Master of Science - Construction Management

Plan Description

The Master of Science degree in Construction Management provides graduate-level study for those seeking mid- and upper-level management positions in the construction industry or continued study for the doctorate. Students with degrees in construction management, engineering, science, architecture and business, as well as related disciplines are invited to apply. Applications for admission to the program are evaluated on an individual basis by the program’s faculty.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Candidates can be admitted on a regular or provisional status. Qualified applicants who are not admitted on either status can take graduate courses as a non-degree student. A maximum of 15 credits taken as a UNLV non-degree graduate student may be applied toward the M.S.C.M. degree.

To be considered for admission:

1. Applicants must have an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year college or university with preferred study in construction, engineering, architecture, business, or closely related area.
2. Overall undergraduate GPA should be at least 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor’s degree or at least 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years of undergraduate work.
3. Credit (in semester hours) must have been earned in the following subjects or their equivalents:

MATH 181 – Calculus I

PHYS 151/151L – General Physics I

CEM 250/250L – Construction Materials & Methods

CEM 270 – Construction Engineering Mechanics

A course in construction or engineering graphics

The leveling courses required of a student before entering the M.S. program will be determined on an individual basis. The student will be notified in writing of any deficiencies prior to admission to the program. Students with deficiencies exceeding two courses may need to satisfactorily complete them before admission to the graduate program.

4. The applicant must obtain a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as determined by the Graduate Program Committee (GPC).
5. Each applicant must submit to the program two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with their knowledge, skills and abilities, and a one-page Statement of Objectives describing the reasons why they wish to earn a master’s degree and indicating the area of concentration within the construction management discipline in which they wish to pursue graduate work.
6. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1: Thesis Track
Subplan 2: Non-Thesis Track

Subplan 1 Requirements: Thesis Track

Total Credits Required: 30

Course Requirements 

Required Courses – Credits: 13

CEM 651 - Construction Estimating 

CEM 653 - Construction Scheduling and Resource Optimization 

CEM 700 - Research Methods in Construction Management 

MBA 775 - Data Modeling and Analysis 

Core Course – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

CEM 750 - Advanced Construction Scheduling 

CEM 751 - Construction Cost Analysis and Estimating 

Specialty Course – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

CEM 685 - Construction Law and Contracts 

CEM 740 - Construction Safety and Performance Improvement 

CEM 775 - Construction Operations and Management 

CEM 705 - Construction Engineering Management 

Elective Courses – Credits: 5

Complete 5 credits of elective coursework.

Thesis – Credits: 6

CEM 797 - Research Thesis in Construction Engineering and Management 

Degree Requirements 

1. Completion of at least 30 credits, comprised of 18 required 600/700-level credits of CEM and MBA course work, 6 credits of approved electives, and 6 credits of thesis research. The final examination will include a defense of the thesis.
2. MBA 775 and CEM 700 must be completed within the first two semesters of study.
3. Other courses may be substituted upon written permission of the student’s graduate faculty advisor. Students who have credit in CEM 451 and CEM 453 or equivalent courses will select two other courses from the approved elective list.
4. The thesis option program of study will be jointly developed by the student and advisor, approved by the student’s advisory committee.
5. Student’s pursuing the thesis option shall have an Advising Committee composed of at least four members of the UNLV Graduate Faculty of which at least two must be tenured or tenure-track members of the Construction Management Program, the third from the Construction Management Program or a related field, and the fourth must be appointed by the Graduate College.
6. Completion of a thesis requires the student to make a unique contribution to the existing knowledge in the field of construction management or engineering. The effort must include the development of a contemporary research topic and the methodology for investigating the topic. The student is required to undertake the research effort to investigate the topic. The thesis prepared as part of this option shall include a literature review, description of the research topic, methodology, and results, and present conclusions obtained from the research effort and recommendations for further work.
7. Each student’s program should show suitable breadth and coherence, as specified in the Graduate Catalog. Prior to filing, the program must receive approval by the student’s committee. An approved program must be filed before the completion of nine credits of course work after admission (regular or provisional). The responsibility rests with the student. Students will be dropped from the graduate engineering program if they neglect this requirement.
8. Students must make satisfactory progress and comply with all Graduate College and Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering policies. If progress is not satisfactory, probation and separation from the graduate program may result, in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College. Satisfactory progress is defined as filing an proposed graduate degree program before the completion of 16 credit hours of course work, completion of at least six credits of the approved program per calendar year, maintenance of a GPA of 3.00 (4.00), no grades below C and compliance with the letter and spirit of the Graduate Catalog and published policies of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. Additionally, no more than nine credits below B are allowed in the student’s graduate program. If progress is not satisfactory, probation and separation may result, in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College. Any student whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on probation and will have two semesters to raise it to 3.00 or above. Students who are awarded a graduate assistantship must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester and must elect the thesis option.

Graduation Requirements 

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. The student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted hard-copy thesis to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.

Subplan 2 Requirements: Non-Thesis Track

Total Credits Required: 36

Course Requirements 

Required Courses – Credits: 13

CEM 651 - Construction Estimating 

CEM 653 - Construction Scheduling and Resource Optimization 

CEM 700 - Research Methods in Construction Management 

MBA 775 - Data Modeling and Analysis 

Core Course – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

CEM 750 - Advanced Construction Scheduling 

CEM 751 - Construction Cost Analysis and Estimating 

Specialty Course – Credits: 3

Complete one of the following courses:

CEM 685 - Construction Law and Contracts 

CEM 740 - Construction Safety and Performance Improvement 

CEM 775 - Construction Operations and Management 

CEM 705 - Construction Engineering Management 

Elective Courses – Credits: 14

Complete 14 credits of advisor-approved elective coursework.

Special Project – Credits: 3

CEM 796 - Special Project in Construction Engineering and Management 

Degree Requirements 

1. Completion of at least 36 credits comprised of 18 required 600/700-level credits of CEM and MBA course work, 15 credits of approved electives of which nine credits must be 600/700-level credits of CEM.
2. MBA 775 and CEM 700 must be completed within the first two semesters of study.
3. Other courses may be substituted upon written permission of the student’s graduate faculty advisor. Students who have credit in CEM 451 and CEM 453 or equivalent courses will select two other courses from the approved elective list.
4. The project option program of study will be jointly developed by the student and advisor.
5. Completion of a project requires the student to investigate and solve, or propose solutions to, a problem related to the field of construction management. It is expected that the results of this effort will be beneficial for and applied to other construction-related projects or problems. The project report prepared for this option shall include a description of the issue investigated, how the investigation was performed, the results obtained, conclusions regarding the investigation, and recommendations for further work.
6. Each student’s program should show suitable breadth and coherence, as specified in the Graduate Catalog. Prior to filing, the program must receive approval by the student’s committee. An approved program must be filed before the completion of nine credits of course work after admission (regular or provisional). The responsibility rests with the student. Students will be dropped from the graduate engineering program if they neglect this requirement.
7. Students must make satisfactory progress and comply with all Graduate College and Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering policies. If progress is not satisfactory, probation and separation from the graduate program may result, in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College. Satisfactory progress is defined as filing an proposed graduate degree program before the completion of 16 credit hours of course work, completion of at least six credits of the approved program per calendar year, maintenance of a GPA of 3.00 (4.00), no grades below C and compliance with the letter and spirit of the Graduate Catalog and published policies of the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering. Additionally, no more than nine credits below B are allowed in the student’s graduate program. If progress is not satisfactory, probation and separation may result, in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College. Any student whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on probation and will have two semesters to raise it to 3.00 or above. Students who are awarded a graduate assistantship must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester and must elect the thesis option.

Graduation Requirements 

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. Successfully complete a project.

Plan Graduation Requirements

Refer to your subplan for Graduation Requirements.

Subplan 1 Requirements: Thesis Track
Subplan 2 Requirements: Non-Thesis Track