Construction Degrees

Overview

Buildings are necessities of life in today's world; whether they are a place of living, work, healthcare, or utilitarian services such as bridges, roadways, and tunnels. Given the increasing population and the need for larger and better building spaces, construction engineers can look forward to a bright career. Construction degrees enable a person to work in the field of construction management. This involves various jobs such as construction design and architecture, constructing buildings, managing construction, quality enforcement and compliance, and teaching and research.

Construction managers apply different techniques, while dealing with a wide variety of personnel, workers, mid level supervisors, and owners to ensure that the construction project in question has the materials it needs and that it is progressing satisfactorily.

Benefits

Jobs in the field of construction will not only arise from the need to build new structures but also from the need to repair and replace existing structures. This implies that there will be a steady need for construction engineers in future. In addition to fulfilling the various criteria required by the job, a construction engineer also has the satisfaction of having created something valuable. At the entry level a construction engineer generally earns around $43,184 on an average per annum. Pursuing one of the many construction degrees can be a very wise and lucrative long-term career path.

Costs

The cost of attaining a degree in construction is approximately $25,000 a year. For an online or distance learning course, the cost depends on the type of degree and ranges from roughly $1,200 per semester to $32,950 a year.

Schools

It is possible to earn a degree in construction either online or full time from a university. Some schools that offer online programs are ITT Technical Institute, Everglades University, and Ashworth College. Full time programs can culminate in a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree. Arizona State University, Georgia Tech, and University of Florida offer various degree programs in construction.

Testing & Preparation

Non-native English speakers have to submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores for admission. For bachelor's program, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score needs to be submitted while for the post graduate programs the score from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test needs to be submitted. Taking the GRE subject test will be an added advantage when applying for doctoral programs. A graduate with a construction degree is certified by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) to work in the field of construction.

Financial Aid

Universities offering full time courses offer financial aid to deserving students in the form of grants, fellowships, and assistantships. Further information about scholarships is available at International Scholarships and Financial Aid Positions and Construct My Future. Students can also avail of loans from institutions such as Sallie Mae and Chase.