Degree Overview: Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Construction Technology
Majors Overview February 27, 2015Get information about bachelor’s degree programs in construction technology and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Construction Technology
Students enrolled in a four-year bachelor’s degree program in construction technology are provided with a strong technical grasp of construction methods, in addition to a solid foundation in management principles.
Once they imbibe these skills, students can expect to become adept at planning and constructing buildings, among other infrastructure projects, from scratch. Graduates of the program gain expertise in managing construction crews, following blueprints, dividing labor, purchasing and handling building materials, creating cost estimates, and implementing schedules and plans for building.
There is a substantial reliance in many degree programs related to construction technology on both hands-on instruction and classroom education. Students are taught the technical and scientific principles underlying building construction and implement these policies on the job site or in a lab setting.
In some schools, completion of the internship experience or construction technology project is expected of students before they graduate.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or a high school diploma. Before they can begin core coursework, students are required to have completed basic college-level science and math courses. Before they enroll in the program, students should be aware that this field does involve outdoor work and physical requirements.
Coursework
Coursework covers courses related to construction management, technical engineering, and construction methods. Core coursework may include topic areas such as the following:
•Soil mechanics
•Timber structures
•Programming and engineering
•Project management and control
•Construction materials
•Computer-aided drafting
•Surveying
•Construction labor
•Construction practices
•Management principles
Career Choices
Graduates of a degree program in construction technology can pursue various positions within the construction industry, including the following:
•Estimator
•Construction safety specialist
•Construction superintendent
•Surveyor
•Contractor
•Field supervisor
•Construction manager
•Building planner
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2010 – 2020 decade, job growth rates of 36% have been predicted for cost estimators. During the same period, surveyors and construction managers are expected to see 25% and 17% growth respectively (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
In May 2012, construction managers brought home an average annual wage of $90,960. During that time surveyors banked $59,180, estimators that worked in residential building construction earned $60,280, and those working in nonresidential buildings grossed $69,930 on average (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Graduates of a bachelor’s degree program in construction technology may choose to pursue continuing education by earning graduate degrees in industrial technology, construction technology, and construction management, all of which culminate in a Master of Science (M.S.).
It typically takes two years to complete these programs, whose coursework is devised to equip students with the advanced leadership and management skills they need for career advancements within the field of construction.
