College of Engineering

Department of Construction Management

Graduate Program Director : Dr. Syed M. Ahmed
Department’s Phone Number : (305) 348-2730
Department’s FAX Number : (305) 348-6255

For More Information, go to

• Program's web site
• Department of Construction Management web site

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Brief Description of the Program:

       Construction and construction related industries comprise approximately 7% of the gross domestic product and employs 6% of the working population of the United States. No other single segment of the economic engine affects more people than that which deal with the built environment. Whether it is housing, commercial ventures, or infrastructure such as highways and public structures, everyone is affected on a daily basis by these industries and their products.

       The Department of Construction Management at Florida International University is moving forward in its quest for excellence and a reputation as the program of choice for individuals seeking education in the profession.

       It is one of the larger and, with respect to its curriculum, academically stronger of the Construction Management programs in United States. According to the data published in Engineering News Record, It ranks second in the size of its graduate program when compared to its benchmark schools. A review of websites of other well-known Construction management programs indicates that it is in the top ten with respect to the size of its graduate program.

The program derives its principal strengths from five areas:

The support of the industry:
The support of the industry for the Department’s programs exists but needs to be strengthened. The perception of the programs as a “freebee” for the industry needs to be changed to one of active support for expansion of facilities, endowments, and scholarships.

The curriculum:
The curriculum of the Department is sound and meets or exceeds the expectations of the industry and the accrediting organization in every category.

The adjunct faculty:
The use of an extensive adjunct faculty to augment the instruction provided by the regular faculty provides a rewarding educational experience for the students.

The student body:
The student body represents an unusual but singularly dedicated group of individuals who are willing to pursue an education in their chosen profession while, for the most part, working full time, supporting families, and being productive members of their community.

The distance-learning program:
The Department’s distance-learning program, unique amongst all of the Construction Management programs in the United States, provides the impetus for expanding enrollment.

       Apart from the distance-learning program, the Department has traditionally served the non-traditional student, offering classes in the late afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

       While the typical stereotype of construction is that of a male dominated industry, the Department’s enrollment statistics for the Fall 2002 term showed that 28% of the graduate students were women. This reflects a national trend of increasing numbers of women in managerial positions throughout the construction industry.

       Thus, by becoming the school of choice for individuals seeking to learn more about the profession of construction management, the Department supplements and builds upon the mission of the University to serve the nation and the international community. Through its on-campus and distance-learning programs, the Department imparts knowledge of construction management to individuals seeking greater proficiency in the construction processes, reinforcing the College’s goal of education and focused inquiry. By promoting public service, the Department is in tune with both the College and the University in its application of knowledge and individual commitment to the betterment of the built environment. The faculty also seeks to instill in students a concept of ethical conduct that can be applied in their professional and personal lives.

       The faculty of the Department fosters the development of new knowledge of the construction process by engaging in research and other scholarly activities. This includes not only funded research (from State agencies, National Hurricane Center, etc.,), but also scholarly publications such as journal articles, seminars, and papers presented at various academic and professional meetings.

Application Requirements:

• In order to be admitted, applicants should hold a Bachelor's Degree in Construction, Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Business or equivalent related fields.
• Students with baccalaureate degrees in other fields may be accepted with the understanding that they will be required to take specified basic courses to provide an adequate background for more advanced courses.
• Student must have earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the upper division course work related to their undergraduate degree.
• They must have obtained a combined score of at least 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions only of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or a minimum score of 500 on the Graduate Management Admissions (GMAT), and have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in the upper division course work related to their undergraduate degree.

Additional Requirements for International Students:

• In addition to the above criteria, foreign students must take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam and obtain a score of 550 or better on a paper based exam or 213 or better on a computer based exam.