PDF version of this chapterJoint Degree Program
Master of Construction Management
Curriculum Requirements
Students possessing a bachelor's degree and with sufficient training in capital management and statistics may work toward the Master of Construction Management. This is an interdisciplinary degree program offered jointly by the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development. A single application is made to the Department of Civil Engineering. The purpose of the Master of Construction Management program is to educate and train multidisciplinary professionals to understand and execute the broad array of technical and non-technical activities associated with construction management. The program provides special attention to the function of the constructor in real estate development.The core of the program is drawn from the Master of Science in Civil Engineering program in construction engineering and management and from the School of Policy, Planning, and Development's Master of Real Estate Development program:
Applicants to the program are expected to have completed undergraduate course work in engineering economy or business finance.
| Core Curriculum | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 511L | Seminar: Building Systems | 4 |
| CE 501 | Functions of the Constructor | 3 |
| CE 502 | Construction Accounting and Finance, or | |
| GSBA 510 | Accounting Concepts and Financial Reporting | 3 |
| CE 556ab | Project Cost Estimating and Control | 3-3 |
| RED 509 | Market Analysis for Real Estate, or | 4 |
| RED 598 | Real Estate Project Development | 2-4, max 12 |
| RED 542 | Finance of Real Estate | 3 |
| Additional advisor approved technical and advanced electives | 10 | |
| 33 |
The minimum requirement for the Master of Construction Management degree is 33-34 units. At least three elective courses totaling at least nine units are required for this degree. These may be taken from the Department of Civil Engineering, other engineering departments, the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, the School of Architecture, the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, the Law School or the Marshall School of Business subject to advisor approval. Admission to some classes requires advanced prerequisites and is subject to availability and approval of the instructor.
Residence and Course Load
The normal time required for earning the Master of Construction Management is three semesters, including one summer session beginning in July and continuing through the spring semester ending in May. Students are expected to participate in extracurricular activities associated with the Master of Construction Management program, including the speaker series and field trips. A candidate must complete the last four semester units of course work at USC.Students who wish a leave of absence for a semester or longer must request it from the chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering in writing. Such leaves may be granted for up to one year.
Time Limits
It is expected that the work for a Master of Construction Management degree will be completed within a maximum of five calendar years. An extension of up to one year at a time may be granted for a maximum of two years. Courses taken more than seven years prior to the date upon which the degree is to be awarded cannot be included for the degree.Grade Point Average
A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A = 4.0) is required for the Master of Construction Management degree. The minimum GPA must be earned on all course work applied toward the degree. A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in a course to receive graduate credit. Work graded C- or below is not acceptable for subject or unit credit toward any graduate degree. Transfer units count as credit toward the Master of Construction Management degree and are not computed in the grade point average.Probation and Disqualification
Any student with a cumulative grade point average below 3.0 for all courses taken in the program will be placed on academic probation. A student may be disqualified to continue toward a graduate degree if the student has been on academic probation for two consecutive semesters. Whether or not on academic probation or warning, a student may be disqualified at any time from continuing in the program if the chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering, after consultation with the Civil Engineering faculty and the dean of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, determines that the student is deficient in academic achievement or in another qualification required for the attainment of the Master of Construction Management degree.Course Exemptions and Transfer of Credits
Up to 4 transferred units will be accepted from another engineering school with the approval of the Department of Civil Engineering.Real estate development classes may not be transferred from other schools. Courses taken toward other degree programs, if determined by the dean of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development to be equivalent to real estate development courses in the construction management curriculum, may be accepted for subject credit only. The acceptance of previous course work for subject credit will enable the student to take additional elective courses. Real estate development courses taken at USC prior to admission to the Master of Construction Management program may be applied toward the Master of Construction Management degree.