What is Construction Management, and why pursue a Master's in it?

Construction Management involves planning, coordination, and supervision of construction projects. A Master's degree enhances skills, knowledge, and career prospects, preparing individuals for leadership roles.

What are the typical admission requirements for a Master's in Construction Management program?

Requirements vary but generally include a relevant bachelor's degree, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and standardized test scores (such as GRE). Relevant work experience may also be considered.

What career opportunities are available after completing a Master's in Construction Management?

Graduates can pursue careers as project managers, construction managers, estimators, and more. The degree opens doors to leadership roles in the construction industry.

2022-03-09 |

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Masters in Construction Management in The US

Construction Management courses in United States

By Grad-Dreams

USA

MS and ME and Masters

Masters in Construction Management in The US

In the United States, a master's degree in construction management or a related field is usually a one to two-year postgraduate program open to individuals with a bachelor's degree in construction management or a related topic. At elite universities in the United States, the curriculum is offered as an MS (Master of Science) or MEng (Master of Engineering) degree. The cost of a master's degree in construction in the United States can range from 23,000 USD to 82,000 USD for a full program.

A construction management graduate's annual salary in the United States is around 93,000 USD.
Most colleges need students to have an IELTS score of 6–7, a TOEFL (iBT) score of 60–100, and a PTE score of 53–70.
In the next six years, demand for people with a master's degree in construction management is predicted to increase by 11%.

Why Study a Master in Construction Management in The US?

The higher education system in the United States, which attracts more than one million students from all over the world, is known for being a world leader in research and innovation, with an estimated investment of 464,324 million dollars.
Seven out of ten of the world's best universities are located in the United States, which is home to hundreds of outstanding institutions.
Employment of construction managers is predicted to expand by 10% between 2018 and 2028, with around 46,200 new positions available, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is a 5 percent increase over the overall average for all other occupations.

A) By 2028, an additional 46,200 construction management positions are predicted to be created.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 100 schools and universities offer construction science, construction engineering, and building science programs.
There is an above-average opportunity for upward mobility, and overall job satisfaction is pretty good. This is because one can begin their career with a fundamental bachelor's degree in the area and progress to higher levels with experience or additional schooling. Furthermore, once you've entered the field, you can continue to work until you're in your 60s.
In the United States, the unemployment rate for the construction management industry is as low as 1.8 percent.

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#Top Universities

Several colleges in the United States offer a Master in Construction Management program that is known for its academic brilliance and great facilities. Some of the top-ranking institutions in the United States that offer the program are included below, along with information about the program's duration and cost of study for each institution.

QS World Rankings 2022	Name of institution	Program Name	Duration	Total Tuition Fees (in INR)
#19	Columbia University	MS Construction Administration	2 years	62,64,101
#19	Columbia University	MS in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (concentration in Construction Engineering and Management)	1.5 years	50,55,427
#=23	University of Michigan- Ann Arbor (U-M)	M.Eng Construction Engineering and Management	8 months	46,74,935
#42	New York University (NYU)	MS Construction Management	1 year	86,46,738
#53	Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)	MS Architecture Engineering and Construction Management (AECM)	9 and 16 months	29,33,705
#=75	University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison)	MS in Construction Engineering and Management	1 year	19,23,644
#=112	University of Southern California (USC)	Master of Construction Management	2 years	44,37,961
#116	Purdue University	MS in Construction Management Technology	2 years	48,56,074
#157	Michigan State University (MSU)	MS in Construction Management	1 year	74,69,214
#=216	Arizona State University (ASU)	MS in Construction Management and Technology	2 years	37,38,168
#218	Vanderbilt University	MEng Construction Management	2 years	47,83,964

#Course Details

Scheduling, budgeting, materials, functioning, and designing are just a few of the topics covered in a master's in construction management curriculum, which varies depending on the university. If you have an interest in engineering and its connected subjects such as architecture or building technology, this course can be the appropriate fit for your educational needs. Civil engineering subjects such as geotechnical engineering, structures, and transportation, are explored in depth in this program. Even though the precise syllabus of this course varies from one institution to another, the following is a general outline of the topics you may anticipate to learn about.

Applied Statistics and Queuing Theory	Scheduling and Control
Advanced Concrete Technology	Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Structures
Modern Structural Materials And Systems Design	Project Formulation and Appraisal
Construction Personnel Management	Project Safety Management
Construction Equipment and Planning	Shoring, Scaffolding, and Formwork
Construction Project Management	Advanced Construction Techniques
Contract Laws and Regulation	Quantitative Techniques in Management

#Admissions

The autumn and spring semesters are typically when institutions in the United States launch their admissions cycles. International students are required to submit their online admission applications at least six to twelve months before the deadlines. In addition to the application form, the application package will include several supporting documents.

#Eligibility

International students who wish to pursue a Masters in Construction Management degree in the United States must first have a bachelor's degree in construction management before applying. Engineering, mathematics, science, or a closely related subject of study are all acceptable options. Universities often require a grade point average (GPA) equivalent to 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (B on the grade scale and 85 percent) to admit students. This may differ depending on the university. In addition, results on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and proof of English language proficiency through the TOEFL, IELTS, or other similar exams are required for admission.

#Required Documents

The following documents are required as part of the application package for Masters in Construction Management programs in the United States:

Payment of non-refundable admission application fee.
2-3 Letters of Recommendation.
Elaborated details about your academic and professional experience should be included in your resume.
Statement of Purpose.
Copy of passport.
Educational records from all institutions attended, together with English translations of the records
Personal Statement.
Scores of standardized tests to study in the USA.
- GRE scores.
- English proficiency scores.
Official financial proof demonstrating the availability of funds sufficient to cover at least one year's worth of living costs in the United States.
Completed online admission application form.

#Cost of Studying

There is little doubt that the United States is a prohibitively expensive place to live in, particularly for overseas students. If you are wondering how expensive it is to study in the United States, you should know that the city where you live, the curriculum you choose, and the tuition fee charged by your university all add to the final cost.

Several elements influence your post-arrival expenses, including your accommodation and meal arrangements as well as your tuition and other fees as well as travel and other extraneous expenditures. The costs associated with these expenses are discussed in greater detail in the section below.

#Pre-arrival expenses

If you wish to study in the United States, you should be prepared to incur a few one-time expenses before arriving in your chosen city. Visa fees, test fees, application fees, and study permit application fees are examples of additional fees that may be incurred in addition to aircraft ticket charges. These fees amount to an average of 2,895 USD, which is approximately 2,17,938 INR.

Expenses	Estimated Cost (in INR)
GRE	15,912
TOEFL	14,197
IELTS	14,700
Application fee	5,645- 7,527
Flight fare (one-way)	52,695
F-1 student visa	12,045
SEVIS Fee	26,347

#Tuition fees

The tuition fee accounts for the largest portion of the entire cost, which ranges between 17,31,681 INR and 61,73,821 INR for the full degree, depending on the curriculum.

#Cost of living

The cost of living covers a variety of expenses such as lodging costs, food and meals, health insurance, and so on. These fees vary based on the type of student housing in the United States, the city, the living conditions, and other factors. The estimated annual cost of living in the United States is shown in the table below.

Type of expense	Cost in INR/ year
Apartment rent	7,22,788 - 10,84,572
Health insurance	1,50,635
Travel	1,08,448 – 2,25,935
Food cost and grocery	2,25,935
Gas and electricity	1,50,635
Entertainment	1,88,278
Learning materials	1,80,748

#Scholarships

The United States, which is home to more than a million international students, provides financial assistance to both national and international students in order to help them pay their tuition fees. Graduate students, on the other hand, are only eligible for a restricted number of international scholarships to study in the United States of America.

The following are some graduate scholarships that international students can apply for to pursue a master's degree in construction management in the United States:

Scholarship	Details	Amount
PEO International Peace Scholarship For Women	Awarded to applicants who are international women.	9,41,256 INR
Obama Foundation Scholars Program	Awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to civil society or the public sector.	Covers the cost of learning materials, tuition fees, and monthly living expenses.
Civil Society Leadership Award	Demonstrate a strong academic track record	Covers monthly stipend, tuition fees, living expenses, and travel expenses
Rotary Foundation Graduate Scholarship Program	Low or average-income country	22,59,015 INR
SoA Graduate Merit Scholarship	Awarded by Carnegie Mellon University	Partial funding
Vanderbilt Tuition Scholarship	Awarded to Vanderbilt University MEng Construction Management students	50% of tuition fees

Other financial aid possibilities for international students pursuing graduate studies include education loans, which can be combined with other financial aid from private banks, among other sources. Students can also look into job-study opportunities, which allow them to work up to 20 hours per week throughout the semester if they qualify.

#Career Prospects

Employers in industries such as multinational architectural firms, large development corporations, international consulting firms, government sector organizations, and construction firms may be interested in hiring you if you have a master's in construction management. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States, the need for construction management professionals will increase by 11 percent by the end of 2026. Every year, you can expect a ten percent increase in your salary.

Job prospects for masters in construction management graduates are given here, along with some of the more unusual ones. Participants with varying degrees of experience provide advice, including professionals from the following categories: early career (43.6 percent), mid-career (22.5 percent), experienced (21.1 percent), late-career (6.6 percent), entry-level (43.6 percent) (6 percent ). Your pay is influenced by factors such as your location and level of expertise.

Job Designation	Average Annual Salary (in USD)	Job Designation	Average Annual Salary (in USD)
Project Engineer	70,000	Project Manager, Construction	86,000
Assistant Project Manager, Construction	66,000	Senior Project Manager, Construction	123,000
Construction Estimator	63,000	Construction Manager	85,000
Construction Scheduler;	96,000	Real estate management	54,500

The United States, being the world's largest economy, has a plethora of professional opportunities in virtually any discipline of study or training. A master's degree in construction management qualifies one to work on all aspects of construction management and responsibility. With the development of building projects around the country, the demand for people with the necessary abilities to operate in this industry will only grow in the coming years. Despite the high cost of tuition to study in the United States, the salary range indicates that the return on investment is good in this country. Because of the high level of life in the United States, one can easily consider relocating here after graduation. All of these characteristics combine to make the United States an excellent destination for pursuing a Master's degree in construction management.