BS Construction Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Washington

Program Overview

The BS in Construction Management at the University of Washington prepares students for technical and managerial careers across the construction industry, combining construction science, project management, estimating, scheduling, technology, safety, and sustainable construction.

Who it suits: It is well suited to students interested in managing construction projects from planning and estimating through execution and control, with opportunities to develop skills in areas such as virtual construction, construction law, project management, construction methods, and building systems.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their technical and academic foundation through English Composition, PHYS 114/117 – Physics 1, PHYS 115/118 – Physics 2, mathematics, economics, and CM 220 – Communication for Built Environments. They also begin construction-specific digital preparation through CM 260 – Digital Tools, introducing technology relevant to the built-environment disciplines.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into core construction management practice through CM 414 – Virtual Construction, CM 410 – Estimating 2, CM 418 – Project Planning & Scheduling 1, CM 421 – Project Management, and CM 423 – Construction Law. Students also undertake CM 427 – Capstone 1 and CM 431 – Capstone 2, alongside subjects such as construction accounting, construction practice, and Lean Construction.

Year 3: Students deepen their technical understanding through courses including CM 310 – Introduction to the Construction Industry, CM 313 – Construction Methods and Materials I, CM 320 – Construction Contract Documents, CM 323 – Construction Methods and Materials II, CM 331 – Construction Estimating I, and CM 335 – Sustainable Construction. The program also covers building systems through CM 321 – Mechanical Systems in Buildings, CM 322 – Electrical Systems in Buildings, and practical subjects such as CM 332 – Construction Equipment Management, CM 333 – Construction Safety, and CM 334 – Construction Surveying.

Year 4: The final stage focuses strongly on project control and professional management through CM 410 – Construction Estimating II, CM 411 – Project Planning and Control, CM 414 – Virtual Construction, and CM 421 – Project Management I. Students then progress through CM 422 – Computer Applications in Construction, CM 434 – Lean Project Planning, CM 498 – Pre-capstone, and CM 431 – Project Management II (Capstone), bringing together technical, managerial, communication, cost, scheduling, and project-control skills.

Focus Areas

Focus areas: Construction project management, estimating and cost control, project planning and scheduling, construction methods and materials, virtual construction, construction technology, safety, surveying, sustainable construction, construction law, accounting, building systems, quality control, risk management, and Lean project planning.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to prepare construction safety plans, cost estimates and project schedules; analyze construction methods, materials and equipment; use electronic technology in construction management; apply surveying techniques; understand project delivery methods, accounting, quality control, project controls, construction law, sustainable construction, structural behavior, and HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems; and communicate effectively in written and oral formats.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Accreditation: The BS in Construction Management is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), with the department maintaining ongoing assessment of curriculum and student learning outcomes.

Industry connection: The department’s Construction Industry Advisory Council connects the program with construction-industry professionals and supports internships, part-time employment, field trips, guest lecturers, and industry engagement.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

QS ranking: The University of Washington is ranked #=92 in the QS World University Rankings 2027; this is an institutional ranking rather than a ranking specifically for the Construction Management program.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the BS Construction Management program at the University of Washington gain practical experience through project-based coursework, construction planning, estimating, scheduling, safety, and building technology. The program connects classroom learning with the construction industry through hands-on projects, field exposure, industry engagement, and access to specialized facilities and resources within the Department of Construction Management. Key experiential opportunities include:

Construction Management Labs: Students use dedicated instructional spaces for hands-on learning related to construction materials, methods, surveying, and building systems.
Building Information Modeling (BIM): Students develop digital construction-management skills using BIM and other industry-standard digital technologies for planning, coordination, and project visualization.
Construction Estimating: Coursework provides practical experience with construction quantity takeoffs, cost estimating, bidding, and project cost control.
Scheduling and Project Planning: Students work with construction scheduling and project-management techniques used to plan and control real construction projects.
Hands-on Construction Activities: Students apply construction methods and building-technology concepts through practical exercises involving materials, assemblies, and construction processes.
Industry Projects: Construction Management coursework incorporates project-based assignments that allow students to apply technical and management concepts to realistic construction scenarios.
Industry Connections: The program maintains strong connections with construction companies and industry professionals, providing opportunities for students to engage with the professional construction community.
Internships: Students are encouraged to gain professional experience through construction-industry internships, helping them connect academic learning with actual project environments.
Field Experience: Students can gain exposure to active construction environments and observe construction practices, project coordination, safety procedures, and building processes.
Safety Training: Students study construction safety and risk-management practices that are directly relevant to professional construction sites.
Collaborative Learning: Construction Management students work on team-based assignments and projects that develop communication, coordination, leadership, and problem-solving skills needed on construction teams.
University Libraries: Students have access to the University of Washington Libraries for research, technical information, construction references, and academic resources.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The University of Washington’s Construction Management graduates build careers across project delivery, estimating, field operations, scheduling, and construction management, with opportunities in both private and public-sector organizations. The program combines engineering, architecture, and business and includes required industry experience and a final capstone project presented to industry, helping students connect academic learning with professional practice.

Typical career roles: Project Engineer, Construction Project Manager, Estimator, Construction Superintendent.

Key progression and career opportunities include:

Internships: Undergraduate students are required to complete an internship before graduation, providing direct construction-industry experience.
Career Services: The department supports students through company presentations, guest speakers and panels, faculty mentor connections, the annual Construction Management Career Expo, and the College of Built Environments Career Fair.
Industry Connections: UW Construction Management works with local construction-industry partners that provide mentoring, research opportunities, scholarships, and career opportunities; companies also conduct interviews for summer jobs and paid internships.
Employment & Salary: A UW departmental survey of the 2022 graduating class reported an average starting salary of just over $75,000 per year; a UW 2024 program fact sheet reports an average salary of $80,000 for 2024 CM graduates.
Career Outcomes: UW identifies common entry-level opportunities in field supervision, construction management, project planning and scheduling, cost estimating, and sales, with employers including contractors, government agencies, developers, consultants, home-builders, and construction-material suppliers.
Industry-Focused Capstone: Students work in a cohort during the final two years and complete a real-world capstone project that culminates in a presentation to industry.
Professional Accreditation: The Bachelor of Science in Construction Management is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). UW states that maintaining ACCE accreditation requires the program to meet industry standards for content and quality, providing a recognized professional foundation for construction-management careers.
Long-Term Professional Development: UW also offers construction-management certificate programs, including a BIM certificate developed by the Center for Education and Research in Construction with Skanska, allowing professionals to develop additional BIM software and workflow skills.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor’s degree, students can continue into UW’s Master of Science in Construction Management, with research and professional pathways, or pursue graduate study in related built-environment fields. UW also offers an online Master of Science in Construction Management focused on heavy construction, as well as graduate options in areas such as real estate, infrastructure planning and management, and the Ph.D. in Built Environment.