Master of Science in Construction Engineering and Management
The Master of Science in Construction Engineering and Management is program provides students with the knowledge and background that is essential to making decisions at site, company, industrial, and sector levels in the construction industry. Students learn how to plan and schedule projects, estimate and control costs, make economic decisions, administer contracts, organize construction sites, manage construction equipment, analyze productivity, optimize construction activities, plan and manage real estate developments, and address legal problems. There are two degree options: coursework-based (no research or thesis required) and thesis-based (coursework coupled with research and thesis required).
Typically, candidates for this degree have bachelor’s degrees in Engineering or Architecture, but individuals in career transition who complete our Certificate in Construction Management can also be admitted in furtherance of their education.
Curriculum
Degree Options
The Master of Science in Construction Engineering and Management program has two degree options:
- Coursework-based: For students who wish to prepare for professional practice in construction engineering and management, all credit hour requirements are fulfilled by coursework. No research or thesis is required.
- Thesis-based: For students who wish to prepare for a research-based career and/or professional practice in construction engineering and management, credit hour requirements are fulfilled by a combination of coursework and research and thesis credits (CAE 591) earned for conducting mentored research and completing a master's thesis and oral thesis defense.
For both degree options, up to 12 credit hours of 400-level courses can be applied to the program.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | (18) | |
| CAE 569 | Construction Methods, Cost Estimating, and Project Budgeting 1 | 3 |
| or CAE 470 | Construction Methods and Cost Estimating | |
| CAE 570 | Legal Issues in Civil Engineering | 3 |
| CAE 571 | Lean Construction and Control | 3 |
| CAE 572 | Construction Business Operations and Cost Accounting & Control | 3 |
| CAE 574 | Economic Decision Analysis in Civil Engineering | 3 |
| CAE 577 | Construction Equipment Management | 3 |
| Major Electives | (12) | |
| Select a minimum of 12 credit hours from any remaining required courses or from the list of courses below: 2 | 12 | |
| Construction Planning and Scheduling | 3 | |
| Construction Site Operation | 3 | |
| Construction Contract Administration | 3 | |
| Introduction to Building Information Modeling | 3 | |
| Statistical Analysis of Engineering Data | 3 | |
| Construction Management with Building Information Modeling | 3 | |
| Systems Analysis in Civil Engineering | 3 | |
| Applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or "Drones") for Construction Projects | 3 | |
| Construction Claims Management | 3 | |
| Real Estate Fundamentals for Engineers and Architects | 3 | |
| Commissioning of Construction Projects | 3 | |
| Computing, Informatics, and Advanced Information Technologies in Construction Engineering | 3 | |
| Current Issues in the Construction Industry | 3 | |
| Research and Thesis for M.S. Degree 3 | 6 | |
| Special Problems | 0-4 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
For courses that are cross-listed with both graduate and undergraduate sections, students in the program should prioritize taking the graduate (500-level) section. Accelerated master's students can take either section that best fits their plan of study.
- 2
Course substitutions can be made with advisor approval.
- 3
Students pursuing the thesis-based option must take 6 credit hours of CAE 591 and complete a written thesis and oral defense.
