Educating professional construction managers

The management of construction has traditionally been the function of the civil engineer. The civil engineer is no longer educated to hit the ground running in an entry level position in the construction industry. To better serve the traditional needs of the industry, two year and four year construction technology programs were developed. The curriculum emphasis has generally been toward the general contractor as the employer. However, the construction industry is undergoing change. Innovative contracting systems such as design-build and construction management have become increasingly popular. There are new leadership requirements. The potential for future high level positions can be enhanced to meet these requirements by augmenting engineering capabilities with business and construction management theory. This can be done within civil engineering curriculums leading to an advanced degree.