Construction Management at Illinois Tech: Master's Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees in a Growing Career Path
Illinois Tech students work in the university’s Concrete Materials and Structures Lab.
As technology continues to shape the way we live, work, and learn, the demand for engineers with construction-related experience is strong. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects steady job growth for construction managers and civil engineers over the next decade—along with lucrative salaries1. According to BLS data, construction managers boast an average annual salary of $104,900, while civil engineers can expect to earn about $95,890.
The construction business is a $1.8 trillion industry in the U.S. and a $8.9 trillion industry worldwide, with the number of construction management jobs in the field increasing faster than the U.S. national average2.
Earning a construction management degree provides students with the knowledge and background that will enable them to make decisions at the site, company, industrial, and sector levels. Students will learn how to plan and schedule projects, estimate and control costs, administer contracts, organize construction sites, manage construction equipment, analyze productivity, plan and manage real estate developments, and address legal problems.
Gain Real-World Experience: Illinois Tech's Construction Management Program Connects You to Industry Leaders
At Illinois Institute of Technology, our dedicated faculty experts guide you through a rigorous curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical applications. You’ll also benefit from Illinois Tech’s strong industry connections, which provide an abundance of professional opportunities. These include internships, co-op programs, and networking, giving you invaluable industry insights and connections that can launch your career to new heights.
“[Internships at Illinois Facilities Fund, Kiewit Building Group, dbHMS, and Stantec Consulting Services] gave me a full view of the construction and engineering industry, and how all the different parts work together. Additionally, they allowed me to apply the concepts I have learned in my courses and take them a step further through actual projects.” —Alyssa Thompson (ARCE, M.Eng. ARCE '23), mechanical designer at Stantec Consulting Services.
The construction engineering program at Illinois Tech was ranked #6 in the U.S.3 and #11 in the world by ScholarGPS in 2022, and Illinois Tech Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering David Arditi was ranked the #1 scholar in construction management the U.S.4
Construction management is a good career choice for students interested in building and utilizing leadership, decision-making, communication, and analytical skills.
At Illinois Tech, you’ll also have access to state-of-the-art facilities, laboratories, and cutting-edge research to further elevate your potential for these exciting careers. In addition, our emphasis on hands-on experience and collaborative projects ensures that you graduate with the theoretical knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge to real-world engineering challenges.
“Access to new leadership opportunities [at Illinois Tech] also very much helped me as a young professional going into the industry and in many ways helped shape my leadership style now….The sheer breadth of exposure beyond just the classroom at student and professional events helped me understand the importance of building myself as a well-rounded person as well as my network.”—Krystal McDoom (ARCE ’14), project manager at University of Chicago managing a $35 million portfolio.
What Are the Programs in Construction and Engineering Management at Illinois Tech?
Armour College of Engineering at Illinois Tech offers a range of opportunities related to construction and management:
- If you’re looking for undergraduate opportunities, consider Illinois Tech’s bachelor’s degree programs related to construction, construction management minor, and our Accelerated Master’s Program for earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as few as five years.
- If you already have a bachelor’s degree, we offer a range of master’s degrees in construction engineering and industrial management to level-up your skill set and help you move up to higher-level positions.
- If you’re already working in the construction industry and are looking for lower commitment upskilling opportunities, consider our Certificate in Construction Management. If you decide you want to continue on to a master’s program, these courses may count as progress toward that.
- If you’re a student at one of approximately 20 local colleges that Illinois Tech has partnered with, you may be eligible to complete your degree at Illinois Tech, providing you with access to the range of opportunities available to our undergraduate students.
Opportunities in Construction Management for Undergraduate Students
Illinois Tech has several avenues for undergraduate students interested in acquiring expertise in construction management.
B.S. in Civil Engineering or B.S. in Architectural Engineering
The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and B.S. in Architectural Engineering programs prepare graduates to enter and be successful in the civil and architectural engineering profession. Graduates are expected to become licensed professional engineers, and to reach responsible positions in a wide range of professional settings, including consulting firms, industry, or government. Both programs offer specializations in construction engineering and management in which three technical elective courses are taken in the field.
B.A.C. in Industrial Technology and Management
This program is a transfer program requiring 60 transfer credit hours for admission, most commonly from an associate’s degree. The program emphasizes proficiency in the essential functions of industrial enterprises with a focus on management-related topics. There are two tracks relevant to construction: construction technology and facilities management.
The initial entry requirement is completion of an apprenticeship program or appropriate technical degree in a junior college. Upon completion of the INTM bachelor’s degree, the student may continue in an accelerated Master of Industrial Operations program with three courses being shared between the degrees.
Minor in Construction Management
If you are a student in a bachelor’s degree program at Illinois Tech, you can supplement your program. This minor program is available for any student pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Illinois Tech. Students take five 400-level courses in construction management to earn the minor. Typically, students pursuing this minor are from architecture, business, or engineering majors outside of civil and architectural engineering and who wish to work in the construction industry.
Many Illinois Tech undergraduate students take advantage of our Accelerated Master’s Program, which allows students to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as few as five years. Read more about our construction-related master’s degree programs below.
Opportunities in Construction Management for Graduate Students
M.Eng. in Construction Engineering and Management
This program is intended to prepare high-level project managers for large infrastructure, commercial, and buildings projects. Typically, the candidates for this degree have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or architecture, but individuals in career transition from other disciplines who complete Illinois Tech’s Certificate Program in Construction Management can also be admitted in furtherance of their education.
The on-campus option of the degree is intended for students who are continuing their education from the undergraduate level and have not had experience in working in the U.S. or Canadian construction industry.
The online option is intended for individuals who have three or more years of experience working in the U.S. or Canadian design or construction industry and are currently working in the industry.
M.Eng. in Engineering Management, Project Management Track
This program is based upon a type of project management most commonly used in industrial engineering and manufacturing, although it does address construction management as part of its purview. In many places in the world, which have different approaches to construction than the U.S., this degree leads to the PMP certification by the Project Management Institute as the credential for construction managers in those countries.
M.A.S. in Industrial Technology and Operations
This program is designed for technicians and tradespeople to broaden their knowledge and grow into management positions in those contractors and organizations that are members of the construction project (and other industrial operations). There are two tracks relevant to construction: construction technology and facilities management.
The position of public works manager historically developed due to a shortage of engineers to handle infrastructure management responsibilities in villages and towns. Responsibilities normally include the planning and oversight of construction projects for owners; hence this program introduces students to those subjects. Entry to this program does not require an engineering degree and acceptance is made on a case-by-case basis.
M.S. in Civil Engineering (Construction Engineering and Management Specialization) or M.S. in Architectural Engineering
These programs are designed for engineers and architects who desire to learn to conduct research in construction engineering and management and who may wish to transfer those skills to academia or industry. Both degrees require a thesis.
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering or Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering
Through state-of-the-art and original research, students in these programs are expected to achieve a high level of mastery in the study of buildings and their systems, which should be demonstrated by successful defense of their dissertation and the publication of novel research results in peer-reviewed academic journals.
1 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/construction-managers.htm
2 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm