Program overview
The B.S. in Construction Management (124 credits, ACCE-accredited, ~140 undergraduates) in the College of Engineering & Technology blends business, engineering, and field leadership. Core (72 credits): Construction Materials, Structural Systems, Soils & Foundations, Estimating I–II (RSMeans, ProEst), Scheduling (Primavera P6, CPM, resource leveling), BIM (Revit, Navisworks, clash detection), Contracts & Law (AIA, ConsensusDocs, liens), Safety Management (OSHA 30, EM-385), Project Controls (EVM, change orders), Sustainable Construction (LEED GA prep, WELL), Heavy Equipment Economics. Field labs: Weekly at Prototyping Lab (concrete, steel erection simulators) and active job sites (Porter County projects). Certifications embedded: OSHA 30, CPR/First Aid, LEED Green Associate, FAA Part 107 (drone surveying).
Tracks (15 credits each)
Commercial Building: Preconstruction Services, MEP Coordination, High-Rise Logistics, Interior Build-Out, Tenant Improvement, LEED Documentation. Partners: J.H. Findorff, Miron Construction, City Building Inspection. Heavy Civil & Infrastructure: Earthwork Estimating, Bridge Construction, Trenchless Technology, DOT Specifications, Railroad Coordination, Environmental Compliance. Partners: WisDOT, Michels Corporation, DNR Porter District. Residential & Mixed-Use: Land Development, Subdivision Design, Production Building, Warranty Management, HOA Coordination. Partners: Veridian Homes, Porter County Housing Authority. Virtual Design & Construction (VDC): 4D/5D BIM, Laser Scanning, Point Clouds, Digital Twin, Prefab/Modular Logistics. Partners: Prototyping Lab, Mortenson, Gilbane.
Co-op program
Mandatory, 4.5-year degree: 2 terms (8 months). Apply sophomore spring → first term summer junior year. Placement: 98%. Average wage: $22–$30/hr. Top employers: J.H. Findorff (commercial, Madison), Miron Construction (commercial/industrial, Neenah), Michels Corporation (heavy civil, Brownsville), WisDOT Southwest Region (inspection), City Public Works (resident engineering), Porter County Highway (project admin). Academic credit: CNST 3900 Co-op Reflection (2 credits). Owner-side track: 15% of co-ops with Porter Valley Bank (owner's rep), Porter County Schools (facilities), VA Health Care (construction admin).
Capstone: from bid to build
CNST 4100/4200 (2 semesters, teams of 4) takes a real project from bid package to construction execution plan. 2025 projects: Cedar Bluff Elementary Addition (Porter County Schools): $4.2M, CM-at-risk, BIM execution plan, phasing for occupied school. Depot District Parking Structure (City): $8.5M, design-build, post-tensioned, stormwater integration. Porter County Landfill Scale House (County): $1.1M, design-bid-build, modular, net-zero ready. Founders Hall Lab Renovation (Facilities): $3.8M, CM-at-risk, phased, BIM handover. Deliverables: Bid package (CSI divisions), schedule (P6, resource-loaded), logistics plan (crane, laydown, traffic), safety plan (AHA/JHA), quality plan (IPIs), subcontractor buyout strategy, Owner Presentation (public, April). Industry mentors: Senior PM from partner GC + Faculty advisor.
Admission requirements
Direct admission: 3.2+ GPA, 4 years math (through pre-calc), 3 years science. Test-optional (portfolio: construction internship, trades experience, SkillsUSA, FFA, robotics, Eagle Scout/Gold Award building). Transfer: 60+ credits, 2.75+ GPA, preferred: Estimating, Scheduling, Materials, Contracts. Bridge Week (late August): blueprint reading, RSMeans lab, Primavera intro, Makerspace (concrete forms, steel rigging), OSHA 10 — 90% place into CNST 2100 by add/drop. Construction Trades Legacy Scholarship (full tuition, 4 years, 3/year). Full admission details.
Career outcomes
Class of 2025 (38 graduates): 92% employed within 3 months (median $72K), 5% grad school (M.S. Construction, M.B.A., M.Arch), 3% still seeking. Top roles: Project Engineer, Field Engineer, Assistant Superintendent, Estimator, Scheduler, VDC Engineer, Owner's Rep. Top employers: J.H. Findorff (9), Miron Construction (7), Michels Corporation (5), WisDOT (4), City/County (6), Veridian Homes (3), Mortenson (2), Gilbane (2). Co-op conversion: 88% receive full-time offers. The Career Services Construction Career Fair (January) brings 30+ construction employers.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. The program, tracks, employers, and outcomes described here are invented for this fictional university. No real academic programs or career data are depicted.