Engineering Construction Management

Description

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction

Construction management (CNST) is a complete undergraduate degree program available to students within The Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction located at Nebraska Hall on the Lincoln City Campus and at the Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI) in Omaha. Construction is one of the largest and most diversified industries in the country, accounting for approximately 4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). The key professional in this vast enterprise is the “constructor,” a term given to leaders and managers in the construction industry who are responsible for planning, scheduling and building the projects designed by architects and engineers. These highly specialized efforts are indispensable in meeting the country’s growing need for new structures, infrastructure, and environmental controls that are of high quality, and are cost effective, efficient, and sustainable.

Construction firms vary in size from large corporations to small proprietorships and partnerships. These are often classified according to the kind of construction work they do: general contractors, heavy and highway contractors, specialty contractors—including mechanical and electrical—and residential builders and developers. Many firms engage in more than one category of work. Some larger companies incorporate the architectural and engineering design functions as part of their role as a design/build firm. Collectively, constructors manufacture our entire built environment—buildings for housing, commerce and industry, highways, railroads, waterways, airports, power plants, energy distribution systems, military bases and space center complexes. Thus, the construction management field is broad, requiring a unique educational background for its professional practitioners.

Although the range of construction activities appears wide and diverse, the general educational requirements for construction management are universal regardless of a particular firm’s area of specialization. Since construction is primarily a business enterprise, the graduate must have a sound background in business management and administration, as well as an understanding of the fundamentals of architecture and engineering as they relate to project design and the actual construction process in the field. Professional expertise lies in the fields of construction science, methods, and management. A working knowledge of structural design, mechanical and electrical systems, methods and materials, soil mechanics, and construction equipment is also essential.
 

The construction management curriculum embraces a course of study in:

1. construction project management from pre-design through commissioning;
2. project life-cycle and sustainability;
3. health and safety, accident prevention, and regulatory compliance;
4. law, contract documents administration, and dispute prevention and resolution;
5. materials, labor and methods of construction;
6. finance and accounting principles;
7. planning and scheduling;
8. cost management including plan reading, quantity take offs and estimating;
9. project delivery methods;
10. leadership and managing people; and
11. business and communication skills.

Educational Objectives

The long-term program educational objectives are to produce graduates who, as leaders in the field who can:
 

• Develop construction project objectives and plans including delineation of scope, budget, and schedule;
• Select project participants and set performance requirements;
• Maximize resource efficiency through judicious procurement and management of labor, materials and equipment;
• Implement and complete construction activities through coordination and control of scheduling, contracting, estimating and cost control;
• Develop effective communication protocols and mechanisms for resolving conflicts associated with the construction process; and
• Ensure quality and safety through design, measurement, analysis, and control.

Educational standards and criteria for construction education are established by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) which is the accrediting agency for construction education programs at all levels. The program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, having met these standards and criteria, is currently fully accredited by ACCE.

Major Department Admission

Criteria for Professional Admission to the Construction Management Degree Program

Students must complete 28 semester hours or be classified as a sophomore before applying for admission to the construction management degree program.

College Requirements

College Admission

College Entrance Requirements

Students must have high school credit for (one unit is equal to one high school year):

1. 4 units of mathematics: 2 of algebra, 1 of geometry, 1 of precalculus and trigonometry.
2. 4 units of English.
3. 3 units of natural science that must include 1 unit of physics and 1 unit of chemistry (chemistry requirement waived for students in construction management).
4. 2 units of a single foreign language.
5. 3 units of social studies.
6. Students having a composite ACT score of 28 or greater (or equivalent SAT score) will be admitted to the College of Engineering even if they lack any one of the following: trigonometry, chemistry, or physics.
7. Students having an ACT score of 19 or less in English (or equivalent SAT score) must take ENGL 150 Writing and Inquiry or ENGL 151 Writing and Argument.

A total of 16 units is required for admission.

Students must have an ACT (enhanced) score of 24 or greater (or equivalent SAT). Students who lack entrance requirements may be admitted based on ACT scores, high school rank and credits, or may be admitted to pre-engineering status in the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center. Pre-engineering students are advised within the College of Engineering.

Students for whom English is not their language of nurture must meet the minimum English proficiency requirements of the University.

Students who lack entrance units may complete precollege training by Independent Study through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Office of On-line and Distance Education, in summer courses, or as a part of their first or second semester course loads while in the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center or other Colleges at Nebraska.

Students should consult their advisor, their department chair, or Engineering Student Services if they have questions on current policies.

Other Admission Requirements

Students who transfer to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from other accredited colleges or universities and wish to be admitted to the College of Engineering (COE) must meet COE freshman entrance requirements and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and be calculus-ready. Students not meeting either of these requirements must enroll in the Explore Center or another University college until they meet COE admission requirements.

The COE accepts courses for transfer for which a C or better grade was received. Although the University of Nebraska–Lincoln accepts D grades from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and at Omaha, not all majors in the COE accept such low grades. Students must conform to the requirements of their intended major and, in any case, are strongly encouraged to repeat courses with a grade of C- or less.

All transfer students must adopt the curricular requirements of the undergraduate catalog current at the time of transfer to the COE—not that in use when they entered the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Upon admission to Nebraska, students wishing to pursue degree programs in the COE will be classified and subject to the policies defined in the subsequent section.

Students who were previously admitted to COE and are returning to the College of Engineering must demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in order to be readmitted to COE.

College Degree Requirements

Grade Rules

Grade Appeals

In the event of a dispute involving any college policies or grades, the student should appeal to his/her instructor, and appropriate department chair or school director (in that order). If a satisfactory solution is not achieved, the student may appeal his/her case through the College Academic Appeals Committee on his/her campus.

Catalog Rule

Students must fulfill the requirements stated in the catalog for the academic year in which they are first admitted at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In consultation with advisors, a student may choose to follow a subsequent catalog for any academic year in which they are admitted to and enrolled as a degree-seeking student at Nebraska in the College of Engineering. Students must complete all degree requirements from a single catalog year. The catalog which a student follows for degree requirements may not be more than 10 years old at the time of graduation.

Learning Outcomes

Technical and humanities electives provide a well-rounded education that leads to a rewarding career in the construction industry. Upon graduation, students will be able to demonstrate construction management skills and knowledge with:

1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and applied sciences. (a)
2. An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data. (b)
3. An ability to formulate or design a system, process, or program to meet desired needs. (c)
4. An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams. (d)
5. An ability to identify and solve applied science problems. (e)
6. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility. (f)
7. An ability to communicate effectively. (g)
8. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of solutions in a global and societal context. (h)
9. A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning. (i)
10. A knowledge of contemporary issues. (j)
11. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern scientific and technical tools necessary for professional practice. (k)

NOTE: Letters are references to ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission outcomes (a through k).

Major Requirements

Requirements for the Degree (Lincoln Campus)

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
First Semester
CNST 131	Introduction to the Construction Industry	1
ENGR 10	Freshman Engineering Seminar	0
ENGL 151	Writing and Argument	3
GEOL 101	Dynamic Earth	4
MATH 106	Calculus I	5
ACE Elective
Choose one course from not yet satisified ACE outcomes 5, 7, or 9		3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		16
Second Semester
CNST 112	Construction Communications	3
JGEN 200	Technical Communication I	3
STAT 218	Introduction to Statistics	3
PHYS 151	Elements of Physics	4
PHYS 153	Elements of Physics Laboratory	1
Credit Hours Subtotal:		14
Third Semester
CIVE 221 / CONE 221	Geometric Control Systems	3
CNST 241	Construction Methods and Equipment I	3
CNST 252	Construction Materials and Testing	3
CNST 251	Construction Materials and Specifications	3
ENGR 20	Sophomore Engineering Seminar	0
CNST 225	Introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM)	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		15
Fourth Semester
ACCT 200	Accounting for Business Decisions	3
CNST 242	Construction Equipment and Methods II	3
ECON 200	Economic Essentials and Issues	3
COMM 286	Business and Professional Communication	3
ACE Elective
Choose one course from not yet satisfied ACE outcomes 5, 7, or 9		3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		15
Fifth Semester
ARCH 331	Structural Mechanics	3
CNST 305 / ARCH 333	Building Environmental Technical Systems I	3
CNST 444	Construction Site Safety Management	3
CNST 378 / CONE 378	Construction Estimating	3
MNGT 300	Management Essentials For Contemporary Organizations	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		15
Sixth Semester
ARCH 332	Structural Optimization	3
CNST 306	Building Environmental Technical Systems II	3
CNST 379	Construction Estimating II	3
BLAW 300	Business, Government & Society	3
FINA 300	Financial Decision Making	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		15
Seventh Semester
CNST 476 / CONE 476	Project Budgets and Controls	3
CNST 420	Professional Practice and Ethics	3
CNST 485	Construction Planning, Scheduling, and Controls	3
MRKT 300	Contemporary Marketing	3
Technical/Design Elective		3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		15
Eighth Semester
CNST 480	Productivity and Human Factors in Construction	3
CNST 489	Senior Construction Project	3
Construction Management Elective		3
ACE Elective
Choose one course from not yet satisfied ACE outcomes 5, 7, or 9		3
Technical/Design Elective		3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		15
Total Credit Hours		120

Additional Major Requirements

Grade Rules

C- and D Grades

Construction management students must pass all courses offered within the College of Engineering and all math and science courses with a grade of C or higher.

ACE Requirements

The CNST program follows the UNL ACE general education requirements. Because of the specific needs of the program, most of these courses are specified in the curriculum. Please contact Melissa Hoffman at melissa.hoffman@unl.edu or 402-554-4482, if you are interested in more information about this program.

Exit Examination

Senior students enrolled in the Capstone are required to participate in the American Institute of Constructors' Level I examination during their last semester. Students who pass the exam will be reimbursed a majority portion of their exam registration fee.

Requirements for Minor Offered by Department

This minor is for engineering and architecture majors ONLY.
 

The College of Engineering enables its students to participate in this approved minor subject to the following conditions:

1. A minor will not reduce or alter the existing course or degree requirements for students electing to pursue a minor.
2. A student’s minor program must be organized and approved by an advisor prior to the submission of the senior check to the department chair or head.
3. The minor must be approved by the advisor, the department chair or head, the Dean and the cognizant program offering the minor.
4. The College of Engineering will follow the “Plan A/B” format of the College of Arts and Sciences in which a student pursuing a single minor must complete the “Plan A” requirements. A student pursuing a double (or greater) minor must fulfill either the “Plan A” or “Plan B” requirements for both minors depending on which plan is offered by the cognizant department.
5. Minors on the Lincoln or Omaha campuses may be added by approval of the College of Engineering Curriculum Committee and faculty.

Course Requirements

Plan A only

All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
 

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required Courses
BLAW 300	Business, Government & Society	3
CNST 112	Construction Communications	3
CNST 241	Construction Methods and Equipment I	3
CNST 305 / ARCH 333	Building Environmental Technical Systems I	3
CNST 378 / CONE 378	Construction Estimating	3
CNST 379	Construction Estimating II	3
CNST 480	Productivity and Human Factors in Construction	3
CNST 485 / CONE 485	Construction Planning, Scheduling, and Controls	3
MNGT 300	Management Essentials For Contemporary Organizations	3
Credit Hours Subtotal:		27
Total Credit Hours		27

Grade Rules

C- and D Grades

Construction management students must pass all courses offered within the College of Engineering and all math and science courses with a grade of C or higher.

Pass/No Pass

All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

PLEASE NOTE
This document represents a sample 4-year plan for degree completion with this major. Actual course selection and sequence may vary and should be discussed individually with your college or department academic advisor. Advisors also can help you plan other experiences to enrich your undergraduate education such as internships, education abroad, undergraduate research, learning communities, and service learning and community-based learning.

 

Career Information

The following represents a sample of the internships, jobs and graduate school programs that current students and recent graduates have reported.