MS in Construction Management

Situational Background

The U.S. Census Bureau puts the total annual value of construction in the United States at approximately $900 billion (8% of the U.S. gross national product), making the construction industry one of the most important sectors of the nation’s economy.

The University of Miami’s MS in Construction Management program is a practice-oriented advanced graduate degree that offers a blend of construction and business management courses. This degree program is designed to develop leaders and managers for complex building projects, with mastery in best practices related to resiliency, sustainability, building information modeling, project delivery and decision-making. The University is uniquely situated in a booming metropolis where commercial and residential construction is a large and important industry.

The Construction Management Program

• Offers an interdisciplinary approach with the participation of other graduate programs at the University of Miami.
• Prepares graduates for a variety of employment opportunities. Potential employers include general contractors, real estate developers, sub-contractors, construction management firms and architectural engineering firms.

Objective

The MS in Construction Management provides a foundation for those who want to effectively lead a construction project or business. 

Who Is the MS Program For?

The program is open to both entry-level graduate students who want to pursue a career in construction management and professionals who have responsibilities in engineering, architecture, business and law fields, and want to further their knowledge and skills.

Industry Advisory Board

One of the differentiators of the MS program is that it is informed by an industrial advisory board with significant experience in construction management. The advisory board currently consists of:

• Henry E. Adams, Kiewit Corporation
• Hardeep Anand, Ex officio Member, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Dept.
• Rodney Barreto, Floridian Partners, LLC; Chairman - Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida
• Jessica E. Brumley, Division of Facilities Operations & Planning, University of Miami
• Scott Desharnais, Suffolk Construction
• Michael Jarro, Florida Power & Light Co.
• Kobi Karp, Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design
• Thomas Koulouris, Health Care Construction
• Ana Veiga Milton, President of Jose Milton Foundation
• John L. Murphy, Baker & McKenzie LLP (US)
• Jaime S. Saavedra, Turner Construction
• Victor Sanchez, Goldman Properties
• Alan N. Sirkin, Sirkin Enterprises
• Jeffrey B. Williamson, Republic Real Estate Advisors

Description

Graduates of the program obtain the technical proficiency, financial knowledge, entrepreneurial skills, and business acumen needed for success in this continuously evolving industry.

Graduates of the program will learn how to integrate multiple professional requirements for bringing construction projects to successful completion, including estimating, cost control, risk, new technologies, project planning, scheduling, negotiation and labor relations.  Coursework also examines how to manage the various types of contractual relationships governing the owner, the contractor, subcontractors, consultants and architects, as well as the essential skills of bidding, negotiating, handling disputes and claims, devising and implementing strategic business plans, and leadership.

Through consultations with industry leaders, advisory board members, faculty members, and colleagues in the construction industry, the curriculum for the University of Miami’s MS-CM is continually evaluated against current best practices and the highest standards. Participants have immediate access to knowledge and skills that address current issues and developments in the industry.

General Requirements

This integrated program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours.  This includes 19 credits of core courses, 9 credits of courses in a selected track and a 2-credit elective course.  The program is initially offering a track on sustainable and resilient construction. Additional tracks are planned for the future with the collaboration of the School of Architecture, School of Business and the school of law. The typical curriculum for a full time student is shown next.

MS- Construction Management concentration curriculum (30 credits)

Core Courses

Technical Electives