If you want to jump start your career in construction project management, one of the most popular ways to do so has been to go to a construction management school and earn either an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree. The rate of the introduction of construction management degrees into our schools has experienced significant growth over the last ten years. It’s hard to single out one reason why this is occurring but the explosion of the new home market and the growing need for managers has caused colleges to respond with more and more career programs related to construction (aka, it’s a hot market).

Regardless of the reason, you now have some excellent choices as to where to go to college. Currently, there are more than 250 construction related degrees that we have been able to locate with more coming online every month. At first that doesn’t seem like a lot, but imagine trying to review 250 courses and programs do identify the best one for you… no fun for sure. So as you work from the list of colleges that we have identified for you, these are some important questions to have ready for the guidance counselors at the schools:

1. How many students are currently enrolled in the construction management program?
2. What is the annual retention rate for students in the program (how many come back year-after-year)?
3. What is the graduation rate for students in the program?
4. How many students go on to pass their certification tests (CMAA and/or AIC)?
5. What is the job placement rate for students graduating from the program?
6. What financial aid options are available to construction management students (scholarships, etc.)?
7. What types of technology are used in the program (computers, CAD tools, etc.)?
8. How many internship positions are they able to secure for students and are they paid positions?

This is just a good list to use as a starting point. There are several other basic questions that should be asked like general requirements for being accepted into the college and other similar questions.

As the field of construction management grows, you will see more and more colleges and universities offering relevant degree programs. While it’s always great to have choices, at some point it starts to get a bit over-whelming. We recommend just using these basic concepts as a basis for your decision on which school to choose:

• Is the degree accredited?
• Can you get the degree on your own schedule (does the program fit your current lifestyle)?
• How much does the program cost and how much can you expect to make after getting your degree?

It’s always good to be entering a field as hot as construction management, but it’s also important to be realistic. It’s very rare for a particular industry to stay this hot in perpetuity so strike while the iron is hot!

Do you feel like you are a detail-oriented person and that you have excellent people skills? If you do, then you have some of the traits that may make construction management school something to consider. Today construction management is evolving into one of the most explosive job fields in America. For several years, the housing boom was driving a huge demand for new construction and construction workers in general. While the collapse of the credit industry has greatly impacted the speed with which new homes are being constructed there is still a huge demand in residential and commercial construction (in several pockets around the country, but now everywhere). One of the best ways to distinguish yourself in this business is to get a construction management degree at a college that specializes in construction. It’s actually a lot more complicated than what some people give it credit for so getting highly specialized training really puts you at a distinct advantage over others that may be going for the same job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor has projected a steady growth in the demand for construction managers through the year 2014 so the time is perfect to get into the field.

There is an ever-growing number of schools that are adding construction management programs to meet the demand in the industry. Just like other fields there are special areas of focus in construction management degree programs. They generall cover things like construction engineering, construction science, and of course strong project management skills.

Typical Job Skills Covered in the Programs Include:

• Designing and managing construction schedules and project plans.
• Commercial Drafting and residential drawing using CAD software and drawing skills.
• Understanding construction graphics and what they represent in drawings.
• Best practice project management, supervisor skills, and management record keeping.
• Hiring of trade professionals and proper human resource management skills.
• Obtaining licenses and permits as well as why they are important.
• Analysis of site plans and the integration of all mechanical systems.
• Maintaining building codes (fire, electrical, and other requirements).
• Construction management accounting principles.
• and much, much more…

Several construction management colleges offer bachelor’s degrees while more and more are starting to develop master’s degree programs which tend to delve deeper into more specific aspects of the trade as they train people to be administrators and construction executives.

Most college degrees and programs will be geared toward preparing the student for certification.  The Construction Management Association of America and the American Institute of Constructors have developed some certification programs.  These generally require verification of your degree from a construction management school/program as well as professional experience in the industry.  Once you meet the initial requirements you are prepared to sit for the exam which is mostly a series of essay questions.

As the field of construction management continues to grow in popularity, we are sure to see even more construction management schools opening their doors.  They are helping to prepare the students that will be laying down the infrastructure that our futures will be built on.