The construction industry is changing as new materials and methods are implemented, alternative energy is becoming in-demand and other modern amenities are more commonplace. Project managers are also under pressure to adhere to deadlines and keep costs at, or below, estimated costs. As commercial, governmental, industrial, and residential construction increases in Western North Carolina and beyond, a demand for knowledgeable project managers is required. Western Carolina University offers a convenient, and comprehensive, Master of Construction Management program giving students a well-rounded construction education desirable to future clients.
The Master of Construction Management program is designed for project managers with a busy work schedule and provides a 30-semester hour program completely online. The curriculum focuses on an 18-semester hour core, covering subjects such as finance, sustainability, and legal issues and includes 12 semester hours of electives in topics such as construction forensics and land development. No thesis is required for this graduate program and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission to the program.
M.C.M. graduates have the credentials to make them stand out from the crowd of other project managers and can help secure a job as a construction or project manager, cost engineer, estimator and other jobs in the construction industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average salary for construction mangers is $94,590 and projects job opportunities to grow 16% by 2022.