Construction Management Technology, MSCMT

Location(s): West Lafayette

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About the Program

The Master of Science in Construction Management Technology (MSCMT) at Purdue University Polytechnic Institute Bowen School of Construction prepares graduates to lead complex construction initiatives through advanced management strategy, applied technology integration, and evidence-based decision-making. The program combines rigorous analytical coursework with industry-relevant applications to support leadership in residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure construction environments.

Grounded in the Polytechnic model of applied learning and industry engagement, the MSCMT emphasizes systems thinking, data-driven management, innovation in construction technologies, sustainability, risk mitigation, and organizational leadership. Students develop advanced competencies in financial management, project controls, quality and production systems, legal frameworks, emerging technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), and strategic operations management.

The program is designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution. Graduates are prepared for advanced professional roles including senior project management, preconstruction leadership, operations management, infrastructure systems oversight, and executive-level decision-making within construction enterprises.

Through interdisciplinary electives across Purdue University, students may tailor their plans of study to align with career goals in areas such as sustainable construction, infrastructure systems, risk management, finance, human factors, advanced building systems, and strategic organizational leadership.

Graduates of the MSCMT program are equipped to manage increasingly complex construction environments characterized by technological transformation, regulatory demands, and sustainability expectations.

The program offers thesis or coursework only options. See below for each set of requirements.

Thesis option: The Master of Science thesis option provides structured preparation in research methodology, scholarly writing, and analytical inquiry. Under faculty supervision, students conduct original research that advances knowledge or applied practice in construction management technology. This pathway is particularly suited for those pursuing doctoral study, research-intensive careers, consulting roles, or innovation leadership within large organizations.

Coursework option: The Master of Science coursework option provides a professionally focused, practice-oriented graduate experience emphasizing advanced technical depth, strategic management capability, and integration of emerging technologies within construction systems. This pathway is well suited for experienced professionals seeking advancement, specialization, or executive leadership preparation.

Program Website

Program Requirements - Thesis & Coursework Only

33 Credits Required

Required Courses (15 credits)

Statistics Selective (3 credits)

Choose one.

PSY 60000 - Statistical Inference Credit Hours: 3.00
STAT 50100 - Experimental Statistics I Credit Hours: 3.00
STAT 51100 - Statistical Methods Credit Hours: 3.00

Primary Area Selectives (12 credits)

Students should choose 500/600-level CM courses (except for CM 59800 and CM 69800) as deemed appropriate by the student’s Graduate Committee. Suggested courses listed below.

CM 50500 - Construction Finance And Company Management Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 50800 - Human Factors In Construction And Transportation Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 51000 - Topics In Environmentally Sustainable Construction, Design And Development Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 51100 - Energy Conserving Building Retrofit Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 51800 - Building Information Modeling And Sustainability Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 52000 - Preconstruction Project Management Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 52500 - Managing Construction Quality And Production Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 52600 - Value Engineering - Functional Analysis Of Systems And Techniques Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 53000 - Construction Operations And Strategic Management Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 53500 - Construction Accounting And Financial Management Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 53600 - Highway Construction And Quality Control Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 53800 - Roadway Infrastructure Management Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 54000 - Law For Construction Managers Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 54500 - Construction Management Training And Development Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 54700 - Collaborative Project Delivery Models And Practices Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 54900 - Advanced Topics In Mechanical And Electrical Construction Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 55000 - Risk Management In Construction Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 55500 - Construction Leadership And Marketing Credit Hours: 3.00
CM 57000 - Analysis Of Research In Construction Credit Hours: 4.00
CM 59000 - Special Problems In Building Construction Management Technology Credit Hours: 1.00 to 6.00

Research Courses (3 credits)

Only required for MS thesis students. Select courses from the list below.

CM 56000 - Academic Writing Seminar I Credit Hours: 1.00
CM 56500 - Academic Writing Seminar II Credit Hours: 1.00
CM 58100 - Workshop In Building Construction Management Technology Credit Hours: 0.00 to 8.00 Titles: (Credit: 1.00) Research Seminar; Construction Research Fundamentals

Thesis Research (6 credits)

Only required for MS thesis students.

CM 69800 - Research MS Thesis Credit Hours: 1.00 to 18.00 - Credits: 6.00 Total

Related Area Electives (9-18 credits)

Students should choose courses related to their career interests. If elective courses are completed prior to filing a plan of study, the credits may or may not be approved for your graduate degree. These electives may include:

500/600-level CM courses (except for CM 59800 and CM 69800) as deemed appropriate by the student’s major professor.
Other graduate-level courses 500 and above from any college or school within Purdue University as deemed appropriate by the student’s major professor. This allows students to build interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary depth in their plans of study
Graduate-level independent study courses allow students to study appropriate subjects for which no established course exists, under the direct supervision of a qualified faculty member, as deemed appropriate by the student’s major professor. A maximum of 6 credits of independent study may be included in a plan of study.

Concentrations

Interdisciplinary concentrations:

Computational Science and Engineering

GPA Requirements

The student must complete all the courses and receive a grade of “B” or better for every course in the plan of study.

Graduate Programs Disclaimer

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor/department for more information.
Not all graduate programs may be actively recruiting students and course modality availability may vary.
Please refer to the Explore Graduate Programs website for a list of currently available graduate programs.
Transfer credit policy: Credits earned for graduate study at other universities (both domestic and international) may be applied toward an advanced degree. Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which grades of B- or better were obtained will be eligible for transfer. Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the various departments.
Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

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