Online Construction Management Degree Programs

Construction managers oversee the entire range of commercial, industrial, residential, civil, and institutional construction operations on a project, from beginning to end. Although they don't normally do any actual building, construction managers lead and manage every aspect of the construction project, including hiring/firing, inventory, distribution, safety regulations, legal paperwork, and coordination. They also work directly with union representatives, investors, architects, and government regulators.

What Degrees Are Necessary for Construction Managers?

Although some construction managers achieve their positions with sufficient tenure and experience on the job, many employers prefer to hire those with formal education in the field. You should consider exploring bachelor's degrees or higher in construction science, building science, civil engineering, or construction management. However, practical experience is also important within this field and you may need to supplement your formal training with on-the-job training through apprenticeships.

Career Training and Coursework

Construction management courses typically include site planning, design, project control, cost estimation, scheduling, business management, safety codes, inspection procedures, and architectural sciences. Think of this career field as a hybrid of government regulator, business administrator, construction worker, and structural engineer. This can give you a good idea of the broad range of disciplines typically required in the field.

Online Training for Construction Management

While much of your training can take place online (especially the theoretical aspects), be prepared to supplement distance learning with hands-on experience. Rarely does one find a construction manager who masters all of his training from the comfort of a home or office computer. With countless safety regulations and daily interactions, you would be wise to seek as much real-world experience as possible.

Career Options in Construction Management

Career opportunities for construction managers are quite favorable, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is especially true for self-starters who enjoy working on their own. Of the nearly 500,000 construction managers recorded in 2006, 57 percent of them were self-employed.

Experts predict that the construction management industry could grow by 16 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is several percentage points above the national average for all other industries. Much of this growth is expected to favor those with extensive formal training in the field. If employment flexibility and career advancement are important to you, consider investing in a four-year bachelor's degree program.

Salary Potential in Construction Management

Graduates in construction management typically have excellent employment options after school. You might begin as an assistant project manager to start, but career advancement is often easy in this sector, with larger responsibilities and salaries to follow. The median annual salary of construction managers is almost $70,000. And given rising populations, especially in major cities, opportunities for construction management graduates should be available in the years to come.

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