Construction Engineering and Management Program

Contact Information

Heidi E Wagner, PhD
Program Coordinator
Civil/Mechanical 123
(605) 394-2704
E-mail: Heidi.Wagner@sdsmt.edu

Dr. Scott J. Kenner, P.E., Department Head
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil/Mechanical 122
(605) 394-2513
E-mail: Scott.Kenner@sdsmt.edu

Faculty

Clifford J Bienert
Instructor
Civil/Mechanical 245
(605) 394-2439
Email: Clifford.Bienert@sdsmt.edu

Keith P. Whitaker
Adjunct Instructor
Email: Keith.Whitaker@sdsmt.edu

Steven Becker, MS, CEP
Adjunct Instructor: Environment, Sustainability, and Cultural Affairs
E-mail: Steve.Becker@sdsmt.edu

Roger L. Hall
Adjunct Instructor
(605) 394-2439
Email: Roger.Hall@sdsmt.edu

MS in Construction Engineering and Management

The Master of Science in Construction Engineering and Management (MSCM) degree is designed to provide a program of advanced study for candidates anticipating a managerial career in the design and construction industry. In addition to an available parallel course delivery in a distance mode, flexibility is built into the program to provide an optimum educational experience for working students.

Degree Options

The Construction Engineering and Management program offers a Certificate for both Undergraduate and Graduate Students and a MS CEM non-thesis degree, all delivered on campus or in parallel synchronous or asynchronous distance modes. The CEM MS is also available as an accelerated master’s for SDSMT undergraduate students.

Practicing professionals or students seeking to enhance their marketability for upper level management positions in various construction related industries may be initially interested in the 12-hour certificate in Construction Engineering and Management. Successful completion of four certificate courses with grades of “B” or better will qualify the student for further studies leading to the Master of Science (MS) degree in Construction Engineering and Management.

Accelerated MS option

An accelerated Master of Science degree program is available for qualified seniors enrolled in engineering BS programs at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The accelerated master’s degree program allows BS engineering students to take up to nine (9) graduate level credits to simultaneously meet undergraduate and graduate degree program requirements. The courses must be taken at the 500/600 level as an undergraduate.

Additional policies concerning accelerated MS degrees can be found in the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees by the Council of Graduate Education.

Outcomes

Graduates leave the program with the capacity to contribute to the (1) managerial, (2) technical, and (3) organizational aspects of the construction project as viewed from the perspective of the owner, design professional, and constructor.

Financial support

Assistantships and/or fellowships are currently not available.

Background requirements

The construction engineering and management coursework is geared towards the working construction professional. Many students enter the program immediately after completing an appropriate undergraduate degree in the traditional disciplines of civil, electrical, mechanical, architectural, or industrial engineering. The successful applicant will have:

A GPA of 3.00 or better ;
Mathematics courses to include algebra, basic calculus, and statistics; and
Six semester hours of natural and physical science typically completed as a general education requirement in the fields of geology, astronomy, biology, meteorology, chemistry, and physics; to include at least 3 credit hours of chemistry or physics.

Admission requirements

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended for all applicants from non-ABET accredited institutions. Three letters of recommendation are required from those familiar with the applicant’s past experience and with an understanding of their likelihood of success in graduate studies. A personal statement from the applicant explaining their goals and how the program will be used to accomplish those goals is required. The TOEFL exam is required for students whose native language is not English.

Transfer credits

Policies for transferring credits from outside institutions can be found in the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees by the Council of Graduate Education. All transfers are subject to approval by the student’s advisor or advisory committee.