Master's in Construction Management Degree Online MS in Management Program

Career Outlook

Even in light of the global pandemic, the expectation of growth in building and renovating within the construction industry is expected to keep up with population growth and evolutionary needs.

"There is a growing need for business development managers and construction managers with specialized skill sets in planning and coordinating project budgets, as well as monitoring compliance with safety codes and regulations," said Dr. Michelle Caron, CPC, an associate dean at Southern New Hampshire University. "This is a high demand field with the capability to expand and promote quickly.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for construction managers is projected to grow 10% through 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.¹ The need to improve portions of the national infrastructure will also spur employment growth as roads, bridges and systems are upgraded or replaced.

And to make sure these projects finish on time and on budget, construction managers need to make sure everyone and everything – from start to finish – is working like a well-oiled machine. What's more, additional oversight is now required for today's innovative construction processes and building technology.¹

By earning an online MS Management in Construction Management degree, you'll be prepared for a variety of management roles within the construction field, including:

• Business development manager
• Construction manager
• Construction foreman
• Construction superintendent
• Estimator
• General contractor
• Project executive
• Project manager
• Project superintendent
• Scheduler

For Marlon Belfor '17 '19G, the MS program was exactly what he needed.

"Pairing a construction management degree with experience helped me earn added responsibility," he said. "I worked in the construction management field for over 20 years, and the only academic credentials I had over that period were engineering technology certifications." Belfor had earned a math bachelor's at SNHU before moving right into his master's here.

Construction managers often work from a main office but also visit the construction site, where they monitor the project and make daily decisions about construction activities. Daily responsibilities may include working with owners, contractors or design professionals; planning, scheduling or coordinating construction project budgets, schedules and activities; and inspecting or reviewing projects to monitor compliance with safety codes and environmental regulations.

The BLS reported that in 2018, the top construction employers¹ were:

• Self-employed workers: 40%
• Specialty trade contractors: 17%
• Nonresidential building construction: 15%
• Residential building construction: 9%
• Heavy and civil engineering construction: 8%

“Construction management is a high-demand, highly lucrative field with six-figure earning potential," Caron said.

The BLS reported that in May 2019, the median annual wage for construction managers was $95,260.¹ The BLS also notes that construction managers are often eligible for bonuses, which can help bump up your earnings.

The top 10% of construction managers earned over $164,000 in May 2019.¹

Courses & Curriculum

In the master’s in construction management online program, you’ll examine budgeting, estimating and bidding strategies and explore the different facets of construction materials and methods. Courses focus on quality management and productivity levels of construction projects, as well as legal aspects of the construction industry.

"The MS in Management with a concentration in Construction Management provides exceptional learning opportunities that are immediately applicable to the industry," said Dr. Michelle Caron, CPC, an associate dean at Southern New Hampshire University. "Students are truly taken on a journey that begins with detailing the schedule, scope and cost of a project to comparing construction materials, methods and equipment."

The management master's coursework at SNHU can help you develop necessary skills like effective business communication, data-driven decision making, developing and supporting talent, project management, supporting and fostering stewardship of an organization's culture and brand, and strategic planning.

In addition, you'll have the opportunity to build your leadership skills with strong ethics, courage, agility and practical application of proven management theory. When you successfully complete the program, you'll be well prepared to manage through an unpredictable, changing landscape of business in whatever industry you choose.

You'll take 8 courses in the management program. Topics include:

• Human Behavior in Organizations: Students examine theories of motivation, communication, leadership, power and change with practical relation to contemporary issues. They also study organizations for key design variables and reward systems aimed at improved performance and organizational efficiency through employee motivational programs, participative management and cooperative decision making.
• Managing Through Communication: Learn how to manage people and organizations effectively using communication as a tool. Enhance skills and techniques in motivating, leading change, developing relationships and team building through effective communication of core visions, active listening and providing feedback. Develop strategic management and communication skills that positively affect stakeholder behavior. Gain comprehensive, hands-on-experience in constructing documents and presentations that inform, persuade and influence the intended audience to achieve strategic goals.
• Project Management: The course adopts a managerial process approach to project management, which consists of initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing the project. Major topics will include project scope, project time, project cost, project quality, project risk, project resources, project communications and how to be an effective project manager.

When you add a construction management concentration onto a graduate-level degree in management, you get the ideal blend that can help you reach your goals. Well-developed management skills are sought after in every organization. But specific knowledge about construction – and the processes that get a project done well and on time – merged with your management training can be a powerful combination in the industry.

"The inclusion of real-world case studies brings the course to life for learners as they explore quality control processes, construction law and risk assessment as essential components developed to prepare students for work in the field," Caron said.

The construction management concentration has 4 courses:

• Construction Budgeting, Estimating & Bidding: Examine budgeting, estimating and bidding strategies for various types and sizes of construction projects. Using a project-based approached, students are exposed to project budgetary considerations; conceptual, rough order magnitude, and definitive estimating; pricing for equipment, labor, and materials; bid preparation and strategies; and conducting a competitive analysis.
• Construction Law and Contracts: This course examines legal aspects of the construction industry, including interpretation of the law, contract administration, and risk management. Using a case study approach, students analyze cases to apply legal concepts and principles, interpret the law, and determine the performance and flexibility of contracts. Additional topics include ethics, dispute resolution, liability, labor laws, insurance, and bonds. Students completing this course are exposed to pertinent laws and contractual requirements and limitations associated with construction management.
• Construction Materials & Methods: This course explores the different facets of construction materials and methods. Using a case study approach, students analyze the construction process, including work methods, techniques, and strategies; methods of equipment selection; reading and interpreting plans and specifications; and material specifications. Additional topics include the procurement of materials, codes, and regulations. Students completing this course obtain the skillsets applicable to real‐world construction projects.
• Construction Quality Management and Productivity: This course focuses on quality management and productivity levels of construction projects. Students analyze real-world cases to evaluate techniques, tools, and practices in implementing and monitoring quality control processes as well as equipment management to include managing and quantifying labor and equipment productivity. Additional topics include scheduling, cost and cost control measures, safety, risk management, and quality measurements. Students completing this course recognize the relationship between quality and productivity.

The construction management coursework helped Marlon Belfor '17 '19G with a large subway project in Manhattan, New York.

"The project entailed nearly every facet of construction management activity from a project management perspective, such as being solely responsible for stage and phase work completion and managing staff," he said.

And that's what our instructors prepare you for. Well versed in leadership and training tomorrow's leaders, our instructors are on hand to guide you through the program, helping you become an organization's next great leader.

At the end of your program, you'll take a capstone class. The purpose of the course is to assess your ability to synthesize and integrate the knowledge and skills you've developed throughout your coursework.

The capstone may also provide you with a portfolio piece you'll be able to show employers.

Don't have a business bachelor's degree? SNHU offers a Business Foundations course for students with little or no business background. You'll want to have a discussion with your admission counselor or academic advisor to determine if you'll need to take this class.

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