North Dakota State University

Graduate Certificate in Construction Management

The Program of Graduate Certificate in Construction Management provides an on-line course learning experiences constituting a distinct knowledge-base and a specific set of associated skills within the areas of estimating, scheduling, and project management at the graduate level. These three areas constitute a body of knowledge that represents the fundamental core of construction management. The Graduate Certificate in Construction Management Program consists of eleven credits encompassing the following three (3) courses: CM&E 603 - Scheduling and Project Control (4 credits); CM&E 611 - Construction Cost Estimating (4 credits); and CM&E 612 - Construction Management (3 credits). This Program is administered through the Distance and Continuing Education  at NDSU.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the Graduate Certificate in Construction Management Program applicants must:

1. Have earned a baccalaureate degree in construction, engineering, architecture, or other related discipline with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or equivalent to attain full standing.
2. Submit of an official transcript.
3. Submit a two-page resume.
4. Submit a one-page “Statement of Purpose” outlining reasons for pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Construction Management.
5. Submit three (3) letters of recommendation.
6. Submit applications directly to the NDSU Graduate School via the on-line application process.

International applicants must meet the minimum requirements on measures of general English language proficiency if whose first language is not English and who do not possess a US bachelor's degree or higher. The accepted measures of language proficiency are the TOEFL ibT, IELTS or the PTE Academic, as indicated below.

For the Certificate in Construction Management Program, application deadlines are May 1 for admission to the fall semester and October 1 for admission to the spring semester.

Degree and Credit Requirements

The Graduate Certificate Program in Construction Management requires the successful completion of eleven (11) credits of coursework, specifically:

CM&E 603 - Scheduling and Project Control (4 credits)
This course provides a discussion on the theories, principles, and techniques of construction planning and scheduling with an emphasis on time management, costs, and resources through the preparation and analysis of network schedules.

CM&E 611 - Construction Cost Estimating (4 credits)
This course provides an advanced discussion of quantity takeoffs, labor, materials, equipment, and overhead costs, profit, and bidding strategies for construction projects.

CM&E 612 - Construction Management (3 credits)
This course provides a discussion of the organization of project information, contract administration, project delivery systems, construction management methods, constructability review, value engineering, and construction productivity.

Only grades of C or higher will satisfy requirement for certificate completion with a CGPA of 3.0 or greater. The Dean of the Graduate School, using official NDSU transcripts, will verify course completion and issue the certificate. Courses used to satisfy the Graduate Certificate requirements cannot be older than three years at the time the certificate completion is verified.

Graduate assistantships, tuition waivers, and financial aid offered by the CM&E Department, the Graduate School, or NDSU are not available to students in the Graduate Certificate in Construction Management Program.

Department Contact

Yong Bai, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE
Chair and Professor
Phone: (701) 231-6521
E-mail: yong.bai@ndsu.edu