Construction Management Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Construction Management major teaches you to plan, budget, schedule and supervise construction projects. Construction management majors study construction methods and materials, estimating, scheduling, contracts, safety and project management.

A Construction Management major includes coursework in construction methods and materials, estimating, scheduling, construction law and contracts, and construction safety and more. You build skills such as cost estimating, scheduling, site supervision, and safety management. Typical degrees: certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's degrees.

Typical courses include construction methods and materials, estimating, scheduling, construction law and contracts, construction safety, and blueprint reading. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Construction Management is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. In the latest federal data, 120 colleges reported certificate awards, 165 colleges reported associate awards, 141 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 39 colleges reported master’s awards, and 5 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to construction management include construction manager, cost estimator, construction foreman, construction and building inspector, project manager, occupational safety specialist, and civil engineering technician. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include construction manager (typical training: 4 years plus field experience), cost estimator (typical training: Moderate on-the-job training), construction foreman (typical training: 5+ years in a trade), construction and building inspector (typical training: Several years of trade experience + certification), project manager (typical training: 1–4+ years), and occupational safety specialist (typical training: 2–4 years).

Construction Management majors build skills such as cost estimating, scheduling, site supervision, safety management, and reading plans and specifications.

Good pairings include Business (prepares you to manage budgets and run a contracting business), Project Management (adds formal planning and scheduling methods), and Occupational Safety (construction is high-risk, so safety knowledge is valued on every site).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as construction manager, cost estimator, and construction foreman, and enjoy subjects like construction methods and materials and estimating. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes construction methods and materials, estimating, and scheduling; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

318 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

California (35), Texas (26), Florida (19), New York (19), and Michigan (17), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

289 of the colleges that offer construction management also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Construction Management teaches you to plan, budget, schedule and supervise construction projects. Building Science and Construction Technology studies how buildings are designed, built and maintained to perform well. Construction Management leads to careers such as construction manager and cost estimator, while Building Science and Construction Technology leads to careers such as construction and building inspector and building maintenance technician.

Construction Management teaches you to plan, budget, schedule and supervise construction projects. Industrial Technology prepares you to manage and improve industrial and manufacturing operations. Construction Management leads to careers such as construction manager and cost estimator, while Industrial Technology leads to careers such as industrial engineering technician and production supervisor.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to construction management, such as Construction Manager Training.