Academic Catalog

Construction Management Department

E. Scott Sumner, Chair
Annex South Room 008F
Phone: 617-989-4259

Faculty

Professors

• Mark H. Hasso, Ph.D., P.E.

Associate Professors

• Ilyas Bhatti, P.E.
• Monica Snow, Ph.D., P.E.
• E. Scott Sumner, CCM
• Thomas A. Taddeo

Assistant Professors

• Payham Bakshi, Ph.D.
• Cristina Cosma, Ph.D., P.E.
• Todd Johnson, P.E.
• Rogelio Palomera-Arias, Ph.D.

Department Vision/Mission Statement/Goals

The mission of the Construction Management program is to provide the student with both the education and work experience to enter the construction profession as a productive team member with the potential to become an innovative technical problem-solver and industry leader. The philosophy of the program is to offer a curriculum which emphasizes instruction that challenges, shapes and encourages students to think about and apply their expanding technical knowledge and organizational skills to the solution of contemporary problems. This philosophy is supported by the educational mission of the Institute that emphasizes physics and mathematics, both theoretical and applied the humanities and social sciences, communication skills and computer science. Students are prepared through their educational experience to adapt to changes in society, technology and the profession.

There are several goals of the Construction Management program:

• Leadership - to graduate entry-level construction professionals who have the potential to grow in their positions and assume leadership roles within the construction industry.
• Communication - to produce graduates that meet industry expectations and standards for the communicative ability of construction professionals.
• Theory and Practice - to maintain a balance of theory and practice with the combination of classroom, laboratory and work experience, plus the role of the faculty as teachers and practicing professionals. 85
• The Construction Process - to provide a learning environment and curriculum which produces graduates who understand the total construction process from concept through completion, including the roles of the owner, designer and constructor.
• Interpersonal Skills and Social Awareness - to foster a climate both within the Construction Management Program and the Institute at large that is supportive of educating the “whole person.” This recognizes that future construction professionals should have an education that not only provides technical skills but also promotes an awareness of social issues, an understanding of human behavior and a commitment to intellectual pursuits.
• Ethics - to provide a learning environment and curriculum that fosters professionalism, integrity and high ethical standards.
• Experiential Learning - to employ a “hands-on” or experiential approach to instruction consistent with the mission of the Institute, recognizing its value as a tool for student motivation and as an effective means for achieving a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts and their application.
• Facilities - to employ and maintain state-of-the-art instructional facilities that support the Program mission and are responsive to the changing needs of industry.
• Faculty - to encourage faculty development and creative activity that will provide opportunities for faculty to remain abreast of the latest pedagogical and industry trends and methodologies.
• Academic Advising - to provide as a framework of academic instruction, counseling and advising that can allow students to pursue their educational and career objectives.
• Industry Interaction - to establish and maintain strong ties with industry, in particular alumni/ae of the Construction Management Program which will enable today’s professionals to assist in the development of future generations of constructors.

Degree Programs

Construction Management

Leading to the Bachelor of Science degree

The Construction Management program provides a background of technical skills to apply to a construction project from conception to completion. Students are taught the skills necessary to manage resources, time, cost, and quality with emphasis on team building. During the program, the skills developed include management, budgeting and cost control, cost estimating, scheduling, engineering fundamentals, and the development of analytical and communication skills. In addition, the Construction Management program is a cooperative education program where “hands-on” experience is acquired. Career opportunities for the construction manager are found throughout the industry and include the following: construction companies, government agencies, architectural/engineering firms, industrial firms, and manufacturing/materials suppliers.

Special Requirement for Graduation

In addition to the general graduation requirements of the Institute, students in the Bachelor of Science in Construction Management program must demonstrate completion of a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 30-hour training course in Construction Safety & Health. Submission to the Registrar of a photocopy of either the signed and dated card or verification and dating of entrance ticket or receipt indicating that the student actually attended the training will serve as adequate proof.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester	Course	R	L	C
CONM105	Introduction to Construction Management	1	2	2
CONM136	Building Construction	3	2	4
CHEM120	Chemistry for the Built Environment	3	2	4
ENGLISH	English Sequence†	4	0	4
MATH205	College Mathematics I	4	0	4
	Total	15	6	18
Spring Semester	Course	R	L	C
CONM118	Construction Graphics	1	4	3
CONM206	Heavy Construction	3	2	4
ENGLISH	English Sequence†	4	0	4
MATH250	Precalculus	4	0	4
PHYS210	College Physics I	3	2	4
	Total	15	8	19

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester	Course	R	L	C
CONM201	Construction Surveying	2	4	4
CONM265	Estimating	3	2	4
CONM235	Mechanical Building Systems	2	2	3
MGMT390	Financial Accounting	3	0	3
ECONXXX	Principles of Economics	4	0	4
	Total	14	8	18
Spring Semester	Course	R	L	C
CONM242	Statics and Strength of Materials	3	2	4
MATH130	Statistics and Applications	4	0	4
CONM140	Electrical Building Systems	2	2	3
ELECTIVE	Humanities or Social Science Elective*	4	0	4
ENGL350	Sophomore Writing Assessment	0	0	0
	Total	13	4	15
Summer Semester				Credits
COOP300	Pre-Cooperative Work Term (Optional)			0

Junior Year

Fall Semester	Course	R	L	C
CONM404	Wood & Steel Analysis & Design	3	0	3
CONM406	Construction Project Scheduling	2	2	3
CONM410	Construction Project Management	3	2	4
MGMT410	Management of Contemporary Organizations	4	0	4
CONM360	Materials Testing and Quality Control	2	4	4
	Total	14	8	18
Spring Semester	Course	R	L	C
COOP400	Co-op Work Semester I			0
Summer Semester		R	L	C
CONM430	Advanced Estimating & Bid Analysis	3	2	4
CONM473	Concrete Analysis & Design	4	0	4
ELECTIVE	Construction Management Elective	3	0	3
PSYC425	Industrial-Organizational Psychology	4	0	4
	Total	14	2	15

Senior Year

Fall Semester	Course	R	L	C
COOP600	Co-op Work Semester II			0
Spring Semester	Course	R	L	C
CONM580	Construction Project Control	2	2	3
CONM595	Construction Business and Finance	3	2	4
CONMXXX	Construction Safety and Risk Management	3	0	3
ELECTIVE	Humanities or Social Science Elective*	4	0	4
MGMT520	Power and Leadership	4	0	4
	Total	16	4	18
Summer Semester	Course	R	L	C
CONM645	BCMT Senior Project	3	2	4
CONMXXX	Construction Law and Government Regulations	3	0	3
ELECTIVE	Humanities or Social Science Elective*	4	0	4
MGMT490	Labor Relations	3	0	3
	Total	13	2	14

R=Class Hours Per Week, L=Lab Hours Per Week, C=Semester Credit Hours

^†Please refer to the English sequence requirement.

*Please refer to the upper level humanities/social science elective requirement.

Construction Management: Leading to the Master of Science Degree

Phil Hammond, Director of Graduate Programs
Dobbs Hall Room 109A
Phone: 617-989-4594

Faculty

Instructors

• Joshua Anderson
• Michael Dunlop, Ph.D.
• Ronald E. Fionte
• Mark H. Hasso, Ph.D., P.E.
• Mary Kaitlin McSally, Esq.
• Thom L. Neff, Ph.S.
• Hossein Noorien*
• Cathy Shanks, Esq.
• Cindy Stevens, Ph.D.

*on sabbatical 2013 spring semester

Practicing Professionals

• Jack Blaisdell
• Paul Hewins
• Nancy LaBier
• George Mastaby..
• Dave Perini

These practicing professionals are experienced industry leaders who add significantly to the MSCM classes.

Program Mission Statement/Goals

The mission of the Master of Science in Construction Management program is to provide a course of study for construction professionals that seek to prepare them for executive positions in construction related firms.  It educates students in foundational post graduate management principles combined with relevant construction education and experience in topics that are specific to preparing and advancing professionals’ skills in administrative and senior leadership positions. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available which allow for a variety of employment or educational opportunities including but not limited to working for general contractors, real-estate developers, sub-contractors, government agencies, construction management and architectural/engineering firms, as well as advanced education and teaching options.

To accomplish this mission, the MSCM program has adopted the following goals to prepare students for professional and personal success:

• Prepare students for advanced management and leadership positions.
• Prepare students to pursue advanced educational opportunities.
• Develop analytical reasoning skills for decision making.
• Develop metacognitive and life-long learning skills.
• Expose students to nationally and internationally recognized subject experts.
• Expose students to the latest technological and managerial/leadership advancements and their effects on the construction industry.
• Prepare and develop students from related disciplines such as planning, engineering and architecture to move into the field of construction management                

The MSCM program educates students in foundational business management principles and construction education and allows those who want to pursue an advanced terminal degree the opportunity to do so. Students must complete a minimum of 10 courses (30 credits) and may also choose to complete a 2-course (6 credits) thesis option. To fully integrate both academic and practical learning, each course will utilize both industry professionals as well as academic experts. This is a cohort-based, part-time program that can be completed in less than two years.  Additionally, the program has an optional thesis designed to prepare students who want to pursue advanced study and subsequent teaching opportunities.

First Year

Fall Semester

Course	Course Name	R	L	C
MGMT800	Business Relations & HR Management	-	-	3
MGMT810	Business Finance & Investments	-	-	3
	Total	-	-	6

Spring Semester

Course	Course Name	R	L	C
MGMT820	Business Operations & Process Management	-	-	3
MGMT830	Economics & International Business	-	-	3
	Total	-	-	6

Summer Semester

Course	Course Name	R	L	C
CMGT800	Research Methodology for CM	-	-	3
CMGT810	Executive Management for CM	-	-	3
	Total	-	-	6

Second Year

Fall Semester

Course	Course Name	R	L	C
ELECTIVE	CM Elective I	-	-	3
ELECTIVE	CM Elective II	-	-	3
	Total	-	-	6

Spring Semester

		R	L	C
ELECTIVE	CM Elective III	-	-	3
CMGT980	Capstone Research or Project Topics in CM	-	-	3
	Total	-	-	6

Summer Semester (Optional)

		R	L	C
CMGT990	Thesis	-	-	6

R=Class Hours Per Week, L=Lab Hours Per Week, C=Semester Credit Hours

Construction Management Electives

During this two year MSCM program, students take three electives. Students take two of the following four electives in the second year, fall semester, and then in the following spring semester, they will take one more:

• CMGT820 Conflict Resolution & Negotiation for CM
• CMGT830 Real Estate Development for CM
• CMGT840 Construction Law for CM
• CMGT850 International Construction for CM

Other electives under consideration include: Construction Informatics for CM; Biotech and Health Buildings for CM; Advanced Building Systems for CM; Advanced Topics for CM; Claims for CM; Sustainability for CM.