Construction Management, B.S.

Mission Statement

The primary objective of the construction management degree is to provide an education that leads to a leadership role in the construction industry while preparing students to become responsible members of society.

The curriculum is responsive to current social, economic and technical developments in the field of construction, and reflects the application of evolving knowledge in construction management and the behavioral sciences. The program incorporates curricula that develop management skills to reflect changes in construction technology and
management trends, and has goals that closely reflect the needs of the construction profession and society as a whole.

The major was developed to provide a curriculum to meet the specific needs of the construction industry both in Florida and throughout the United States. Those needs include professionals who understand the basics of civil engineering and business subjects such as project management, contracting, budgeting and cost control. The program was designed with input from members of the Construction Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) at Florida Tech. The board meets twice yearly to review curriculum and performance of graduates, and to provide updates on industry trends. The curriculum meets Florida Tech’s core requirements within the institutional framework established for all Florida Tech programs and is consistent with the institutional mission and assessment procedures of the university.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of 13 courses designed specifically for the construction industry and 31 existing courses, for a total of 44 courses and 127 credit hours of instruction. The construction management major is designed to prepare students for immediate employment as construction management professionals, rather than as civil engineering design professionals.

The construction management major is designed to prepare students for professional careers and graduate school. During the first two years, the emphasis is on foundation courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, engineering mechanics and business, augmented by practice-oriented civil engineering courses. The introductory construction courses include field trips and introduce the various disciplines of engineering and business management employed in the construction industry. The CAD laboratory course uses the latest CAD software, provides knowledge that is applied in the rest of the curriculum and serves as the basis for understanding, interpreting and using construction plans and specifications in construction operations.

During the second and third years, emphasis is on specific technical courses designed to provide a working knowledge of civil, electrical and mechanical engineering methods used in the design of both horizontal and vertical projects and in construction practice. In addition, business and management courses are added to develop analytical skills needed for making business and technical decisions during construction operations. The technical and business courses in the third and fourth years emphasize leadership, teamwork, oral and written communication, and ethics. The fourth year focuses on the application of these skills to real-world problems with emphasis on societal impacts and the integration of all skills into a seamless and profitable project scenario.

During the senior year, construction management majors are required to be part of a multidisciplinary capstone project team that identifies, formulates and builds a real-world construction project. In this capstone course, students must assemble information from previous courses and research current methods to accomplish project and societal goals.

Mandatory electives in humanities and social sciences provide a broader understanding of the professional work environment, human history and culture. The curriculum provides flexibility in the form of restricted and technical/business electives that allow further depth and breadth in a discipline of choice.