Intro to Construction Management Course

What Will You Learn?

The Construction Management I course provides students with an in-depth introduction to construction industry operations, project planning, risk management, and contract administration. This course covers essential topics such as project delivery systems, procurement methods, cost estimating, and scheduling, ensuring that students develop the expertise needed to manage construction projects efficiently.

By completing this course, you will:

• Develop expertise in master planning, project planning, and delivery systems
• Learn cost estimating principles, bid proposal strategies, and procurement methods
• Gain skills in contract negotiation, risk assessment, and insurance management
• Understand construction scheduling, document control, and quality assurance measures
• Master site logistics planning, safety protocols, and environmental compliance

Course Lessons and Projects

Lesson 1: The Industry

This lesson introduces students to the construction industry landscape, key stakeholders, and industry trends.

Skills Learned:

• Understanding construction sectors, project types, and career opportunities
• Identifying roles and responsibilities of project stakeholders
• Evaluating industry challenges, innovations, and regulatory impacts
• Reviewing the relationship between design, construction, and project delivery
• Understanding construction ethics and professional responsibilities

Project: Develop an industry research report, analyzing current trends, challenges, and career pathways in construction management.

Lesson 2: Master Planning & Project Planning

Students will explore project planning methodologies and master planning strategies.

Skills Learned:

• Understanding the master planning process and feasibility analysis
• Managing project scope, objectives, and milestone planning
• Evaluating site selection, land use, and zoning considerations
• Coordinating construction phasing and sequencing strategies
• Ensuring alignment between project goals, budget, and schedule constraints

Project: Develop a master plan for a construction project, outlining scope, feasibility, and phasing considerations.

Lesson 3: Delivery System

This lesson focuses on project delivery methods and their impact on cost, risk, and scheduling.

Skills Learned:

• Understanding Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and CM-at-Risk models
• Evaluating Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
• Managing roles, responsibilities, and contract structures in each system
• Assessing pros and cons of various delivery methods based on project goals
• Coordinating legal and financial implications of delivery system selection

Project: Compare and contrast project delivery systems, providing recommendations for an upcoming project.

Lesson 4: Project Delivery Examples

Students will analyze real-world case studies of project delivery systems.

Skills Learned:

• Reviewing successful and failed construction projects
• Identifying challenges faced in different delivery models
• Evaluating risk allocation, project financing, and stakeholder collaboration
• Understanding how delivery methods influence project outcomes
• Applying lessons learned to improve future project planning

Project: Create a case study analysis, identifying best practices in project delivery.

Lesson 5: Payment Options

This lesson covers construction project payment structures and financial management.

Skills Learned:

• Understanding lump-sum, cost-plus, and unit price contracts
• Managing progress payments, retainage, and cash flow projections
• Evaluating performance-based compensation and incentive structures
• Coordinating owner financing, loans, and construction funding mechanisms
• Ensuring compliance with financial regulations and contract terms

Project: Develop a payment plan strategy, optimizing cash flow and financial security.

Lesson 6: Procurement Options

Students will explore construction procurement strategies and contractor selection methods.

Skills Learned:

• Understanding competitive bidding, negotiated contracts, and prequalification
• Managing vendor selection, subcontractor coordination, and materials procurement
• Evaluating procurement risks, delays, and cost fluctuations
• Coordinating contractor bids, proposal evaluation, and award processes
• Ensuring compliance with public and private procurement regulations

Project: Develop a procurement plan, selecting optimal bid strategies and contractor qualification methods.

Lesson 7: Risk

This lesson introduces risk management principles in construction projects.

Skills Learned:

• Identifying common risks in scheduling, costs, and safety
• Managing contractual risk allocation and liability considerations
• Evaluating strategies to mitigate financial, operational, and environmental risks
• Understanding legal implications of risk in construction contracts
• Ensuring proactive risk assessment and response planning

Project: Conduct a risk assessment report, identifying high-risk factors and mitigation strategies.

Lesson 8: Insurance and Bonds

Students will learn about construction insurance policies and bonding requirements.

Skills Learned:

• Understanding builder’s risk insurance, general liability, and workers' compensation
• Managing performance bonds, payment bonds, and bid bonds
• Evaluating policy coverage, claims processing, and risk transfers
• Coordinating bonding capacity requirements and prequalification processes
• Ensuring compliance with insurance and bonding requirements for contractors

Project: Develop a construction insurance and bonding strategy, ensuring risk coverage and project security.

Additional Topics Covered

• Cost Estimating Concepts – Learn estimating principles, bid preparation, and cost control
• Bids & Proposals – Understand competitive bidding, proposal writing, and contractor selection
• Earthwork Estimating – Gain skills in site grading, excavation, and soil compaction cost calculations
• Contracts – Explore contract negotiation, terms, and legal considerations
• Scheduling Concepts – Learn Gantt charts, critical path methods, and project milestones
• Project Administration & Productivity – Manage daily reporting, progress tracking, and site coordination
• Document Control – Implement record-keeping, RFIs, and submittal tracking.
• Safety & Quality – Understand OSHA compliance, jobsite safety, and quality control measures
• Site Logistics & Stormwater Plans – Plan site access, material storage, and erosion control measures

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for professionals and students looking to develop a strong foundation in construction management. It is suited for:

• Students & Recent Graduates – Build expertise in construction project administration for professional applications.
• Aspiring Estimators & Schedulers – Gain expertise in cost estimating, scheduling, and bid preparation.
• Aspiring Contract Administrators & Owners' Representatives – Strengthen knowledge of contracts, procurement, and delivery methods.
• Aspiring Site Superintendents & Engineers – Improve construction oversight, safety compliance, and logistics planning.

With the increasing demand for efficient project management in construction, proficiency in Construction Management I provides professionals with a competitive edge in planning, execution, and administration of construction projects.