Nov 25, 2024  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
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2012-2013 Graduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

MASTER OF SCIENCE - CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

The Master of Science - Construction Management degree 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.

Admission Requirements

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 towards this 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 Construction Management 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.

  1. The applicant must obtain a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as determined by the Graduate Program Committee (GPC).
  2. Applicants from countries where English is not the native language, or do not receive a degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction, must show competency in English. A minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL), of at least 213 (computerized), or 550 (written), or 80 (Internet-based) or the Michigan Test with a score of 85. An official report of the score must be submitted to the Graduate College.
  3. Please refer to the sections under Admission and Registration Information for complete details of Graduate College application deadlines, admission requirements, and application procedures for domestic and international students. Admission is on a competitive basis.
  4. Each applicant must submit official transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions to the Graduate College.
  5. Each applicant must also 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.

 

Degree Requirements

Procedures and requirements for the Construction Management M.S. degree will be as prescribed by the Graduate College under Academic Policies , with additional provisions as follows:

1. Each student in conjunction with the Program’s Graduate Coordinator will select either the Thesis option or Project Option.

a. Thesis Option.

i. 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.

ii. Requires completion of at least 30 credits, comprised of 18 required 600/700-level credits of CEM and MBA course work (see 2.a and 2.b below), six credits of approved electives, and six credits of thesis research. The final examination will include a defense of the thesis. 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.

iii. The thesis option student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s advisory committee.

b. Project Option.

Requires completion of at least 36 credits comprised of 18 required 600/700-level credits of CEM and MBA course work (see 2.a and 2.b), 15 credits of approved electives of which nine credits must be 600/700-level credits of CEM (see 2.c).

Additional course requirement:

 

  (minimum 3 credits)

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.

2. Program course requirements. Both graduate degree options require students to:

a. Complete the following courses:

   
   
   
 

  
  or
   
 

   
  or
   
  or
   
  or
   
   

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.

b. Complete the following courses within the first two semesters of study:

 

 

c. The student’s graduate program to show suitable breadth and coherence. As specified in the Academic Policies  section of this catalog, the proposed graduate degree program must be submitted to the Graduate College prior to completion of 16 credit hours of course work toward the degree. The responsibility for meeting this requirement rests with the student. Students will be placed on probation or separated from the program if they neglect this requirement.

i. The thesis option program of study will be jointly developed by the student and advisor, approved by the student’s committee, and then filed with the Graduate College.

ii. The project option program of study will be jointly developed by the student and advisor, then filed with the Graduate College.

3. Performance Requirements: 

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 9 credit hours per semester and must elect the thesis option.