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

Master Construction Management

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.”

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

"I see the need for much better educated onsite construction management," said Ryan Whitaker, adjunct faculty at SNHU. "Expecting a craft workforce that is much less skilled than even a decade ago – and often short-staffed – to perform at a high level without managerial guidance rarely works out."

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

"Even prior to the pandemic, there was a shortage of skilled crafts people throughout all aspects of the construction industry," Whitaker said. "The shortage in skilled labor puts even more onus on the construction manager than in the past. With the construction management specialization, the graduate can better plan projects to increase productivity, quality and perhaps even materials alternatives."

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.

"With my architectural background, I always wanted to work onsite and gain in-depth knowledge in construction management for large-scale projects," said Ash Ahmed '19G. "There are always some myths that construction managers had serious issues when fulfilling the architect’s ideas, that they think the innovative ideas architects propose are not functional. I've encountered such frustration throughout my career, and this program helped me understand the functional difficulties of a construction manager with the eye of lateral thinking." 

You may even find that your master's in construction management can apply to fields outside of that area of work.

"I do not currently work in construction management – and my goal was not to find a job in it, either," said Kevin P. Hurst Jr. '20. "I wanted a degree that could help me at my corporate career in international development, as well as my personal career in real estate development. ... It helped with building out additional skills that are helping to expand my role."

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 may 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.

Kevin P. Hurst Jr. '20 said his human behavior and HR management courses in the core of the program provided him with his most-used takeaways.

"Both courses truly helped me build a broader understanding of managing people in the workplace, while also supporting the individual," he said. "I have taken what I’ve learned and applied it to an internal initiative outside of my role that I’m very passionate about. Using the skills and knowledge from those courses, I joined the Inclusion & Diversity Committee. From there, I was able to build out a series of open forums to help other managers as well as people at all levels of the organization."

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 program is built to alleviate the "shortage of skilled craftspeople" in the construction industry, said Ryan Whitaker, adjunct faculty at SNHU.

"The shortage in skilled labor puts even more onus on the construction manager than in the past," he said. "With the construction management specialization, the graduate can better plan projects to increase productivity, quality and, perhaps, even materials alternatives."

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 approach, 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.

Ash Ahmed '19G agreed about the curriculum's benefits.

"My communication course was the best class," she said. "It covered many of the gray areas I lacked before. And Construction Law and Contracts is the class where I learned the rules and regulations associated with the industry and could greatly support my career goals."

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.

"I felt all the instructors were not only knowledgeable but also provided great support to bring out the best in each of us," Ahmed said. "They were available all the time when I needed them."

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.

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
*Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs:
Course Materials ($ varies by course). Foundational courses may be required based on your undergraduate course history, which may result in additional cost.