Overview of The Construction Management Program

To prepare students for the demands of their profession, our nationally-accredited Construction Management Program offers a broad curriculum emphasizing engineering fundamentals, construction management , business administration, art, the humanities, social sciences, and analytical and communication skills. Our emphasis is practical: in the classroom, students learn from current case studies and solve real-world problems provided by full and part-time faculty, alumni and advisors from the industry. The summer and part-time employment in construction that we help our students obtain augments theoretical knowledge.

Vision
To consistently attain the highest standards in the development of construction entrepreneurial excellence.

Mission
The principal mission of the Construction Management Program is to continue fostering the development of individuals who are qualified, upon graduation, to perform ethically, responsibly and productively in management positions with construction contractors. Maintaining a construction management program that is vibrant, relevant, and responsive to the students and the industry it serves will fulfill the mission. Broad-based fundamental technical and management skill, an understanding of the political, economic, and social issues influencing the industry, sensitivity to moral and ethical issues involving the profession, and effective communication and teamwork skills and characterize the CSUS Construction Management Program graduate. Faculty will continue to encourage their students to think like business owners, to independently explore and discover, to recognize education as a life-long endeavor, and to be thoughtful, responsible citizens.
         Secondarily, the Construction Management Program will be a source of education, training, and research for organizations performing construction services, when resources permit and demand exists.

Strategies in Support o the Mission

• Maintain the relevancy and effectiveness of the curriculum, adjust as indicated
• Promote a culture of scholastic achievement and professionalism in the Program
• Evaluate students' need and maintain a supportive infrastructure
• Increase the enrollment of qualified, diverse students
• Monitor enrollment and academic performance trends, make adjustments as indicated
• Commit to excellence and innovation in teaching
• Provide for adequate administrative support
• Maintain involvement with the construction industry
• Asses effectiveness using internal and external feedback, make adjustments as indicated 

Career Opportunities
Students who graduate from programs in Construction Management in the California State Universities have virtually unlimited opportunities in construction-related industries. CSUS graduates are involved in commercial, industrial, and residential construction, civil engineering and specialty contracting projects, as well as forensic construction, construction scheduling, bridge construction, environmental remediation, and real estate development work. For example, graduates may choose to be employed by an international or national construction company, or to be employed in one of numerous regional contracting companies within the state of California. Those students desiring to be self-employed have equally compelling opportunities upon graduation from our construction management program.  The Sac State Construction Management Program has a job placement rate of 100% for more than 15 years.

Program Description
The CSUS Construction Management degree prepares students for managerial positions with contractors and other organizations involved in the construction process. For a graduate, this preparation can combine with experience and lead to recognition as a construction professional, a Constructor. The construction professional is responsible for the execution of construction work, for the creation of completed projects from documents prepared by design professionals such as Architects and Engineers. What is to be built is defined by design professionals; how the work is to be accomplished is the concern of the Constructor. A Constructor is the master of the construction process; master of the process that involves determining the methods to be used and directing the economical application of resources in the construction of timely and safe projects at satisfactory prices, and to the required standards of quality.

Features
To meet the objectives of this specialized professional program, the Construction Management curriculum consists of four distinct components.

1. The engineering component, based in the sciences and mathematics, stresses engineering principles and their application to the construction process. This component provides sound engineering fundamentals that have enabled graduates to take the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination with minimal  additional course work.
2. The construction management component utilizes the functional approach as a framework for studying the management of the construction process. In the individual courses, construction activities are analyzed from a managerial viewpoint and the functions of management are stressed.
3. Courses in business administration, the supporting field, form the third component and reinforce the program's management emphasis. A minor in Business Administration is obtained by combining the required lower and upper division business courses. Furthermore, completing the minor requirements can satisfy many core requirements of the graduate program in Business Administration at CSUS.
4. General Studies - Understanding the political, economic and social circumstances that influence the industry is critical to graduates' success.  General education classed fulfill that requirement.

Overall, the curriculum provides the balanced content that is essential to construction professionals. This unique program is fully accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)