The construction industry is growing and those with the bachelor's or master's degrees in construction management are highly sought-after. These degrees are specialized and give you the technical expertise to work with design professionals, such as architects and engineers as well as the management skills to oversee the skilled tradesmen that perform the actual construction work.
A typical curriculum for a construction management degree begins with an exploration base, and then progresses to more specific construction courses that teach you the skills to build a structure from the ground up. You can also study advanced engineering topics like modeling and analysis of structures. Many programs also offer opportunities to gain hands-on experience working on real-world projects with local businesses or taking part in a design contest for students.
In certain programs, you'll collaborate with other students to develop, conceptualize and present a construction project to the judges in your senior year. This is a great opportunity to expand your professional network and gain experience. It could result in an employment offer prior to your graduation.
You may also choose to specialize in a particular field, such as civil engineering, green building, sustainability or construction and material technology. The programs that specialize prepare you for careers in research and development and design, or estimation and cost control. Doctorate degrees in construction are usually three to five-year programs that require extensive research for the dissertation. Some programs offer teaching assistantships as well as graduate assistantships that help you pay for tuition.