A Degree in Construction Management May Be Right for You
Were you a 12B combat engineer or a Seabee? Then the skills you learned in the field give you a head start toward a degree in Construction Management (CM).CM professionals plan, budget, and supervise new building projects and can work on any number of endeavors from the construction of an apartment complex, to the installation of highways and public transportation infrastructure. Wherever there is new construction, there is a construction manager – especially on large scale, big-budget projects.
A typical day for a CM is varied and may consist of site visits, stakeholder meetings, planning and review, contract negotiation, and more. Sounds like a simple proposition for someone who built bridges in a warzone, doesn’t it?
CM professionals work in real estate development, architectural engineering, and building design management. Federal government agencies like the General Services Administration and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command also hire CM professionals. Be sure to indicate your Veterans’ Preference Points when applying to federal jobs.
Having a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most firms hiring CM professionals, but graduate level degrees will help increase your marketability. College Recon has put out a definitive article of military friendly colleges. To help you start your research, here are a few schools from that list which offer CM degrees. Be sure to double check your Joint Services Transcript (JST) to see if you might already have snuck a few extra credits in during your time in service.
Search GI Bill-approved schools offering degrees for careers in Construction Management.
A typical course load includes mechanical and electrical systems courses, heavy construction courses, and other organizational courses including estimating, scheduling, and project management.
The typical course load for any Civil Engineering degree is very math and science heavy.
A typical course load includes some physics, calculus, and statistics, but also incorporates law, health and safety, and interpersonal communications.
A typical day for a CM is varied and may consist of site visits, stakeholder meetings, planning and review, contract negotiation, and more. Sounds like a simple proposition for someone who built bridges in a warzone, doesn’t it?
Outlook for Construction Management Professionals
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for CM professionals is $95,000, but you can expect a starting salary of somewhere around $55,000.- Starting Salary – $55,000
- Median Salary – $95,000
CM professionals work in real estate development, architectural engineering, and building design management. Federal government agencies like the General Services Administration and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command also hire CM professionals. Be sure to indicate your Veterans’ Preference Points when applying to federal jobs.
Having a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for most firms hiring CM professionals, but graduate level degrees will help increase your marketability. College Recon has put out a definitive article of military friendly colleges. To help you start your research, here are a few schools from that list which offer CM degrees. Be sure to double check your Joint Services Transcript (JST) to see if you might already have snuck a few extra credits in during your time in service.
Search GI Bill-approved schools offering degrees for careers in Construction Management.
Bachelor’s Degrees in Construction Management
Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences
Ohio State University offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Construction Systems Management. Their program boasts developing managerial skills that will apply to the residential, commercial, and heavy construction sectors.A typical course load includes mechanical and electrical systems courses, heavy construction courses, and other organizational courses including estimating, scheduling, and project management.
- BAH Rate: $1,280
- GI Bill Approved Programs: YES
- Yellow Ribbon Program: YES
- Approved for Tuition Assistance: YES
- Offers College Credit for Military Experience: YES
- Awards Credit for CLEP Exam: YES
- Awards Credit for DSST Exam: YES
Texas A&M Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Texas A&M offers a BS in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management Track. Texas A&M is one of the country’s top civil engineering undergraduate programs. They started teaching civil engineering back in 1880!The typical course load for any Civil Engineering degree is very math and science heavy.
- BAH Rate: $1,331
- GI Bill Approved Programs: YES
- Yellow Ribbon Program: YES
- Approved for Tuition Assistance: YES
- Offers College Credit for Military Experience: YES
- Awards Credit for CLEP Exam: YES
- Awards Credit for DSST Exam: YES
University of Nebraska Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction
The University of Nebraska offers a BS in CM with recent grads being employed at places like Black & Veatch, and Johnson ControlsA typical course load includes some physics, calculus, and statistics, but also incorporates law, health and safety, and interpersonal communications.
- BAH Rate: $1,175
- GI Bill Approved Programs: YES
- Yellow Ribbon Program: YES
- Approved for Tuition Assistance: YES
- Offers College Credit for Military Experience: YES
- Awards Credit for CLEP Exam: YES
- Awards Credit for DSST Exam: NO
Additional Schools with Bachelor’s in Construction Management
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Master’s Degrees in Construction Management
University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering
USC offers a Masters in Construction Management and a well-rounded program that requires students to take courses in five different schools at USC including the business school, law school, and school of architecture. USC also offers an online option for this program.Typical course load includes construction business, construction practices, and construction planning. Students are required to have classroom experience in engineering economy or business finance prior to applying.
- BAH Rate: $3,005
- GI Bill Approved Programs: YES
- Yellow Ribbon Program: YES
- Approved for Tuition Assistance: YES
- Offers College Credit for Military Experience: YES
- Awards Credit for CLEP Exam: NO
- Awards Credit for DSST Exam: NO
Arizona State University School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment
ASU offers a Masters in CM which focuses on organizing, leading, and managing the building process as it relates to business and technology. This program is not an engineering degree, but students are expected to have a proficiency in pre-calculus and physics. ASU offers an online option for this degree as well.Typical course load includes independent study in a variety of research areas including Asset Management, Building Energy Management, Sustainable Development, and more.
- BAH Rate: $1,769
- GI Bill Approved Programs: YES
- Yellow Ribbon Program: YES
- Approved for Tuition Assistance: YES
- Offers College Credit for Military Experience: YES
- Awards Credit for CLEP Exam: YES
- Awards Credit for DSST Exam: YES
An Engineering Aide (EA) in the Seabees would be most closely aligned with a Construction Manager, but a Combat Engineer can easily translate their military skills into the field as well.
So, if you still have an interest in building things but are tired of doing all the heavy lifting, check out the programs above and start your next career in Construction Management.
Conclusion
Military veterans have many options to consider when selecting a construction management degree program. Today’s construction management degree programs are becoming increasingly technical, and the demand for workers with a military background is growing. Construction management education from reputable institutions will teach students how to manage a construction project from start to finish, even if they have no experience in the field. If you are interested in pursuing a degree as a military student, consider construction management.Lastly, some of the cost of paying for your construction management degree might be covered under the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program was created to help ease the burden of rising tuition and put more money in the pockets of those who qualify. Through this program, the Department of Defense has set aside $100 million to help fund tuition at colleges and universities that agree to participate in the program. Some schools receive as much as $5,000 per year, and those who qualify may also be entitled to a monthly stipend.