Program Overview

Overview of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction

The Myers-Lawson School of Construction offers students in the College of Engineering a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering and Management. The curriculum emphasizes the development of critical technical, managerial, and professional knowledge and skills required for careers in construction engineering or for graduate studies.

Program Details

• The program covers engineering theory and resource-management methods to integrate and manage the resources essential to construction operations, supporting the development of safe, ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable solutions for the built environment.
• Throughout their studies, students plan, direct, and coordinate construction projects, from buildings to heavy-highway and infrastructure projects.
• Core courses include construction materials, structural and geotechnical fundamentals, cost estimating, scheduling, project delivery methods, and safety management.
• Integrative elements of leadership, professional communication, entrepreneurship, and best-practice management principles prepare graduates to excel as construction engineers and managers.
• A capstone course provides a culminating experience in which students apply their technical and managerial skills to a real-world construction engineering project.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Management (BSCEM) degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Construction and Similarly Named Engineering Programs and is also accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Construction Management and Similarly Named Programs.

Program Educational Objectives

The Program Educational Objectives of the Construction Engineering and Management program are that, within a few years of program completion, graduates should be effectively serving society as construction engineering and management professionals by:

• Identifying, designing, analyzing, integrating, and managing the technical, material, financial, legal, and personnel administration aspects that support construction operations, projects, and organizations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Incorporating safety, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, environmental sensitivity, and social awareness into the development, planning, and implementation of construction operations and processes.
• Applying skills of effective communication, entrepreneurship, teamwork, values-based leadership, professional, and ethical behaviors that are the necessary complement to technical competence.
• Continuing their professional development and learning, which may include professional licensure or certification, graduate-level education, continuing education courses, self-directed study, and active involvement in the construction community.

Student Outcomes

Upon completion of the undergraduate program curriculum in Construction Engineering and Management, students will attain the following outcomes:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Curriculum

The Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) curriculum is built upon a structured integration of engineering analysis and construction management principles. Developed in collaboration with the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Building Construction programs, it combines targeted coursework with safety-centric, small-cohort learning environments that promote direct faculty mentorship and rigorous peer collaboration.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions

The program offers a wide range of undergraduate courses, including but not limited to:

• BC 1014: Building A Strong Foundation for Success
• BC 1114: Introduction to Building Construction
• BC 1124: Construction Documents and Safety
• BC 1214: Introduction to Building Construction I
• BC 1224: Introduction to Building Construction II
• BC 2004: Construction Surveying
• BC 2014: Construction Principles I
• BC 2024: Construction Principles II
• BC 2044: Construction Materials
• BC 2064: Integrated Construction I
• BC 2104: Building Effective Construction Teams
• BC 2114: Information Technology in Design and Construction
• BC 2134: Construction Data Analysis
• BC 2214: Why Buildings Stand Up
• BC 2354: Residential Construction Technologies
• BC 2974: Independent Study
• BC 2984: Special Study
• BC 3014: Building Physics and Environmental Systems
• BC 3064: Integrated Construction II
• BC 3114: Building Systems Technology
• BC 3134: Temporary Structures in Construction
• BC 3954: Study Abroad
• BC 3984: Special Study
• BC 4024: Estimating, Production, and Cost Engineering
• BC 4064: Integrated Construction III
• BC 4114: Building Information Modeling in Design and Construction
• BC 4124: Digital Construction & Manufacturing
• BC 4164: Production Planning and Process Design for Construction
• BC 4174: Decision Making and Risk Management
• BC 4314: Building Performance and Energy Management
• BC 4324: Innovation in Residential Construction
• BC 4334: Sustainable Building Performance Management
• BC 4364: Lifecycle BIM for Facility Management
• BC 4374: Residential Housing and Land Development
• BC 4434: Construction Practice I
• BC 4444: Construction Practice II
• BC 4754: Internship
• BC 4974: Independent Study
• BC 4984: Special Study
• BC 4994: Undergraduate Research

Faculty and Staff

The program is led by a team of experienced faculty and staff, including:

• Director: Brian Kleiner
• Chair: L. Lally
• Graduate Program Director: J. Iorio
• Professors: A. Akanmu
• Associate Professors: K. Afsari and X. Gao
• Assistant Professors: A. Ashtarout and R. Zhang
• Associate Professor of Practice: A. Johnson and L. Lally
• Adjunct Faculty: S. Darr, C. Porterfield, and K. Bocock
• Academic Affairs Coordinator: S. Norwood