Concept Paper for a New Degree Program
I.
II.
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (BSCM)/Department of Civil Engineering
Technology, Environmental Management and Safety (CETEMS) /College of Applied Science and
Technology (CAST)
Abstract
Construction in the U.S. has become a $500 billion dollar per year industry marked by
continuous and dramatic change. The demand for capable and highly trained construction
management professionals, who can adapt and become effective leaders in the field, remains
strong. Given the nation’s need to address aging infrastructure, energy efficiency in both new
and existing buildings, and innovative approaches to constructing new facilities in a timely and
cost-efficient manner, there will be a continuous need for professional construction managers.
The proposed BSCM program has been designed to provide undergraduates a combination of
technical, business, and industry-specific skills that will enable them to make immediate
contribution to the construction industry or pursue advanced degrees. The program has been
meticulously designed to meet current accreditation requirements of the American Council of
Construction Education (ACCE). Currently there are sixty eight ACCE accredited BSCM
programs in the U.S., a testament to the strong demand for students graduating with this
skillset.
The proposed BSCM program will build on existing RIT strengths; many of the program’s core
courses are currently taught within the Civil Engineering Technology program in CAST.
Moreover, the new program will draw on the strengths of the Saunders College of Business and
the College of Liberal Arts, as ACCE accreditation requires that students have broad exposure to
business, economics, and management topics.
III.
Description of the New Program
a. Overview and Justification of the New Program
Historically, RIT has excelled in providing career-oriented undergraduate education in
engineering technology (Civil, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, Computer, and
Telecommunications) and business administration, among others. But as effective as these
programs have been, they do not embrace the skill set needed to manage the ever increasing
complexity of today’s construction projects. A technical foundation combined with cost
estimating, project scheduling, and management skills are essential for professionals involved
in constructing today’s complex commercial buildings, infrastructure, and industrial facilities.
Adding a Construction Management Bachelor’s degree to the portfolio of academic programs
will support RIT’s intent to remain a leader in career-oriented education by meeting the
evolving and growing needs of the construction industry.
The primary motivation for launching the BSCM program is centered on how to best serve our
primary constituents – students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment
opportunities in this field are predicted to grow in the US by 17% between 2010 and 2020, and
BSCM Concept Paper Rev. 0 @ Nov. 16, 2012
employers are placing more importance on specialized education. 1 Every year a significant
number of students who graduate from the existing Civil Engineering Technology (CET)
program choose to pursue careers in construction or construction management. This is curious
because the CET program curriculum primarily emphasizes design topics in lieu of construction
or construction management topics. Civil Engineering and Civil Engineering Technology
programs focus more heavily on the design of buildings, transportation systems, and
infrastructure whereas as Construction Management programs typically produce graduates
who deal with managing the construction of these facilities. The strong technical foundation
that CET graduates possess makes them attractive to both design and construction firms, but
graduates lack the specialized financial, project management, and in-depth construction
background that can be critical to successful construction careers. Accreditation requirements
for the CET curricula limit the opportunity to adequately expand these areas to properly
prepare our graduates as construction managers, hence the need for a dedicated program
addressing Construction Management.
b. Summary of New Program Curriculum
The proposed BS degree is a 128 semester credit hour program. It has been designed to meet
RIT Bachelor’s degree requirements, as well as the accreditation requirements of the ACCE.
A detailed course listing is found in Table 1 below. Course groupings include:






60 credit hours in General Education.
o 39 from COLA. Of these, 9 credit hours can be considered “Business and
Management” for ACCE accreditation.
o 21 from COS
9 credit hours in “Business and Management” courses - Dr. Donald Wilson, Associate
Dean for Academic Programs in the SCOB provided guidance in the selection of business
courses.
20 credit hours in “Construction Science” courses. These are existing technical courses
in the Civil Engineering Technology degree program.
27 credit hours in “Construction” courses. Nine new courses have been developed as a
result of industry funding already provided for this purpose.
6 credit hours in “Construction” electives. There are seven courses (21 credit hours) to
choose from. Six of the seven courses are new.
6 credit hours in free electives.
1
“Construction Managers,” Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, USDOL,
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm, - accessed Aug. 22, 2012.
BSCM Concept Paper Rev. 0 @ Nov. 16, 2012
Table 1: Proposed BSCM Curriculum @ August 20, 2012
ACCREDITATION CATEORY
NUMBER
COURSE
SemHrs ACCE Min Hrs.
128
"GENERAL EDUCATION"
30
(LIBERAL ARTS)
FOUNDATION - WRITING
3
FOUNDATION - SEMINAR
3
CORE
L.A. PERSPECTIVE (ETHICAL REASONING AND RHETORIC)
3
CORE
L.A. PERSPECTIVE (ARTISTIC LITERACY)
3
CORE
L.A. PERSPECTIVE (GLOBAL AWARENESS)
3
CORE
L.A. PERSPECTIVE (SOCIAL ANALYSIS)
3
LA IMMERSION
3
LA IMMERSION
3
LA IMMERSION
3
EFFECTIVE TECH COMMUNICATIONS
3
COLA-COMM-403
MATH & SCIENCE
21
MATH COS-MATH-111
PRECALCULUS
3
MATH COS-MATH-161
APPLIED CALCULUS
4
MATH COS-STAT-145
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS I
3
COLLEGE PHYSICS 1 & LAB
4
SCIENCE COS PHYS-111
SCIENCE COS CHMG-121
CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES & APPS
MATH/SCIENCE STAT-146 OR PHYS-112INTRO TO STATISTICS II OR COLLEGE PHYSICS II
BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT
18
3
COLA-ECON-302
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
3
CAST-MFET-436
ENGINEERING ECONOMICS
3
SCB-ACCT-110
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
3
SCB-BLEG-200
BUSINESS LAW 1
3
SCB-MGMT-215
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
3
CAST-CVET-140/141
MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION & LAB
3
CAST-CVET-210
STATICS
3
CAST-CVET-170
ELEMENTS OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
3
CAST-CVET 240/241
ELEMENTARY SOIL MECHANICS & LAB
4
CAST-CVET 160/161
SURVEYING & LAB
4
CAST-CVET 180/182
CIVIL ENGINEERING GRAPHICS & RECITATION
3
CAST-CMAN-110
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SEMINAR
1
CAST-CMAN-310/311
CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATING 1 & LAB
3
CAST-CMAN-350/351
CONSTRUCTION PLANNING & SCHEDULING & CONTROL & LAB
3
CAST-CMAN-430
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
3
CAST-ESHS-325
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
3
CAST-CMAN-330
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
3
CAST-CMAN-450
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTING & FINANCIAL CONTROL
3
CAST-CMAN-410
CONSTRUCTION LAW
3
CAST-CMAN-510
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
3
CAST-CMAN-530
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CAPSTONE
2
CAST-CMAN-520
BUILDING CLIENT, PROJECT TEAM, & LABOR RELATIONS
3
CAST-CMAN-540/541
CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATING II & Lab
3
CAST-CMAN--550
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
3
CAST-CMAN-560
MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL EQUIP FOR BLDGS
3
CAST-CMAN-570
PRECONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS
3
CAST-CMAN-580
INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY
3
CAST-CVET-
GEOSPACIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
3
20
27
CONSTRUCTION
ELECTIVES (PICK 2)
4
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
CONSTRUCTION
6
OTHER
6
FREE ELECTIVE
3
FREE ELECTIVE
3
LEGEND
RIT GEN ED.
College of Business
Existing Civil Tech
Constn Mgmnt
Env., Safety, Health, & Sustainability
* "Construction Science" + "Construction" > 50 hrs.
BSCM Concept Paper Rev. 0 @ Nov. 16, 2012
15
3
COLA-ECON-101
CONSTRUCTION SCIENCE
15
18
20*
20*
IV.
Fit with RIT Mission and Strategy
The University’s mission, as described on the President’s web page2 states, “RIT’s mission is to
provide a broad range of career-oriented educational programs with the goal of producing
innovative, creative graduates who are well-prepared for their chosen careers…” The RIT
mission states, in part, that “our mission is to provide technology-based educational programs
for personal and professional development. We rigorously pursue new and emerging career
areas…”
Given the nation’s need to address aging infrastructure, energy efficiency in buildings (buildings
account for almost 40 percent of overall energy usage in the U.S.3) and the need to construct
new energy production facilities, the demand for qualified construction managers will remain
strong into the foreseeable future.
The proposed program is designed to mesh with RIT’s mission in that it will produce careeroriented, experienced (through co-op) graduates who will be in a position to make immediate
contributions to companies or governmental agencies involved with construction or, should
they elect, pursue advanced degrees in Business, Architecture, or Construction Management, or
other disciplines. The program content was crafted by partnering with a team of local
construction management employers, and a formal Industry Advisory Board has been
established. Their input was invaluable in developing parts of the practical, career-oriented
curriculum.
V.
Synergy with Other Programs
The Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety
(CETEMS) currently offers four academic programs: a BS in civil engineering technology, a BS in
environmental sustainability health and safety, an MS in environmental, health and safety
management, and an MS in facility management. Both undergraduate programs are offered in
the traditional on-campus setting and both graduate programs are offered online and primarily
serve working professionals. In similar fashion, CETEMS is proposing an on-campus BS and
online MS program in construction management. These new programs mesh well with the other
programs in the department, and provide a variety of paths for students interested in pursuing
BS/MS combinations. It will be especially valuable in providing a graduate program path for
students in the undergraduate civil engineering technology program.
The “Business & Management” category of ACCE accreditation will require that RIT BSCM
students earn at least six credit hours in Economics courses from COLA and nine credit hours
from courses in SCOB.
The program will serve as a feeder to the proposed MS degree program in Construction
Management, and it may funnel students to the new MS program in Architecture. Finally, the
2
http://www.rit.edu/president/mission.html - accessed Aug 23 2012
3
"Building on Success: Policies to Reduce Energy Waste in Buildings," Alliance to Save Energy, July 2005.
BSCM Concept Paper Rev. 0 @ Nov. 16, 2012
program’s strong business component may serve as a draw for graduates to pursue an MBA
from SCOB.
VI.
Administrative Structure for the New Program
The BSCM program will be administered by CETEMS in a manner similar to that of its other
undergraduate programs. The program curriculum committee will consist of CETEMS faculty
directly involved in teaching the applicable courses. Oversight will be provided by a Program
Coordinator, who will report directly to the CETEMS Department Chair.
VII.
Enrollment Management Expectations and Sustainment
Development of this program began before the recent moratorium. As such, enrollment
projections have already been formally developed. The enrollment forecast shown below was
developed by Edward Lincoln of Enrollment Management & Career Services, on June 22, 2011:
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
New Freshmen
12
12
12
12
12
Transfers 2nd Year
2
2
2
2
2
Transfers 3rd Year
8
8
8
8
8
22
22
22
22
22
Freshmen continuing
11
11
11
11
Transfers 2nd Year continuing
2
2
2
2
Transfers 3rd Year continuing
7
7
7
7
20
20
20
20
Freshmen continuing
9
9
9
Transfers 2nd Year continuing
1
1
1
10
10
10
8
8
8
8
60
60
Subtotal:
Subtotal:
Subtotal:
Freshmen continuing
Subtotal:
TOTAL
BSCM Concept Paper Rev. 0 @ Nov. 16, 2012
22
42
52
IX.
Impact on Resources
Faculty/Staff Requirements
Faculty 1 – Assoc. Prof./Admin
Faculty 2 - Lecturer
Faculty 3 - Tenure Track Asst. Prof
Staff 1 - Admin. Support
Staff 2 - Acad. Advisor
Facility Requirements
Faculty Offices
Construction Materials Lab - (sq ft)
Equipment Requirements
Surveying - 1 total station
Materials Lab Equipment
X.
XI.
XII.
2014
1.0
2015
1.0
1.0
0.25
0.25
2016
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.25
2017
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.25
2018
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.25
0.25
0.25
1
1500
3
1500
3
1500
3
1500
3
1500
$6,000
$48,000
Conclusion
Creation of a new BSCM degree program at RIT, housed in the CETEMS Department of CAST,
will be a desirable and viable initiative. The proposed program is consistent with the mission
and strategy of the University; it will synergistically enhance existing programs, provide
graduates with requisite and valuable skills in a growing market, and offer a financially
attractive addition to the RIT portfolio.
Summary of Community Input and Response to Input (to be added following the public
vetting of this program and prior review by the Provost)
Respectfully submitted,
Professor John Morelli, PhD, PE
Chair, Department of Civil Engineering Technology,
Environmental Management and Safety
BSCM Concept Paper Rev. 0 @ Nov. 16, 2012