Construction projects need leaders. People who are able to command attention, direct others to action and think quickly to produce results. This is the case whether the construction might be roads, bridges, buildings, dams, sewage treatment plants, water towers, or a host of other structures that require the combination of people and materials to get the job done.
Interested?
UW-Stout’s Construction program is designed to produce leaders with the organizational, analytical, technical and communication abilities to direct the most complicated construction operations. The program is unique because it is oriented toward understanding the construction process as well as the business and management end of construction, unlike some programs that focus on the engineering or technology component. This program is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).
The Construction program curriculum provides a blend of management, business, communications, science, math, liberal studies, architectural, engineering and construction courses to prepare you for the multitude of career options in construction. Professional opportunities for construction graduates include project management, estimating, scheduling, safety, architecture, engineering and project supervision.
Employers look for construction graduates who can analyze situations, communicate effectively with others and not break under pressure. You’ll develop these skills in UW-Stout’s Construction program. Courses in management, organizational leadership and principles of marketing teach you the communication abilities you will need to work with others in the construction industry. Classes in structural systems, site engineering, construction methods and materials, estimating, architectural technology and environmental systems prepare you for the technical side of developing construction projects.
Modern and well-equipped construction, design and computer laboratories provide you with hands-on experience in learning the construction industry. Furthermore, a required cooperative education or field experience will give you practical real-world training that will be a plus when looking for a job. Instructors include professional architects, engineers, builders and construction managers who will provide you with the experiences they have gained from working in the field.
Preparing for UW-Stout
High school preparation is important if you want to study construction at UW-Stout. Since the construction curriculum requires calculus and physics, it is recommended that you take as many math and science classes as possible. Students with a limited math background may have to take preparatory classes to reach the calculus competency level. Courses in English and communications are also highly recommended because people in the construction industry must know how to write and communicate if they are to succeed. High school business and general education courses are also recommended.
Starting Out
A strong balance exists between general education and professional requirements in the first two years of study. Courses the first year include English, sociology, geology, architectural graphics, speech, calculus, light construction methods and psychology. The orientation to construction industry class is an introduction to construction that will acquaint you with career opportunities and professional organizations.
It is recommended that you join the Student Construction Association (SCA). This organization will help prepare you to compete with others looking for jobs in the construction industry. Employers look for membership in the SCA because it shows a committment to the construction industry.
The first year is important because you must prepare an academic plan if you expect to graduate in four years. Some courses your sophomore year include accounting, economics, architectural technology, heavy construction methods and equipment, concrete and masonry technology, physics, government and principles of management. Instructors will assist you with your academic plan and career choices. Assistance is also available through the Advisement and Career Centers, the Counseling Center and Career Services.
As You Progress
Employers look for people with the ability to solve problems. This is what the upper-level courses will teach you. Classes in structural systems, writing, environmental systems, estimating, construction safety, organizational leadership, project scheduling and cost control, human resource management, and management of construction prepare you to understand the basic construction process. The Student Construction Association sponsors local projects that will provide you with experience in constructing garages and home additions, as well as small projects such as installing windows, siding and insulation.
A cooperative education or field experience must be completed before you can graduate. UW-Stout requires this experience because employers nearly always look for this when hiring — it shows them that you have a feel for what is happening in the field. People with the most field experience get hired first and generally receive the highest salary.
Entry Positions
Most Construction program graduates will enter the industry in assistant positions as project engineers or managers, field engineers, estimators, or schedulers. Some graduates may enter the trades and serve an apprenticeship or they may start their own companies and become a professional contractor. Job opportunities are excellent, particularly for people from the Midwest because of the strong work ethic associated with the region. Economic cycles do play a role, especially in housing, but less so in commercial, industrial, institutional or heavy construction. Grade point average is a factor, but what matters more is field experience, work ethic and personal integrity. The average beginning salary for 2006–07 construction graduates ranged from $20,000 to $76,000 and averaged $47,000. The employment rate of program graduates was 98 percent.