The construction industry is growing, and those with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in construction management are highly sought-after. These degrees are specialized and give you the technical expertise to work with design professionals, such as architects and engineers and management skills to oversee the skilled tradesmen that perform the actual building work.

A typical curriculum for a construction management degree begins with an exploratory education core, then moves on to more specific courses in construction that provide the technical ability to construct an entire structure from scratch. You may also learn advanced engineering topics such as modeling and analysis of structural structures. Many programs also offer the chance to gain hands-on experience working on real-world projects with local employers or participating in a design contest for students.

In some programs the senior year of your program will require you to collaborate with other students in order to think up, plan and present your project before a panel. This is a fantastic way to gain experience in the field and increase your network, and often results in a pre-graduation employment offer.

You can also specialize in understanding the stages of business growth certain areas like civil engineering or green building and sustainability. Specialized programs can prepare you for positions such as research and development, design or cost estimation and control. Doctorate degrees in construction are typically three to five years long and include extensive research for the dissertation. Some programs offer teaching assistantships as well as graduate assistantships which can aid in paying for tuition.