Department of Construction Management

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management

Majoring in Construction Management at BGSU prepares students for leadership and management roles in the rapidly expanding field of construction. It is the offspring of the marriage of the architecture, engineering, and business professions.

The construction management curriculum is a combination of architecture, engineering, and business courses. Students are given a blend of course work and real-life experience including academic work in the classroom, application of concepts in laboratory workshop, and cooperative education experiences with construction businesses. Students learn blueprint reading, building material properties, math, quantity take off, structural analysis, computer applications, cost estimating, scheduling, surveying, safety, contracts, problem solving, people and networking, management and leadership skills.

Students can also earn a Master of Technology Management degree in Construction Management that offers a broad competency in construction management, business operations and problem solving.

Program Degree Plan

  • BGSU’s construction management program is one of only three in Ohio and 73 nationwide that is accredited by the ACCE.  
  • Students are required to have three co-ops. The construction management program maintains a strong connection with the industry for co-op opportunities and employment after graduation.
  • Job placement is at 100% after graduation.
  • The Student Construction Management Association (SCMA) is a student organization managed by construction management majors.

The curriculum includes a blend of coursework and real-world experience, with classwork supplemented by the application of concepts in a laboratory setting and the required co-op experiences. Classes may include:

  • Construction Surveying
  • Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Construction
  • Structural Design
  • LEED and Lean Fundamentals
  • Safety and Health Management
  • Estimating and Cost Control
  • Construction Project Management

Graduates go on to careers as

  • Project Managers
  • Construction Managers
  • Estimators
  • Planners
  • Schedulers

New scholarship opportunity!

The Owens Corning Building Opportunities Scholarship supports the recruitment and retention of students from historically marginalized groups interested in pursuing undergraduate degrees in Construction Management or Architecture and Environmental Design, and other majors in the building sciences field in BGSU’s School of the Built Environment.

Learn more or apply for the scholarship

Construction Management in the News

BGSU trustees establish innovative student-focused partnerships, honor faculty at March meeting

Trustees recognized distinguished faculty, acknowledged donors for their support of student learning and took action to ensure the University remains an outstanding value.

BGSU School of Built Environment's new home will be named Kokosing Hall

Expansion of former Park Avenue building is a result of collaboration with Ohio's workforce, leading to innovative curriculum that converges construction management and architecture programs.

BGSU breaks ground on state-of-the-art School of the Built Environment facility

$10.4 million project will bring architecture and environmental design, construction management programs together under one roof

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Construction Management degree requires a minimum of 122 program hours: 3 hours of cooperative education, 51 hours of concentration, 9 hours of career electives, 23-24 hours in other required courses, and 36 hours of BG Perspectives.

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in construction management are expected to:

  • Apply construction management skills that include cost estimating and control, construction scheduling, construction safety, construction document reading, construction methods and materials, ethics in construction, construction technical skills, and computer applications in construction.
  • Exhibit construction business skills that include construction financing, business management, and personnel management;
  • Communicate effectively in oral presentations, writing technical reports, and critiquing the work of others.

Course Requirements

  • TECH 2890 - Cooperative Education~
  • TECH 3890 - Cooperative Education
  • TECH 4890 - Cooperative Education

CONS 1010 - Topics in Construction~
Introduction to career objectives in a seminar setting with construction professionals. Introduces team building, professional practices, current issues in construction through readings and discussions of construction trade journals.

CONS 2590 - Construction Document Reading~
An introductory course to construction document reading. Provides a basic working knowledge of construction drawings, design and construction mathematics, specifications, material submittal process, building codes, and material quantity take-off.

CONS 3180 - Construction Surveying
Detailed study of surveying, including field work, with equipment such as transit, level and tape. Emphasis on closure.

CONS 3350 - Construction Materials and Testing
Materials and testing as used in commercial construction. Emphasis on foundation, sitework, soils and concrete.

CONS 3360 - Structural Design
Introduction of the principles of Statics and Strength of Materials. Standard methods of comparing actual stresses to allowable stresses will be used to size structural members. Emphasis on floor framing systems, columns and connections in steel and wood per design codes.

CONS 3370 - Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems in Buildings
Mechanical and electrical systems of buildings which include heating, ventilating, air conditioning cooling (HVAC), plumbing, fire fighting, and electrical systems of buildings and in production processes. Methods, materials and problems encountered in installing mechanical systems are stressed.

CONS 3590 - Estimating and Cost Control
Take-off, costing and pricing for typical construction project. Preparation of final bid document including all material, labor, equipment, overhead costs, and profit margin.

CONS 4060 - Temporary and Concrete Structures for Construction
Design and construction of concrete structures. Placement of temporary formwork including sheathing, bracing and shores. Design of concrete slabs, beams and columns. Concrete Forming Systems with a focus on Constructability. Brief review of Masonry Techniques.

CONS 4110 - Construction Safety and Health Management
This course will cover a broad spectrum of Occupational Safety and Health. It covers progressive management systems and effect on profit. The course will include the history of safety and health, the industry regulations, program development and implementation, hazard analysis, work-related injuries, and safety topics through hands-on training and government documents. The student may receive 30-hour OSHA card.

CONS 4350 - Construction Methods and Practices
Advanced course in commercial construction emphasizing superintendent's role in planning, inspecting, expediting and supervising construction operations.

CONS 4400 - Construction Contracting
Type of construction procurement, contracts and specifications important to project management. Subcontracting, insurance, bonds, mechanics liens and labor relations. Concepts applied to cases.

CONS 4420 - Construction Scheduling
Management utilizing critical path method, activity on arrow, Gantt charts and PERT techniques. Planning, scheduling, control, resource allocation and least-cost expediting using computers.

CONS 4590 - Construction Estimating Computer Applications
Computer applications of construction estimating programs in the areas of materials, methods and management.

CONS 4700 - Construction Capstone Project
A comprehensive course that integrates all aspects of the construction management process. Students will combine many previous concepts and skills into a comprehensive project(s) that includes scheduling, quantity survey, estimates, project management and other considerations to a practical (real-world) application. Students are also required to take the Associate Constructor (AC) Exam to demonstrate their knowledge in construction management area. 

ARCH 2710 - Computer-Aided Design for Architecture
Intermediate course emphasizing the role of 3D computer applications, including parametric modeling and Building Information Modeling in architectural design, presentation, and professional practice.

CONS 3710 - Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Constructors
A hands-on introduction to BIM. Students are introduced to the general concepts of virtual design and construction. Instruction on the Autodesk Revit family of software including Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, Revit MEP, and Navisworks. Comparison of traditional design and construction practices to BIM is explored.

CONS 4000 - LEED and Lean Fundamentals
Fundamentals of green building, sustainable design, sustainable construction, US Green Building Council "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED), lean design, lean construction, and green lean.

Electives by Advisement

*** ARCH 1100, ARCH 2360, CONS 2800, CONS 2350, CONS 3060, CONS 4370, CONS 4470, CONS 4800, CONS 4900, TECH 3020, ECET 2050, ENGT 3250, ID 1160, ID 4070, QS 3610 and SEES 4500

  • ENG 3880 - Intermediate Writing
  • PHYS 2010 - College Physics I**
  • PHYS 2020 - College Physics II** or GEOL 1040 - Earth Environments**
  • MATH 1280 - Precalculus Mathematics** or MATH 1230 - Mathematics for Architecture/Construct**
  • STAT 2000 - Using Statistics** or MATH 1150 - Introduction to Statistics**
  • COMM 1020 - Introduction to Public Speaking**
  • ECON 2020 - Principles of Microeconomics**
  • ACCT 2000 - Accounting Concepts for Nonbusiness Students
  • LEGS 3010 - Legal Environment of Business
  • MGMT 3050 - Principles of Organization and Management
  • Business Elective*
  • Business Elective*

* ESHP 1010, ECON 2030, MGMT 3000, IS 2000, MKT 3000 and OR 3800, or see advisor

Additional hours needed to reach 122 hours

At least one course in each of the following:

  • English Composition and Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Literacy

At least two courses in each domain:

  • Humanities and the Arts
  • Natural Sciences - at least one Lab Science required
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

Each student enrolled in a baccalaureate program must satisfactorily complete WRIT 1120 (Seminar in Research Writing), one course approved for Cultural Diversity in the United States, and one course approved for International Perspectives.

Additional courses from any of the five categories listed above to reach a minimum of 36 credit hours.

~ Matriculation courses are shown in Bold Print.

** These courses may be also used to meet BG Perspective requirements, but hours are counted only once.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in construction management are expected to:

  • Apply construction management skills that include cost estimating and control, construction scheduling, construction safety, construction document reading, construction methods and materials, ethics in construction, construction technical skills, and computer applications in construction.
  • Exhibit construction business skills that include construction financing, business management, and personnel management;
  • Communicate effectively in oral presentations, writing technical reports, and critiquing the work of others.

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in January 2023. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

More information on accreditation

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Construction Management program does not lead to professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Construction Management program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Updated: 03/13/2024 03:43PM