MBA in Construction Management

To succeed in the construction industry, companies need more than just skillful builders. They need to keep track of timelines, budgets, and supplies; foster positive relationships with clients; bring in various skilled experts like masons and ironworkers; and assign personnel to different sites when multiple projects are taking place simultaneously. Companies also need to ensure they’re building to code and in compliance with regulations by enlisting the help of building professionals such as inspectors, municipal building/planning officials, engineers, and architects.

Good construction management and deep industry knowledge are required to keep the interconnected, behind-the-scenes tasks working legally, smoothly, and in concert. Earning an MBA in construction management can help emerging leaders in construction or business earn the high-level industry knowledge, business expertise, and people management skills necessary to keep a construction business thriving.

Construction professionals looking to advance into management may find that the required effort pays off. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2022), construction manager positions pay a mean wage of $112,790. Job openings in the construction management field are also supposed to grow by 8 percent in the decade preceding 2031, from 478,500 positions to 514,900.

Especially in the business industry, there is a recognition of the need to advance the skills of professionals without disrupting that person’s established life. As a result, many MBA programs in construction management are designed with scheduling flexibility at the center.

Many MBA programs offer a range of options for busy student, including programming offered during non-business hours, fully online programming where students set the location of their learning, and programs that require limited or no on-campus visits. In addition, students interested in earning their MBA in construction management from high-quality institutions without moving physically can find various options.

Continue reading for more information about online MBA programs in construction management and distinguished faculty.

Featured Construction & Engineering Management Programs
Southern New Hampshire University Online MBA In Engineering Management View Full Profile
Lamar University Online MBA - Construction Proj Mgmt View Full Profile
Lamar University Program Certificate - Construction Proj Mgmt View Full Profile
University of Southern Indiana Online MBA - Engineering Management View Full Profile
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN Southern New Hampshire University Online MS - Construction Management

Featured Online MBAs in Construction Management

SNHU’s online MBA program is one of the most affordable MBAs in the country. It has a wealth of concentration options, from the most in-demand, such as finance and entrepreneurship, to industry- and sector-specific options in healthcare management and forensic science.

In the engineering management track, students learn about product development, lean improvement, experience design, technology strategy, and systems lifecycles. They take courses specifically designed for aspiring engineering managers in systems thinking; introduction to engineering for engineering managers; and systems engineering.

All students take foundational courses such as building business leaders and applied business statistics. Core courses include leading people and organizations; organizational strategy in a global environment; optimizing brands; leading organizational change; and strategic opportunity management. Students can graduate in as little as 15 months by taking two courses per term. The program is made up of 30 to 33 credits.

Graduates will be ready to take up roles such as cost systems analysts, engineering managers, engineering project managers, industrial management engineers, and senior lead analysts.

Location: Manchester, NH
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Expected Time to Completion: 15 months
Estimated Tuition: $627 per credit

Maryville University offers several online MBA programs, including one with a project management specialization—a field closely related to construction management. There are six convenient start dates for this school and no GMAT scores are required for admission.

This 39-credit program includes courses such as business ethics; accounting for managers; organizational behavior and development; and strategic marketing. Additionally, students enrolled in the project management concentration take courses such as supply chain management; process and operations management; enterprise planning and control; and project management.

Admission requirements include a completed application, a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a personal letter, official academic transcripts, and TOEFL scores for international applicants.

At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities such as project managers, senior project managers, project management directors, business operations specialists, and administrative services managers.

Location: St. Louis, MO
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); Higher Learning Commission
Expected Time to Completion: 14 months
Estimated Tuition: $714 per credit

Purdue Global provides a wealth of online MBA programs, including one in project management—a specialization closely aligned with construction management. This specialization offers instruction in strategic project selection and initiation; project planning and the project plan; project execution with monitoring and control; and project closing, ethics, and professional responsibilities. The program consists of 76 credits.

Purdue Global’s online MBA in project management offers multiple start dates throughout the year and does not require GMAT scores to apply. Please note that the university also offers an online bachelor of science (BS) in business administration with a project management specialization.

Taught by practicing professionals with extensive real-world experience, this 100 percent online program helps students gain practical skills in areas such as management and business intelligence, which can be immediately applied to tackle real-world business challenges.

Location: West Lafayette, IN
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); Higher Learning Commission
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $485 per credit

Norwich University offers an online master of business administration program with several concentrations options. Its MBA with a concentration in construction management is a 36-credit program offered fully online. This 18-month program requires students to attend campus for a week-long residency at the end of the program.

Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited U.S. institution or its equivalent, an undergraduate GPA of 2.75, a current resume, a completed online application, official transcripts, three professional references, and proof of English language proficiency for students whose first language is not English.

Comprising 36 credits, the program includes courses such as project management techniques, tools and practices; contracts and insurance; project finance and accounting; strategic resources management; managerial finance; and strategic marketing and operations management.

The university also offers a PMI-accredited project management concentration. Graduates of these programs will be ready for positions such as industrial production managers, construction managers, construction project managers, and construction senior project managers.

Location: Northfield, VT
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP); New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Expected Time to Completion: 18 months
Estimated Tuition: $808 per credit

Lamar University’s 30-credit MBA in construction project management is offered fully online. The curriculum prepares students to integrate business strategy skills into their hands-on building experience so they can successfully coordinate projects at local, national, or international levels.

The curriculum includes courses such as advanced construction planning and scheduling; construction cost management; advanced construction projects; conflict and negotiation management, and sustainable construction practices. Core MBA classes are eight-week courses covering accounting; international business; strategic management; marketing management; and financial management.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university, submit a completed online application, and submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. There are waivers available for GMAT or GRE scores. Students with non-business undergraduate degrees may be required to take three leveling courses.

Location: Beaumont, TX
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: $420.86 per credit (residents); $887.24 per credit (non-residents)

Students at Everglades can pursue an on-campus or online MBA with a concentration in construction management. Students in this MBA program will be able to apply advanced theoretical knowledge and concepts from all functional business areas.

Core coursework includes accounting for decision-makers; leadership skills for managers; managerial finance; human resource management; and marketing management. Construction management courses include strategic management of construction organizations; advanced construction estimating; construction scheduling and planning strategy; and legal aspects in construction. The program comprises 36 credits.

Location: Boca Raton, FL
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: $10,680 per year

MTSU offers the country’s only online MBA concentration that provides a closer look at one area of construction: concrete. The concrete industry management executive MBA program combines business fundamentals, in-depth information about how concrete businesses are structured, and knowledge of how the industry operates at national and international levels.

The 37-credit curriculum covers core courses such as accounting information for managers; leading organizations; supply chain operations; marketing strategy; and applied business analytics. Concentration courses include concrete construction sustainability, troubleshooting; project management in concrete and construction; and concrete and construction costs and controls. Most learning occurs online, but students must visit the campus to network with fellow cohorts.

Graduates can pursue positions such as senior project managers, managers of technical services, regional sales managers, and operations managers.

Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 15 months
Estimated Tuition: $663 per credit (residents); $961 per credit (non-residents)
8 The University of Southern Indiana, Romain College of Business (Related Program: Engineering Management)

The MBA program through the Romain College of Business is available online or as a combination of online and on-campus courses. Students interested in advancing in the construction sector can consider the engineering management concentration—a field related to construction management—which focuses on the principles and practices of supply chain management, quality management, and project management.

The 30-credit program also offers information about leadership opportunities in technology, manufacturing, research and development, and general business skills. Students in this program gain the knowledge they need to take the lead in quality control, supply chain distribution, and project management.

For admission to the program, applicants will need a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university, a minimum grade point average of 2.5, official transcripts, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. GMAT or GRE waivers are also available.

Upon completing the program, graduates can take up roles such as engineering, architectural, construction, industrial, and IT managers.

Location: Evansville, IN
Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 11 months
Estimated Tuition: $430 per credit

Boise State University’s online MBA program with a concentration in construction management equips students with the credibility and skills they need to rise as leaders in engineering, construction, or architectural industries.

Admission requirements for the program include a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, two years of work experience working full time in a managerial role, a GPA of 3.0, GMAT or GRE test scores (waivers available), a detailed resume, a personal statement, a 500-word essay, and two recommendation letters.

Made up of 49 credits, the program includes courses such as leadership in architecture, engineering, and construction; architecture, engineering, and construction project management; architecture, engineering, and construction company management; design thinking and strategic management; marketing strategy; and people and organizations.

Graduates will be well-positioned to take up roles such as architectural and engineering managers, civil engineering managers, contracts managers, project engineers, and site supervisors.

Location: Boise, ID
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: $750 per credit

Liberty University’s online MBA program has several concentration options and project management is one of them. This 100 percent online concentration helps students in advancing their project management understanding and sets them apart as leaders in their organization.

Comprising 45 credits, this program includes coursework in global project management; advanced project management; operations management; policy & strategy in global competition; global economic environment; organizational design & structure; and strategic marketing management.

Applicants to the program must have a regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 3.0. Application requirements include a completed online application, official college transcripts, and proof of English proficiency for international students.

Graduates will be prepared to sit for the CAPM examination, a credential conferred through the Project Management Institute (PMI). They will be ready to take up positions such as assistant project managers, project schedulers, and senior project managers.

Location: Lynchburg, VA
Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Estimated Tuition: $565 per credit

Professors to Know in Schools Offering Online MBAs in Construction Management

  • Lynn Godkin, PhD, Lamar University

    Dr. Lynn Godkin is a professor of management at Lamar University, teaching a variety of courses in areas such as organizational behavior, human resource management, compensation, and general principles of management. Previously associated with the Small Business Development Center at the University of Houston, Dr. Godkin helped startup companies get off the ground.

    Notably, he earned his PhD in policy and strategy with minors in labor economics and human resource management from the University of North Texas and has published several scholarly papers in influential peer-reviewed journals.

  • W. Sanford Miller Jr., MA, Norwich University

    W. Sanford Miller Jr. brings extensive international industry, non-profit, and military experience to the MBA courses he teaches. Mr. Miller studied at Norwich, Harvard, and Columbia business schools, and received a master’s degree from Fairfield University.

    Previously, Mr. Miller was a partner at Building Blok, a software company in the construction industry. He also has experience in marketing strategy for large companies including GE Capital and CIGNA. Mr. Miller served as CEO and president for Allergy Control Products and has been a consultant to various schools and companies.

  • Scott Seipel, PhD, Middle Tennessee State University

    Dr. Scott Seipel is an associate professor at MTSU, specializing in data analytics, data science, and business intelligence. He teaches courses in the general MBA program and the concrete industry management concentration within the MBA program. Dr. Seipel earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a PhD from the University of Texas, Arlington.

    Along with teaching, he offers personal consultations to companies and municipalities needing assistance with data analytics, including Bridgestone/Firestone and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Notably, he was the founder of a forensic animation company.

Admission Requirements For Online MBA in Construction Management Programs

Each MBA program varies in what is required for admissions. General application requirements derived from the programs above include:

  • Completed application and fee
  • Personal statement of interest
  • References/letters of recommendation
  • GMAT/GRE scores (sometimes waived with significant professional or academic experience)
  • Undergraduate degree in business or a related field
  • Transcripts demonstrating a competitive GPA
  • TOEFL scores for foreign students

Accreditation and State Authorization of Online MBA Programs

Companies seeking the best and brightest in business want to make sure that future employees have graduated from programs that offer proper and relevant information. Accredited schools have programs that are up-to-date based on industry standards; include vital subjects; and have learning modules and resources in relevant knowledge areas. Earning accreditation can involve regular campus visits by an accrediting organization, student and faculty surveys, graduation rate or career placement evaluations, industry involvement opportunities, and alumni support measures.

For MBA programs specifically, the Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) focuses on promoting and improving programs in business administration, management, human resources, and real estate for larger, research-based institutions. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) is another accrediting body for business education, focusing on tangible learning outcomes and quality improvement.

Although not required to work in construction management, construction management graduates can pursue credentialing as a Certified Construction Manager (CCM) through the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA).

As a final note, prospective MBA students interested in enrolling in distance learning programs should ensure that each program is offered in the student’s state of residence. To legally offer to program across state lines, programs must adhere to each state’s regulations for education, or adhere to universal standards as outlined by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). Students can find out if a program is offered in their state by checking the program’s website or speaking to an admissions officer.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani
Writer

Farheen Gani is an expert in online MBA programs, having covered MBA programs in computer science, economics, healthcare management, and fraud and forensics, among others, since 2018. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).