Construction Management Concentration

The Construction Management concentration in Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis will equip you with the engineering and business skills you need to succeed in the construction industry.  Students will gain access to industry professionals and up-to-the-minute developments in Construction Management processes, tools, and techniques.  Construction Management professionals design and teach all courses in the Civil Engineering Construction Management concentration. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to sit for the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) and Construction Manager in Training (CMIT) exams.  The concentration prepares you for entry-level positions in the construction industry, such as Field Engineer, Field Superintendent, Project Engineer, Project Controls Specialist, Scheduler, and Estimator.

Highlights

Construction Management Courses

The Construction Management concentration encompasses five courses designed to teach you the professional skills you will need to succeed in the construction industry. Each course is taught using actual construction plans and specifications and with the latest industry software, including the RsMeans On-line Cost Database, Bluebeam Onscreen Quantity Takeoff Software, and Microsoft Project CPM Scheduling Software. Required courses for the Construction Management concentration are:

• CIVL 4171 – Construction Engineering
  Use case studies to demonstrate the construction process and project management tools and techniques. Construction schedule, cost, quality, and communication controls are emphasized. 
• CIVL 4906 – Construction Planning and Scheduling
  Principles of planning, scheduling, organizing, and controlling construction projects; studies in critical path method (CPM) and PERT, with resource-leveling and financial scheduling; computer applications in CPM and PERT emphasized.
• CIVL 3691 – Construction Estimating
  Overview of the principal elements of construction estimating, developing the thought process, and engineering judgment that is required of the estimator to analyze job conditions and assess the labor required, equipment to be used, and construction methods to be implemented to perform the work.
• CIVL 4175 – Construction Contracts and Law
  Provides an in-depth examination of the legal aspects of the construction process.  Topics of study include the construction participants; project administration; project design, scheduling, pricing, and performance; default and termination; dispute resolution; and detailed examination of common construction documents, including owner-designer agreements, owner-contractor agreements, subcontractor, and supplier agreements, change orders, surety bonds, and insurance policies. 
• CIVL 3691 – Construction Safety
  The study of the causes of construction accidents, planning for safety, and managing safety on a construction site.  Hazard elimination by improving design and methodology, guarding to prevent contact with hazards, and determining and providing safety factors to minimize risk. 

Note:  CIVL 4171 is required for all Civil Engineering majors.  The other Construction Management courses are Civil Engineering electives.

Internships with Major Corporations

The University of Memphis, through our close relationship with the local construction industry, offers quality summer internships on construction projects across the Memphis area for our students.  One great resource for internships is our Construction Advisory Board, which includes the following companies and organizations.   Internships are encouraged for all our Construction Management students to get hands-on experience in the field.

Industry Advisory Board Members

Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Club

The CMAA student club at the University of Memphis is a great place for Construction Management students to connect with each other and network with industry professionals. As the only University in Tennessee affiliated with CMAA in the South Atlantic Region, the University of Memphis offers unique opportunities including targeted scholarships and industry networking opportunities. Through the club, Construction Management students also can earn the Construction Manager in Training (CMIT) certificate from CMAA. This is the first step in obtaining the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certification which is a highly sought after industry credential. The club also sponsors a series of Construction Management guest lecturers, and site visits to the most interesting construction projects in the area. Here is an previous schedule from Fall 2023:

For more information on the CMAA club, check out our latest flyer.

Construction Industry Scholarships

Through our close affiliation with the local construction community, the University of Memphis offers exclusive scholarships for our top Construction Management students. Scholarships for the Spring 2024 semester:

• TURNER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

• FLINTCO CONSTRUCTION

Program Contact Information

Rouzbeh Nazari, Chair
Department of Civil Engineering
The University of Memphis   
Phone: (901) 678-3284
Email: rnazari@memphis.edu