Applicants to construction grad programs are commonly expected to have an undergrad degree in architecture, construction management or engineering. However, many schools consider and admit people with a four-year degree from another field with a combination of relevant work field experience after they successfully complete an essential construction class. Program applicants are generally required to submit the results of their GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) exams, with preference given to those who have maintained a GPA (grade point average) of 3.0 or higher while pursuing their bachelor's degrees. Applicants who have received credentials from organizations like the American Institute of Constructors or the Construction Management Association of America are in some cases more likely to be admitted.
Master's programs can have a particular emphasis, such as construction engineering and management, design-construction integration or sustainable design and construction. Some schools also offer construction tracks along with their master of science (M.S.), master of engineering (M.Eng.) or doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree programs. Stanford University in Stanford, California, for example, offers a focus in construction management through its M.Eng program, requiring the completion of a research thesis and 45 additional credits for a construction master's and another 45 for the doctorate.
The core classes required to earn a graduate construction degree can include subjects on construction management theory, financial and technological aspects of the trade, business trends and strategies, risk assessment, decision-making skills and construction information technology (IT). They can also focus on infrastructure management and security, such as transportation, waste facility, communication and public building. According to education-portal, the estimate of credits needed to accomplish a construction graduate degree is 30 to 36 credits.
Some construction grad programs require students to submit a thesis in order to complete a degree whereas other do not. Thesis topics can include the conversion of blueprints into buildings, the evaluation and approval of construction project plans, legal aspects of building permits and construction, a focus on industry developments or an emphasis on financial aspects of building management.
A Ph.D. in construction management prepares graduates to work in a research-heavy or academic environment that employs their analytical skills. Jobs upon graduation for a Ph.D holder might include an engineering executive, professor or scholar of technology, consultant or researcher. Some of these posts may require time as a teacher's assistant. These programs can accept master's graduates who have a body of work in an unrelated field, but they must be prepared for courses in engineering, math, design and the sciences. Upon completion, program participants must pass a written exam and defend a dissertation.