Construction Project Management Certificate

Earn Your Construction Project Management Certificate Online

In any building project, efficient construction management serves as an important foundation for success. That’s why experienced construction project managers are always in demand and many are paid six-figure salaries for their talents and hard work. You’ll get a comprehensive overview of construction project management principles and best practices in this five-course, online certificate program that expands your knowledge and skill set, and looks great on your resume.

What Does a Construction Manager Do?

Construction project managers plan, coordinate, budget and supervise construction projects from start to finish. They coordinate and oversee construction of residential, commercial and industrial structures, and a wide variety of additional projects such as roads, bridges and infrastructure.

The duties of a construction project manager, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, typically include the following:

• Prepare cost estimates, budgets and work timetables
• Interpret and explain contracts and technical information to other professionals
• Report work progress and budget matters to clients
• Collaborate with architects, engineers and other construction specialists
• Select subcontractors and schedule and coordinate their activities
• Respond to work delays, emergencies and other problems
• Comply with legal requirements, building and safety codes, and other regulations

Construction project managers work closely with other building specialists, such as architects, civil engineers and a variety of trade workers, including electricians, carpenters and others. Depending on the project, construction managers may interact with lawyers, inspectors and local government officials. A construction manager may also consult with the client during the design phase to help refine construction plans and control costs.

Construction project managers may benefit from experience with certain software tools, such as cost-estimating and logistical software. Their goal is to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget.

Certificate Requirements

To earn the USD professional development certificate in construction project management, students are required to successfully complete the five required courses in this sequence with a final grade of C+ or better. Learn more about the University of San Diego’s Professional and Continuing Education Certificate Benefits and Policies.

COHORT SCHEDULE

Learning Method Information

Online Self-Paced

Our online self-paced courses are similar to online fixed-date courses, but are designed to give you a six-month period from time of enrollment to complete all assignments. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your assignments and exams. Grades are based on completed projects, assignments and exams.

How is the self-paced course structured? Like fixed-date courses, online self-paced courses are asynchronous meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime; the difference being there are no assigned due dates in self-paced courses. The content is divided into learning modules. Each module will cover one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:

• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, websites, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments (which may include: written assignments, quizzes, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
• Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.

Online Fixed-Date

Online Fixed-Date: Online fixed-date courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that enables you to collaborate with your instructor and other students in a shared, online learning environment. These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Our online fixed-date courses allow you to work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates.

How is the learning structured? In an online fixed-date course, you and your classmates will proceed through the curriculum together, collaborating in a shared learning experience. Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:

• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
• Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.

Curriculum

Here is a closer look at the five courses that comprise the University of San Diego’s Construction Project Management Certificate program:

• Project Management Fundamentals — A comprehensive overview of project management terminology, methodology, principles and best practices.
• Introduction to Construction Project Management — Through assigned reading, case studies, discussions and simulation of real-world construction projects, students learn develop a thorough understanding of aspects of project management unique to the construction industry.
• Scope, Schedule, Cost and Quality Management— Meeting the essential challenge of keeping projects on schedule and budget while managing countless moving parts is the theme of this course.  
• Resource, Communications, Risk and Procurement Management — Students learn about managing resources, risk, stakeholder relations; and how to use communication and presentation skills to keep everybody moving forward efficiently.
• Stakeholder & Financial Management & Health, Safety and Security — Stakeholder management isn’t just accountability to owners, developers and financiers; it also involves effectively communicating with labor unions, insurance interests, regulatory agencies and members of the community.

Benefits

Students who complete the Construction Project Management Certificate program will learn the skills and strategies needed to effectively manage building projects from start to finish. The benefits of acquiring this career-building expertise through the University of San Diego include:

• Leading-edge curriculum from a nationally ranked university
• Top-notch faculty who are also experienced practitioners
• Small class sizes with personalized support
• Convenient, flexible scheduling (complete the work on your own time while meeting deadlines)
• No application requirements
• Not only will you gain essential knowledge and skills you can use to advance your career, you’ll also receive a University of San Diego certificate documenting your academic achievement.

Accreditation

The University of San Diego’s Division of Professional and Continuing Education is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Senior College and University Commission (WASC).

Instructors

The faculty members at the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.

Frequently Asked Questions