Construction management is highly sought-after. People who have a bachelor’s or master’s degree are in high demand. These degrees provide the technical expertise to work with design professionals like architects and engineers, as well as managerial skills to oversee the skilled tradesmen who perform the actual construction work.

A typical curriculum for a construction management degree starts with an exploratory education beginning with the core. It then moves to more specific construction courses that provide the technical ability to construct structures from scratch. You can also study advanced engineering topics like structural analysis and modeling. Many programs provide the opportunity to gain experience through working with local employers on real-world projects or taking part in design competitions for students.

In some programs the senior year of your program will involve collaboration with other students to think up, plan and present a proposal to an audience. This is a great opportunity to gain professional experience and increase your network, and can result in a pre-graduation employment offer.

You may also choose to specialize in a specific area like civil engineering, green building and sustainability, or understanding the stages of business growth construction and materials technology. The specializations in these programs will prepare you for positions in research and development or design, as well as estimating and cost control. Doctorate degrees in construction are usually three to five years long and include extensive research for the dissertation. Some programs also offer teaching assistantships and graduate assistantships to help with your tuition costs.