Construction Management Major, BS

Co-Coordinators
David Carns, MS
P. Warren Plugge, PhD

Advisors
David Martin, MS
Michael Whelan, PhD

This major prepares the graduate for management positions in the construction industry. Students must be accepted into the major prior to taking upper-division CMGT courses. See www.cwu.edu/engineering for details. Students pursuing this degree should work closely with their program advisor to ensure that prerequisites for entry into the major have been satisfied.

Construction management students have the choice to concentrate on one of two different construction types; general building or heavy civil construction.

Admission Requirements
Admission to the program is competitive; refer to construction management handbook on the program website (www.cwu.edu/engineering/construction-management).

Exit Requirements
Students are required to complete the Associate Constructor exam administered by American Institute of Constructors and achieve a minimum score of 60 percent to graduate with a BS in construction management.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• 1. Cognitive: Knowledge/Knowing
  • 1.A. Graduates shall be able to identify and describe the legal, economic and social aspects of the construction industry, the construction process and construction contract systems.
  • 1.A.1. The student shall be able to identify and explain construction contracts and the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.A.2. The student shall demonstrate knowledge of lien laws, local and national labor laws and the contractors’ and owners’ rights pertaining to these areas with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.A.3. The student shall be able to explain various construction dispute resolution techniques and various steps that may be taken to avoid disputes with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.A.4. Students shall be able to describe basic management principles, organizational behavior and structure as these related to the construction industry with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.B. Graduates shall demonstrate analytical skills and knowledge in the area of structures, construction finance, cost analysis, construction safety, construction materials, construction methods and building systems.
  • 1.B.1. Students shall demonstrate an understanding of managerial accounting techniques as they relate to the construction industry with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.B.2. Students shall demonstrate an understanding of mathematics and science; including chemistry, physics and mathematics through calculus with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.B.3. The student shall demonstrate knowledge of types and uses of construction materials, including wood, steel and concrete.  This knowledge shall include understanding terminology, units of measure, sizes and gradations, standard designations, specifications and testing techniques, with 75% accuracy.
  • 1.B.4. Students shall demonstrate knowledge in the areas of structural mechanics, including statics and strength of materials with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.B.5. Students shall demonstrate an understanding of, electrical and mechanical systems with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.B.6. Students shall demonstrate knowledge of soil mechanics and foundation types and principles of design with 80% accuracy.
  • 1.B.7. Students shall demonstrate a working knowledge of construction cost accounting, financing, insurance, bonding, bidding and procurement practices, depreciation and expensing, cost forecasting, cash flow requirements, time value of money and project payment procedures, with 70% accuracy.
  • 1.B.8. The student shall demonstrate knowledge of construction safety training, procedures, record keeping, maintenance, inspection, penalties and compliance with state and federal regulations with 70% accuracy.
  • 1.B.9. Students shall demonstrate an understanding of construction project management; including concepts, roles and responsibilities of individuals, administrative systems and procedures, cost control systems, proper job site and office documentation and quality control philosophies and applications with 70% accuracy.
  • 1.B.10. Students shall be able to demonstrate knowledge of proper project planning, including staffing and equipment and material usage with 80% accuracy.
• 2. Affective: Attitudes/Feelings/Values
  • 2.A. Graduates shall obtain employment as construction professionals in entry-level positions.  Graduates shall also possess the skills, knowledge, attitude and behavior to advance within the industry.
  • 2.A.1. Students shall be able to identify and understand ethical issues relevant to the various parties in the construction process, and to react in a manner consistent with ethical standards established by the construction industry associations, with 80% accuracy.
  • 2.A.2. Students shall demonstrate the ability to work in groups and act as team players, with a success rate of 80%.
  • 2.A.3. The student shall demonstrate knowledge of construction industry organizations, such as; The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), The Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA), The American Council for Construction Education and The American Institute of Constructors.  Students shall also demonstrate knowledge of the commitment and importance of these organizations to society, with 80% accuracy.
• 3. Skills/Doing
  • 3.A. Graduates shall be able to estimate, plan and schedule a small commercial/residential or heavy/civil project using microcomputers and appropriate software.
  • 3.A.1. Students shall be able to perform accurate detailed quantity takeoffs on a commercial/residential project, including all Construction Specification Institute (CSI) divisions, both manually and utilizing Microsoft Excel, with a success rate of 90%.
  • 3.A.2. Students shall be able to accurately prepare a bid, based on pricing of materials, labor, equipment, overhead and profit for a commercial/residential or heavy/civil project.  In addition, students choosing the general construction option shall be able to utilize estimating software, such as Timberline, to create and submit a bid for a residential/commercial project.  Students choosing the heavy/civil construction option shall be able to estimate and bid a heavy/civil project using appropriate software, with an accuracy rate of 90%.
  • 3.A.3. Students shall be able to prepare, analyze and update both a Gantt chart and a network (critical path method) schedule for a commercial/residential or heavy/civil project, both manually and utilizing scheduling software (Microsoft Project, SureTrak or similar scheduling software), with a success rate of 70%.
  • 3.B. Graduates shall be able to demonstrate basic building and material testing skills.
  • 3.B.1. Students shall demonstrate the ability to perform basic field and lab tests on construction materials, including concrete, and soils with 80% accuracy.
  • 3.B.2. Students shall demonstrate the ability to properly use and care for construction surveying instruments, including levels, transits, theodolites, tapes and electronic distance measuring devices, as these instruments relate to construction projects, with 80% accuracy.
  • 3.C. Students graduating from the program shall be able to communicate clearly and effectively, orally, graphically and in writing.
  • 3.C.1. Students shall be able to effectively prepare and present a technical oral report on various construction topics, with 80% success
  • 3.C.2. Students demonstrate the ability to make business and professional oral presentations, with 80% success.
  • 3.C.3. Students shall demonstrate the ability to prepare and edit a complete set of working drawings for both a residential or commercial building using AutoCAD software, with 80% accuracy.
  • 3.C.4. Students shall be able to communicate graphically using standard sketching and engineering drawing techniques, including proper dimensioning, orthographic projections, sections, auxiliary views and detail views, with 80% accuracy.
  • 3.C.5. Students shall be able to properly research a topic, using the reference materials at the library, the Internet and industry resources to prepare written technical reports, with 80% accuracy.
  • 3.C.6. Students shall be able to clearly demonstrate their written communication skills by writing prose, business letters, resumes, and daily job reports that include proper grammar, spelling and sentence structure, with a 70% success rate.