Integrating a Construction Engineering Management Focus in theCivil Engineering Curriculum

摘要

A large number of civil engineering graduates have to work with contractors on almost a dailybasis or are employed by construction companies. To produce students who are better preparedto fulfill this role, the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at University ofAlabama at Birmingham (UAB) is introducing construction engineering management courses atthe undergraduate and graduate levels. The objective is to graduate engineers who are familiarwith the construction industry and have a better understanding of the role of the civil engineer inthe construction process. Courses offered include project management, project planning,contracts, bidding, estimation, and other topics that are of importance to construction.As a means to provide an incentive to the student, a certificate in Construction EngineeringManagement is awarded upon the completion of a required number of credit hours. Thecertificate prepares the undergraduate civil engineering student for a career in the constructionindustry. For those students who are not interested in a career in construction, the certificateprovides them with sufficient background to act as owner’s representatives or to supervise thework of contractors. Courses taken towards the certificate can also apply to the master’s degreein civil engineering. Graduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in construction orwho would like to learn more about the construction industry can also enroll for the certificate.This describes the construction focus in the civil engineering curriculum that was developed atUAB to produce graduates who are better prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.Highlights of a newly developed construction engineering management (CEM) certificateincluding the coursework and logistics of the program are presented.