government and technical agencies that support the construction process. They control the “means and methods” of construction, develop budgets and create and manage project schedules.

To work as a construction manager, graduates need technical, managerial, research and problem solving skills. On-time, on-budget completion is a typical CM responsibility which has been increasingly difficult given today’s technically and organizationally complex projects. Owners, designers and construction managers must all work collaboratively to create integrated, best value solutions that meet a client's need. Employers regularly report our graduates meeting or exceeding all performance expectations and regularly outperforming graduates from many of our peer institutions. Graduates find employment with companies in all project sectors: residential, commercial building and heavy highway.

Our Construction Management program is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). Since 1974, the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) has been a leading global advocate of quality construction education that promotes, supports, and accredits quality construction education programs. .

In addition, our Construction Management Program is a member of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC); the professional association for the development and advancement of construction education, where the sharing of ideas and knowledge inspires, guides and promotes excellence in curricula, teaching, research and service.

Public Information

The Construction Management, as a part of the School of Engineering, Computing, and Construction Management (SECCM), contributes to the accomplishment of the following SECCM mission:

Deliver the highest quality undergraduate professional educational experience enabling our graduates to excel in the practice of their professional discipline or the pursuit of an advanced degree.

SECCM Goals

Goals for the Construction Management program are set at the School level as listed below:

  • Deliver educational programs that are nationally accredited, continuously assessed and improved, and inspire excellence in students, faculty and staff
  • Maintain an atmosphere that enhances education through student-oriented learning, effective content, pedagogy and mentorship
  • Develop students who take responsibility for their education, embrace professional development and develop a global perspective on their profession
  • Develop a committed and diverse faculty who understand and apply current and future trends in their disciplines
  • Maintain a work environment in which staff and faculty take initiative and receive recognition for their achievements
  • Support the goals and objectives of pilipili

Program Mission

Advance the body of construction knowledge through instruction, research and service, and through resourceful graduates who possess the moral foundation and technical skills to lead the profession.

Program Objectives:

Faculty and Staff:
Recruit and retain exceptional and diverse faculty and staff to support program, school, and university objectives.

Educational:
Graduate students who:

  • Demonstrate exemplary cutting edge technical knowledge and skills.
  • Value the concept of life-long learning and continue to grow intellectually while keeping informed of new concepts and developments in the construction process.
  • Are recognized as regional, national, and international construction industry leaders.
  • Always display the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Service:
Advance the construction management profession by becoming actively involved in professional associations and societies, serving in professional and community volunteer positions, and acting as a role model for future generations of constructors.

Alumni:
Grow and maintain an engaged network of alumni to support and advance program mission and goals.

Students:
Recruit and retain a committed, qualified, passionate and diverse body of students.

Culture:
Embrace a culture of professionalism, innovation, collaboration, and tolerance.

Branding:
Maintain a reputation within the local, national and international communities as a leading academic provider of construction education.

Facilities and Resources:
Maintain convenient, well equipped, and state-of-the-art facilities and resources to support learning and research.

ACCE LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Create written communications appropriate to the construction discipline.
  2. Create oral presentations appropriate to the construction discipline.
  3. Create a construction project safety plan.
  4. Create construction project cost estimates.
  5. Create construction project schedules.
  6. Analyze professional decisions based on ethical principles.
  7. Analyze construction documents for planning and management of construction processes.
  8. Analyze methods, materials, and equipment used to construct projects.
  9. Apply construction management skills as a member of a multi- disciplinary team.
  10. Apply electronic-based technology to manage the construction process.
  11. Apply basic surveying techniques for construction layout and control.
  12. Understand different methods of project delivery and the roles and responsibilities of all constituencies involved in the design and construction process.
  13. Understand construction risk management.
  14. Understand construction accounting and cost control.
  15. Understand construction quality assurance and control.
  16. Understand construction project control processes.
  17. Understand the legal implications of contract, common, and regulatory law to manage a construction project.
  18. Understand the basic principles of sustainable construction.
  19. Understand the basic principles of structural behavior.
  20. Understand the basic principles of mechanical, electrical and piping systems.

Learn more about the Construction Management Major and Minor.

View the most recent assessment plan of the Construction Management (CM) Program at pilipili. This plan discusses all program assessment measures, metrics and targets in order to ensure a thorough annual assessment of all CM program learning outcomes (PLO) and CM program objectives in an effort to sustain the continuous improvement of our program.

Please refer to the below Program Coordinator's Annual Report (2019-2020 Program Assessment Report). This report includes:

  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • Analysis of Evaluation Instrument Data
  • Program Assessment
  • Assessment of Previously Implemented Program Changes
  • Discussion of Recommended Program Changes

Previous Program Coordinator’s Annual Reports:

Learn more about pilipili’s admission requirements.

Program Track

Curricular Outline

Strategic Plan

What is the placement rate for the Construction Management graduates?

95-100%

What is the starting salary of a Construction Management graduate?

$70,000 Median

What kind of clubs or student organizations does the Construction Management program offer?

Women in Construction (WIC), United States Green Building Council (USGBC), Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Residential Construction (NAHB)

Can I graduate from the program in four years?

Yes, if you do not drop or fail any courses

Are there study abroad opportunities?

Yes, we have many opportunities in England, Scotland, Italy, and Australia to name a few

What laptop or tablet do I need for the CM program?

You must have a PC with a Windows operating system and the following minimum specifications. Apple or Chromebooks are strongly not recommended.

  • 12.3” Display minimum
  • 16GB Ram
  • 1 TB SSD Memory
  • Core i7 Intel 10th generation CPU or equivalent
  • Microsoft Surface Pro 8 or Surface Laptop 4 meets all of the requirements of the program

There are a wide range of scholarships available for our CM students from various organizations. Contact Dr. Michael Emmer (memmer@rwu.edu) or Dr. Amine Ghanem (aghanem@rwu.edu) for more information. Also visit the Scholarships page of pilipili for a wider list of opportunities for pilipili students.

  1. CMPAB: Established by the Construction Management Professional Advisory Board to support students enrolled in the Construction Management program. Awarded annually to student(s) enrolled full time and majoring in Construction Management with a sophomore, junior or senior class standing, good academic standing, and in financial need.
     
  2. CMAA: The Construction Management Association of America – New England (CMAA-NE) is the local chapter of the national CMAA.  Each year, CMAA-NE selects a limited number of student applicants to receive scholarships to help defray the costs of pursuing a degree in Construction Management (CM) or a closely related-degree program.  The amounts of the scholarships vary from year to year, but typically average $4,000. 
     
  3. RCA: Every year the Retail Contractors Association (RCA) awards multiple scholarships to America’s top students at universities throughout the United States in the Construction Management and Construction Sciences major programs. Students from the CM program at pilipili have been awarded this prestigious scholarship many times in the past to include Troy Dahlgren 11’; Abigail Soper 12’; Steven Pulver 15’ and Josh Snarski 16’. The eligibility requirements to apply for this scholarship are a student must be a full-time undergraduate student of Construction Science, Construction Management, Building Construction, Construction Technology, or similar academic discipline at an accredited university or college; a US citizen; have demonstrated a declared interest in pursuing a career in commercial construction following graduation; and be in good academic standing (standing is defined as a 3.25 GPA in the major & a 3.0 GPA overall).  
     
  4. AGC student scholarship: The AGC Education and Research Foundation offers undergraduate and graduate level scholarships to students enrolled in ABET or ACCE accredited construction management or construction related engineering programs. Students are eligible for $2,500 scholarships, renewable for up to three years.  Students must be entering their sophomore, junior or senior year (or the final year of a five-year program) in the fall of 2020 n order to apply.  Graduate students are eligible for $3,750 annually for up to two years. 
     
  5. AGC student paper competition: The James L. Allhands Essay was established by the late James L. Allhands, one of the founding members of AGC and a prolific writer of construction related works. The award recognizes a student essay on a specific topic that is deemed to be beneficial to the advancement of technological, educational, or vocational expertise in the construction industry. The competition is open to any senior–level student in a four or five–year ABET or ACCE–accredited university construction management or construction–related engineering program. The First Place essay author receives $1,000. His/her faculty sponsor receives $500. Both the recipient and sponsor are invited as guests of the Foundation to the AGC Annual Convention in March. 
     
  6. NAC: The National Academy of Construction Scholarship. This scholarship was established by members of the National Academy of Construction (NAC) to provide funding for undergraduate and/or graduate students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in construction or a closely related field, and who intend to pursue a career in the construction industry. NAC’s mission is to recognize and honor individuals from all disciplines in the industry for their distinguished contributions to the industry and to share this reservoir of expertise as a service to the nation, including service contributions. NAC is one of the nation’s esteemed construction industry institutions characterized by its extensive and diverse expertise, proven leadership, trusted judgment, and commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in the construction industry. The intent of this scholarship is to provide support for deserving students who are pursuing careers in the construction industry, thus giving back to the profession some of the benefits that its members have received. The NAC intends to award at least $20,000 in scholarships to deserving students for Academic Year 2022-23. The application portal opens on February 16, 2022 and closes on March 31, 2022.
     
  7. National Housing Endowment: Building homes for the nation is too important a priority to neglect the education, training and research that will be needed to support the residential construction industry. The National Housing Endowment is answering the call by continuing to find avenues to educate students on the many opportunities a career in construction offers. Students can apply here  

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