Construction Management (MS), Program Information

Program Faculty

Department Chair

Lewis Waller, Ph.D., Associate Professor 

Program Director

Kamalesh Panthi, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Program Faculty

Lewis Waller, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Kamalesh Panthi, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Parris McGhee-Bey, D. Eng., Lecturer

Program Description

The Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) is a professional program whose mission is to prepare skillful graduates by providing advanced knowledge and encouraging critical thinking skills to solve local, regional and global construction related issues. The graduate degree will provide even greater access to knowledge and career options in construction by offering interdisciplinary courses that include emerging technologies, risk management, sustainable construction, ethical and legal issues, entrepreneurship, and construction best practices. Committed to basic and applied research, quality teaching, and service in the field of construction, the program helps to meet the industry demand for qualified construction managers, leaders and entrepreneurs.

Program Objectives

The major educational objectives of the program are:

1. Provide a challenging learning environment where students acquire high­ quality skills and knowledge necessary for managing construction processes and effectively responding to complex construction issues;

2. Expose students to the latest advancements in technology applications and project management systems;

3. Recruit the underrepresented population who are committed and motivated to building a career in the construction industry;

4. Cultivate a research mindset that contributes to sound decision making and increases the body of knowledge applicable to industry;

5. Establish, foster, and strengthen partnerships with construction firms and related industries, as well as national/international associations involved in building activities.

General Requirements

All students pursuing an MSCM degree are required to earn 30 credit hours of coursework. The MSCM program offers two options: thesis and non-thesis tracks. The thesis track as well as non-thesis track requires 30 credits, with 18 core courses and 12 credits in electives. Students with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management, Construction Engineering, or Construction Technology must complete 30 graduate credits to receive their MSCM degree. For non-Construction Management students who want to pursue MSCM, two additional foundation courses should be taken as a prerequisite for all the CMGT courses and this requirement will be applied on a case by case basis by the MSCM Program Director.

Admission

For admission to the MSCM program, students must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a construction or engineering related discipline such as civil or architectural engineering. Academic degrees in closely related fields such as architecture, real estate, business, finance, accounting, management, or marketing will also be considered for admission but will have to take 6 additional credits of pre-requisite courses. However, this requirement may be waived for students who have considerable Construction experience. The qualification determination will be made by the Program Director of MSCM.

Students with an overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better are offered unconditional admission, while a GPA of at least 2.5 is required for conditional admission.

Students who have less than 2.5 GPA must register as a non-degree seeking student and then when sufficient GPA of 3.0 is reached during the coursework at MSU, the non-degree seeking student can then change to degree seeking student.

Applicants must submit an application for admission together with an official copy of transcripts from all institutions attended, including graduate and undergraduate colleges and universities. Three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a detailed curriculum vitae/resume must be submitted along with the application.

Program Course Requirements 30 credits

Suggested Curriculum Sequence

• Construction Management (MS), Curriculum Sequence