The construction management major provides you with a strong foundational knowledge in the areas of construction contract administration and specifications, construction field operations, construction costs and bidding, construction scheduling and project control, construction law and ethics, construction safety and inspection, construction project monitoring and control, and construction project management. Additional coursework includes mathematics, sciences, economics, technical writing, oral communications, and business (Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, 2019).
Skills and abilities the major develops: construction management, business management, collaboration, project management, cost and product estimation, decision-making and leadership skills, compliance with regulations, and analytical and time-management skills.
About the construction management major
Engaged learning experiences
Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.
Opportunities after graduation
Employment of construction managers is projected to grow 8% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. About 41,500 openings for construction managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).
According to the IUPUI First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary for graduates from the School of Engineering and Technology was $60,383 and the median was $60,320.
The national median annual salary for construction managers was $98,890 in 2021 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Construction management graduates often pursue certification or graduate work in the following areas:
- Architecture
- Construction management
- Engineering
Many graduates choose to become self-employed or advance to leadership roles in the industry, such as:
- Business administration
- Land planning
- Property management
Quick facts
Sample coursework
- Civil engineering drafting
- Construction cost and bidding
- Construction field operations
- Construction law and ethics
- Construction material and systems
- Construction scheduling
Possible careers
- Construction manager
- Corporate safety director
- Estimator
- Field superintendents
- Project managers
- Scheduler
Where could I work?
- Cityscape Residential
- Duke Energy
- HNTB Corporation
- Pepper Construction Group
- Rieth-Riley Construction Inc.
- Shiel Sexton
- Westport Homes
Complementary interests
EEnterprising
RRealistic
CConventional
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Cluster
This major belongs to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) cluster. The STEM cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in the sciences, technology, engineering, informatics, and computing. The STEM cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.