I am considering their masters degree in construction management and I've been speaking with an enrollment adviser about their program. Things were moving a long until I asked about needing a bachelors in CM in order to apply. He said no so then I asked if there were prerequisites required before jumping into advanced courses. He said no again. That's when I started wondering if one could jump into a masters degree without the requisite knowledge of how to estimate, read blueprints, learning construction materials and methods, cost controls, scheduling and all the stuff you'd normally find in a bachelors program.
The adviser assured me that stuff wasn't really needed because it was much a management degree than an engineering degree.
I really want to jump on board but I am a little anxious. I wanted to ask in here if one can really jump into something like this with little to no experience in construction outside of a course I took in construction materials and construction contracts. I don't know estimating, bidding or scheduling. Do you really need to know that stuff? I don't want to slap down another 20k for the degree and be completely lost.
Has anyone heard anything about NewSchool's CM program? Any advice would help.
Thank you and I appreciate it in advance.
Non Sequitur
Nov 24, 16 9:22 am
CM programs are all the rage in my region and they pump out grads like crazy. The problem I've found on site is that far too mm at have never stepped foot on a construction site before or even swung a hammer. It is hard at the best of times to communicate details and assembly procedures to someone so green.
Scheduling, specifications, assembly sequencing are all key and much larger part of CM than just bid docs.
arivas208
Nov 24, 16 10:59 am
I would stay away from them. If you want a good construction management degree stick to a program that is accredited by the ACCE (American Council for Construction Education). I have a BS in construction management from Boise State University which is ACCE accredited.
Janosh
Nov 24, 16 11:57 am
New School is a for profit school, which is to say I'm not sure they are as interested in your education than they are your ability to secure loans to pay $40K a year. They are owned by Laureate International, who you should look up if you are thinking about going...
Ultimately, a CM program can teach you about contracts, liens and GANTTS, but it isn't going to make you a very good construction manager without real world experience.
manoverde84
Nov 24, 16 12:56 pm
I understand that the real world job site experience is crucial but I am not worried about that because I can easily secure some experience with my father in law's construction company. I can be on a job site easily. That I am not worried about. I understand that CM programs mainly teach management but I intend to get field experience.
The only thing is if I am going to be totally lost in a masters program for not having the relevant undergrad education to complete masters advanced courses. I know New School is for profit but I've heard good things about their ARch program. They tell me I don't need it and that I'll be fine because it's mainly a management program and not an engineering program. But we all know how enrollment specialists are with sweetening up a program to get you to sign up.
I was just wondering if it made sense to anyone to go into masters without a bachelors in CM? I have a bachelors in Economics. I have project management experience. I know Microsoft Project and can learn some of the scheduling tools on my own.
Arivas208, it seems there are few CM masters programs that are accredited. I'll see about online ones. But do employers really care about that? I've heard it doesn't matter where you get your CM degree because it's all about the job site experience anyways.
All in all I just want to know the basics of CM and earn a masters and then get my real world experience with my FIL's company before I go out there and apply to some big firms.
manoverde84
Nov 24, 16 1:04 pm
The reason why I was attracted to the degree is because it doesn't seem really engineering intensive at all. It seems to be very case study oriented, discussion oriented, and management centered. So it's just a management degree with construction as the concentration. I do like that and prefer that over some other CM degrees I've found but I just don't want to fall behind because I am missing pre-reqs. Even if I make it all the way through would not having estimating, scheduling or materials/methods under my belt from an undergrad course hurt me out in the field.
Either way I'll pick up whatever I am missing along the way. I just wanted to know if it was possible to earn an Masters without having the BS in CM?
Janosh
Nov 24, 16 3:08 pm
I don't see why a Masters in CM without a Bachelors in CM would be any hinderance - none of the good CM's I've worked with have degrees in CM at all...
manoverde84
Nov 24, 16 3:15 pm
LOL. Yeah I've heard that too. I didn't think it would be an issue considering I know so little people in the field that even have a CM degree. Good point.
Anything else I'll pick up in short online courses such as the basics of estimating, scheduling and such. I already know Microsoft office so I'll pick up Primavera. I think this masters program teaches you the methods based on case studies. That's why I think it would fit in with my background in PM and Economics. I just want a management degree with a concentration in construction.
manoverde84
Nov 24, 16 10:16 pm
Anyone else?
manoverde84
Nov 26, 16 3:53 pm
Actually is it true that many managers in construction don't even have a CM degree? I've heard about many who simply have business or management degree who enter the field and learn the rest through field experience by being an assistant on the job site.
I think I may have heard from some people that earning a CM degree isn't even worth it. The bachelors in whatever is good enough because everything you'll learn is on the job.
manoverde84
Nov 29, 16 11:15 pm
A better question is what is NewSchool's reputation in the AEC world?
manoverde84
Feb 22, 17 9:37 pm
Bumpity bump
Kidd
Feb 23, 17 7:25 am
Hey I go to school there. The CM program is top notch. Look up George Welch and try to get in contact with him personally. They do this Reno competition every year and they've taken 1st the past 3-4. Not sure how they will do this year.
I know some grads who work for Hensel Phelps and other firms out here. They go on construction sites pretty regularly and have firms come and talk to everyone about what they do etc.
manoverde84
Feb 23, 17 8:03 pm
Hi Brandon! Thanks for the info. So in the San Diego area it's pretty reputable?
Kidd
Feb 25, 17 2:06 pm
Yes. From what I've seen, all of the students are placed into a job and are working throughout the school year. I remember last year there was a firm coming in once a month to talk to students about what they do. They also make a heavy presence in the job fair.
manoverde84
Feb 25, 17 4:32 pm
Brandon, thanks for the info. I'm wondering if you know if NewSchool's rep stretches past the SD area to not only SoCal but around the country? Not just for CM but NewSchool's overall rep?
Kidd
Feb 28, 17 10:56 am
I can ask the CM how his program is viewed outside of the region. I know that the architecture alumni here does pretty decent work in and outside of the architecture field. A lot of fabrication studios and small project firms came from here. We have interns that go all over the world to work. But it's just now really starting to expand the brand of NewSchool, so it may be a little while before anyone becomes the next Hadid, Calatrava, or Holl.
I am considering their masters degree in construction management and I've been speaking with an enrollment adviser about their program. Things were moving a long until I asked about needing a bachelors in CM in order to apply. He said no so then I asked if there were prerequisites required before jumping into advanced courses. He said no again. That's when I started wondering if one could jump into a masters degree without the requisite knowledge of how to estimate, read blueprints, learning construction materials and methods, cost controls, scheduling and all the stuff you'd normally find in a bachelors program.
The adviser assured me that stuff wasn't really needed because it was much a management degree than an engineering degree.
I really want to jump on board but I am a little anxious. I wanted to ask in here if one can really jump into something like this with little to no experience in construction outside of a course I took in construction materials and construction contracts. I don't know estimating, bidding or scheduling. Do you really need to know that stuff? I don't want to slap down another 20k for the degree and be completely lost.
Has anyone heard anything about NewSchool's CM program? Any advice would help.
Thank you and I appreciate it in advance.
CM programs are all the rage in my region and they pump out grads like crazy. The problem I've found on site is that far too mm at have never stepped foot on a construction site before or even swung a hammer. It is hard at the best of times to communicate details and assembly procedures to someone so green.
Scheduling, specifications, assembly sequencing are all key and much larger part of CM than just bid docs.
I would stay away from them. If you want a good construction management degree stick to a program that is accredited by the ACCE (American Council for Construction Education). I have a BS in construction management from Boise State University which is ACCE accredited.
New School is a for profit school, which is to say I'm not sure they are as interested in your education than they are your ability to secure loans to pay $40K a year. They are owned by Laureate International, who you should look up if you are thinking about going...
Ultimately, a CM program can teach you about contracts, liens and GANTTS, but it isn't going to make you a very good construction manager without real world experience.
I understand that the real world job site experience is crucial but I am not worried about that because I can easily secure some experience with my father in law's construction company. I can be on a job site easily. That I am not worried about. I understand that CM programs mainly teach management but I intend to get field experience.
The only thing is if I am going to be totally lost in a masters program for not having the relevant undergrad education to complete masters advanced courses. I know New School is for profit but I've heard good things about their ARch program. They tell me I don't need it and that I'll be fine because it's mainly a management program and not an engineering program. But we all know how enrollment specialists are with sweetening up a program to get you to sign up.
I was just wondering if it made sense to anyone to go into masters without a bachelors in CM? I have a bachelors in Economics. I have project management experience. I know Microsoft Project and can learn some of the scheduling tools on my own.
Arivas208, it seems there are few CM masters programs that are accredited. I'll see about online ones. But do employers really care about that? I've heard it doesn't matter where you get your CM degree because it's all about the job site experience anyways.
All in all I just want to know the basics of CM and earn a masters and then get my real world experience with my FIL's company before I go out there and apply to some big firms.
The reason why I was attracted to the degree is because it doesn't seem really engineering intensive at all. It seems to be very case study oriented, discussion oriented, and management centered. So it's just a management degree with construction as the concentration. I do like that and prefer that over some other CM degrees I've found but I just don't want to fall behind because I am missing pre-reqs. Even if I make it all the way through would not having estimating, scheduling or materials/methods under my belt from an undergrad course hurt me out in the field.
Either way I'll pick up whatever I am missing along the way. I just wanted to know if it was possible to earn an Masters without having the BS in CM?
I don't see why a Masters in CM without a Bachelors in CM would be any hinderance - none of the good CM's I've worked with have degrees in CM at all...
LOL. Yeah I've heard that too. I didn't think it would be an issue considering I know so little people in the field that even have a CM degree. Good point.
Anything else I'll pick up in short online courses such as the basics of estimating, scheduling and such. I already know Microsoft office so I'll pick up Primavera. I think this masters program teaches you the methods based on case studies. That's why I think it would fit in with my background in PM and Economics. I just want a management degree with a concentration in construction.
Anyone else?
Actually is it true that many managers in construction don't even have a CM degree? I've heard about many who simply have business or management degree who enter the field and learn the rest through field experience by being an assistant on the job site.
I think I may have heard from some people that earning a CM degree isn't even worth it. The bachelors in whatever is good enough because everything you'll learn is on the job.
A better question is what is NewSchool's reputation in the AEC world?
Bumpity bump
Hey I go to school there. The CM program is top notch. Look up George Welch and try to get in contact with him personally. They do this Reno competition every year and they've taken 1st the past 3-4. Not sure how they will do this year.
I know some grads who work for Hensel Phelps and other firms out here. They go on construction sites pretty regularly and have firms come and talk to everyone about what they do etc.
Hi Brandon! Thanks for the info. So in the San Diego area it's pretty reputable?
Yes. From what I've seen, all of the students are placed into a job and are working throughout the school year. I remember last year there was a firm coming in once a month to talk to students about what they do. They also make a heavy presence in the job fair.
Brandon, thanks for the info. I'm wondering if you know if NewSchool's rep stretches past the SD area to not only SoCal but around the country? Not just for CM but NewSchool's overall rep?
I can ask the CM how his program is viewed outside of the region. I know that the architecture alumni here does pretty decent work in and outside of the architecture field. A lot of fabrication studios and small project firms came from here. We have interns that go all over the world to work. But it's just now really starting to expand the brand of NewSchool, so it may be a little while before anyone becomes the next Hadid, Calatrava, or Holl.