Career in Construction Management

Amalgamating Civil Engineering with Management, the specialised field of Construction Management aims to oversee the entire process of the building and development of physical structures. With an ever-growing demand for striking and economical infrastructures, the construction industry is booming with a plethora of prospects and opportunities. If you have always been interested in the arena of management but want to study a rather specialised discipline, then you must consider construction project management. Through this blog, we aim to elaborate upon the key essentials of this career domain, courses you can pursue as well as the opportunities it can offer you!

What is Construction Management?

Encompassing the knowledge of construction, from the estimation of cost and resources, safety, project analysis to information systems and sustainability management, Construction Management facilitates the smooth execution of a construction project. In this field of study, students get to learn about the strategical and effective planning of a construction project while overseeing the efficiency of the workers as well as adherence to the quality standards.

Construction Manager Roles and Responsibilities

A construction manager’s responsibilities include various tasks which are enlisted below.

• Construction managers prepare budgets and schedules. They also explain contracts and technical information to other professionals.
• They report the work progress and budget matters to clients. They also collaborate with architects, engineers, and other construction specialists.
• They then select subcontractors and ensure that the safety codes and regulations are being abided by, be it getting the permit to pursue a project or taking care of the development as per building laws and rules.
•  They respond to work delays, emergencies, and other problems.

Difference between Civil Engineering and Construction Management

Although Civil Engineering and Construction Management share many similarities, they are two distinct careers that need different levels of education and expertise. The fundamental difference between them is that Civil Engineering is concerned with all facets of an infrastructure project. Planning, budgeting, environmental safety, building materials, legal permissions, and so on are all part of this process.

On the other hand, Construction Management is responsible for the onsite parts of a construction project. Construction managers deal directly with materials, processes, and engineers to develop concepts into real projects. This is where hands-on experience is increasingly crucial. You may work in both sectors with a Civil Engineering degree. All you have to do now is pick if you want to be more involved in the full development and planning process or whether you want to become a construction manager and oversee construction projects on-site.

Skills Required For Construction Management

Apart from having excellent knowledge of the subjects and core topics in construction management, students must also hone the following skills for a successful career. 

• Mathematics and computer skills
• Logical thinking
• Team management
• Decision making
• Analytical skills
• Customer-service skills
• Leadership skills

Construction Management Course Duration 

A bachelor’s degree in construction management typically takes three years in Europe and four years in North America. If you’re pursuing a Master’s degree, expect it to take about 1-2 years to complete.

Major Courses in Construction Management

There are various courses in this specialised field of study which are offered by a wide range of educational institutions across the world. Given below is a list of some of the popular programs that you can choose from:

• Bachelor of Engineering/BS/BSc in Construction Management
• B.Tech in Civil Engineering
• B.E. in Civil Engineering
• B.B.A. in Construction Management
• Diploma in Construction Management
• Master of Construction and Infrastructure Management
• ME/MSc in Construction Engineering and Management
• ME/MBA in Construction Management
• Graduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma/ME/MSc in Civil Engineering- Project Management

Now let’s explore some of these programs to understand what you will be studying under varied degree programs:

BSc in Construction Management

This is a 3-4 year undergraduate program that focuses on providing students with an understanding of the application of managerial principles and techniques in construction and development taking scientific and logical outlook into consideration. The subjects covered under this program include Elements of Design, Building Protection, Building Construction, Material Management, Business Management & Materials, Labour Management, etc.

ME in Construction Engineering and Management

This postgraduate course aims to impart students with the vast knowledge of planning, designing, development and supervision of infrastructure like highways, railroads, buildings, dams, utilities, etc. Some of the key subjects covered under this course are architecture and planning, building methods and equipment, life cycle costing of infrastructures, environment and energy management, advanced concrete technology, etc.

MBA in Construction Management

Pursuing this MBA degree, a balanced blend of theoretical as well as applied knowledge of project management is incorporated. It encompasses the study of principles of management, quality control, operations, building technology, marketing, materials management, among others.

Online Construction Management Courses

Students who have other responsibilities, such as full-time work, or who are unwilling to relocate for their education might benefit from an online Bachelor’s or Master’s in Construction Management. Choosing an online degree allows you to maintain your schedule while taking advantage of free time to complete online courses, lectures, and projects. You still have deadlines to meet and examinations to pass, so discipline and a good calendar software are your greatest allies.

The cost of an online Construction Management degree is comparable to the cost of an on-campus programme. Of course, depending on the university and degree you pick, the difference will be more or lesser. Even so, you’ll save all of the money that would ordinarily be spent on travel, lodging, and living in a foreign place.

Here are a few institutions that offer online Construction Management degrees at a reasonable price:

• Coursera – University of Michigan
• The University of New Mexico
• Heriot-Watt University
• Drexel University
• Jefferson

Construction Management Courses Syllabus 

Construction Management	Building codes
Materials and equipment	Project cost estimation and control
Blueprints	Residential and commercial building
Safety procedures	Construction project software
Operations research	Project planning and scheduling processes
Marketing management	Managerial accounting
Human resource management	New construction materials
Construction Quality management	Tendering, bidding, and contracting
Contracts and claims management	Estimation and quantity surveying
Organizational behavior	Project formulation and appraisal
Financial management	Project management systems and techniques

Construction Management Courses Eligibility Criteria 

Students who wish to pursue a bachelors degree in construction project management must fulfil the requirements mentioned below.

• Candidates must have completed their 10+2 in a science stream with physics and maths as their compulsory subjects.
• Competitive entrance exam scores such as  GMAT/GRE/CAT/CMAT/XAT/NMAT etc.
• English Proficiency Test scores such as IELTS/TOEFL/PTE, if planning to study abroad.
• All academic transcripts.
• Statement of Purpose and Letters of Recommendation for students aspiring to study abroad.

Know About: MBA in Civil Engineering Fees, Duration, Jobs, Salary

Construction Management Course Fees

	Minimum Fees	Maximum Fees
UG	72.38 K	7.00 Lakhs
PG	50.00 K	12.04 Lakhs
DOCTORAL	3.00 Lakhs	3.00 Lakhs
DIPLOMA	13.90 K	1.76 Lakhs

Top Universities For Construction Management

There are various institutions that offer multiple programs in this domain across the globe. Given below is the list of prominent educational institutions which offers Construction Management programs:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
• University of Cambridge, UK
• Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
• University of Sydney, Australia
• Deakin University, Australia
• The University of Melbourne, Australia
• University of Salford, UK
• University of Birmingham, UK
• Fanshawe College, Canada

Also Read: Construction Management in Canada

Popular Construction Management Colleges in India

With various courses and an effective curriculum, there are many colleges in India that offer degrees in construction project management. The following are the top colleges in India for degrees in this field.

• COEP Pune
• IIT Madras
• LPU Jalandhar
• VJTI Mumbai
• Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore
• Sathyabama University
• Integral University, Lucknow

Construction Management Career Prospects

Once you have completed a degree in Construction Management, there is a multitude of prospects you can discover in both the public and private sectors. Some of the key employment areas in this field include Large Development Companies, International Consulting Firms, Multinational Architectural Firms, Government Sector Organizations, and Construction Firms. Take a look at the following list of career profiles that you can explore in this domain:

• Site Manager
• Project Manager
• Project Analyst
• Surveyor
• Construction Managers
• Planning Engineer
• Design Engineer
• Field Engineer
• Project Engineer

Also Read: Scope of Civil Engineering 

Top Recruiters

Graduates in this field have various career opportunities in real estate firms, government departments, consultancies (real estate/construction), architecture agencies, etc. With the ongoing development of India, construction managers are high in demand. The following are the top recruiters in India for graduates in this field. 

• Reliance Infra
• Jaypee Group
• DLF Limited
• Hindustan Construction Company (HCC)
• Hafeez Contractor
• IL&FS
• Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL)
• IRB Infrastructure
• Hasmukh Patel
• C P Kukreja
• Godrej Properties
• Larsen & Toubro Limited 
• TATA Realty and Infrastructure
• Morphogenesis

Scope and Salary

The world is certainly developing at a high pace with various advancements in technologies. This has created the need for utilizing technology in the construction industry and has increased the demand for skilled professionals in this field. Having a huge scope, the employment rate for construction managers in India is expected to grow by 20 times in the next 10 years. The minimum salary for a construction manager in India is around ₹10-20 Lakh per annum. The pay is likely to increase with experience. People can also start their own agencies and construction firms after gaining expertise in this field.

Is a degree in Construction Management worth it?

Definitely! When we look at the modern world, we can see that most of our comfort derives from our ability to modify the environment in ways that benefit us. While some may say that we went too far, there’s no doubting that our homes, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructural projects have improved the lives of many people.You may master the most up-to-date trends and strategies in the sector by pursuing a construction project management degree. When you combine environmental awareness with cutting-edge technology, you may graduate as a creative and skilled construction manager who will ensure that tomorrow’s buildings are safer, more pleasant, and environmentally friendly.

Hence, we hope that this blog has familiarised you with the key characteristics of a career in construction management. If you are planning to study a program in the arena of Management, take the help of Leverage Edu’s AI tool to explore a multitude of programs and universities available in an array of specialised domains and find a suitable combination that aligns with your interests and skills.