Construction
 
CNST 5020 Construction Methods and Techniques 4-0-4
A study of the materials, methods, and techniques of residential, commercial (including high rise) and heavy construction.
 
CNST 5030 Descriptive Structural Systems 4-0-4
A descriptive study of structural behavior with an overview of statics, strength of materials, design of beams and columns for concrete, steel and timber structural systems.
 
CNST 5040 Construction Finance and Feasibility 4-0-4
A study of financial management for the contractor, and builder/developer organization. Topics include: construction cost accounting; balance sheet analysis using percentage of completion method, completed contract method with absorption analyses, and work in process accounting regarding construction progress payments in excess of costs and estimated earnings. Ratio analysis for construction industry and bid and payment/bond performance. Cashflow projection for construction projects. Also included is building construction economics in terms of: value engineering, constructability, building delivery systems and real estate processes for the builder/developer and construction management organizations.
 
CNST 6000 Information Methods 4-0-4
A course in communications technique improvement and preparation for functioning in an information based society. Conceptual and methodological issues in construction research will be explored with emphasis on construction specific resources. Data development and analysis will be studied to include the concepts of validity, reliability, and applications of statistics.
 
CNST 6100 Construction Law: Contracts and Claims 4-0-4
This course focuses on the legal problems and concerns frequently encountered by constructors and others who participate in the construction process. Topics include the formation of contracts and the various contractual relationships; methods of modification and termination of the contracts; exploration of licensure and professional liability of the construction practitioner.
 
CNST 6110 Commercial Construction Transactions 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6100
This course is an extension of CNST 6100, with course topic discussion being devoted to commercial construction transactions in relation to the construction contracting process. Discussion is devoted to UCC Article 2, 3, and 9 as applicable to construction vendor contracts. Also, discussion is devoted to the hybrid contracting process and the legal implications of bidding for goods and services that qualify under commercial contract law.
 
CNST 6120 Dispute Resolution 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6100
This course will survey the growth of the alternate dispute resolution field, giving emphasis to alternative dispute resolution theory and its application to the construction industry. A student will be exposed to different resolution processes relative to the construction industry; namely, negotiations, meditation and arbitration.
 
CNST 6130 Case Studies in Construction 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6100
This course is designed to explore the multiple contractual complications that typically arise within the construction contracting process. Topics will develop and explore the technical aspects of procurement, implementation, construction operations, through to post contractual obligation and liabilities inherent in the construction industry.
 
CNST 6200 Strategic Bidding and Estimating  4-0-4
A review of all normal bid-preparation activities that should take place in a prime contractor's organization from the initial decisions on project selection and receipt of drawings and specifications, through the estimating process and sub-bid research, final bid assembly, markup and submission, to postmortems and necessary follow-up actions. Significant attention will be devoted to bidding techniques, strategies, practices, and methods recommended to handle these functions.
 
CNST 6300 Planning and Control of Complex Projects 4-0-4
An exploration of the processes used to execute construction projects, as well as the roles, duties and obligations of the members of the project team. Subjects covered include organization of the project team, and the obligations and responsibilities of the participants. Also included are discussions of specific construction practices, such as procurement, job startup, project documentation, subcontractor coordination, payment, change order administration, and job closeout. Special emphasis is placed on future directions of project management within the construction industry.
 
CNST 6310 Advanced Scheduling and Integrated Controls 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6300
An exploration of current techniques and practices of integrated project control systems for construction. Subjects covered include various methods of project scheduling and monitoring, resource management, time-cost tradeoffs, organizing and managing schedule data, forecasting and trend analysis, and presentation of schedule information. Special emphasis is placed on the use of modern integrated scheduling practices and associated computer tools.
 
CNST 6320 Construction Information Systems 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6300
The interaction of information technology with the construction industry. Opportunities and risks for individuals and organizations are examined in the realms of information flow, decision making and a changing world. Human and ethical issues are considered. Students are introduced through laboratory exercises to construction specific products, to construction applications of conventional database systems and to data transfer technologies.
 
CNST 6330 Advanced Operations: Constructability, Value Engineering, Productivity 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6300
An extension of CNST 6300 delving into project analysis for constructability and value engineering. Also included is productivity analysis and improvement techniques.
 
CNST 6410 Building Failures and Defective Work 4-0-4
A study of problems, trends and issues related to workmanship and product failures during a time of rapid change in the construction industry. It will discuss concepts, philosophy and technology behind the subject issues and seek the exchange of ideas and views. Students will be expected to gain knowledge in the subject topics and develop skill in researching for facts extended to effective written and verbal presentation of the findings.
 
CNST 6420 Tall Buildings 4-0-4
A study of tall buildings in the society of today and tomorrow. Form giving factors will be identified and problems of planning, design and construction explored. The project manager's role in the tall building process will be related to specific building examples. International differences in the role of tall buildings will become apparent, yet common threads will be found which can be useful in a shrinking world and a more universal construction industry.
 
CNST 6430 Automation and Robots 4-0-4
A study of the level of application of automation and robots to construction. Techniques and equipment in varying stages of development as well as current applications will be presented for analysis and discussion. Students will be challenged to conceptualize new ways of applying technology to improve industry productivity through automation and robotics.
 
CNST 6500 The Construction Company  4-0-4
Organization of the construction firm is covered in this course. Financing of the firm, marketing the various construction services of the firm and exploring the economics which are unique to the construction industry are analyzed. Strategic planning and planning for growth of a construction firm are included in the course. Insurance, bonding, employee development, and labor relations are studied. The continuing relationships with clients, bankers, bonding companies and design professionals are explored.
 
CNST 6510 Marketing of Construction Services 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6500
An examination of how construction services are marketed in the various sectors of the construction industry. The relevant characteristics of construction organizations and target clients will be explored with various scenarios structured to highlight critical parameters of search and match. The potential contributions of the media and conventional planning/analysis techniques will be considered.
 
CNST 6520 International Construction  4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6500
An introduction to the construction industry in the international arena. Projects and processes will be studied. Issues of contract law, industry regulation, currency exchange, payment guarantees and risk management will be examined and related to respective countries of concern. Operations under different cultural norms will be projected in realistic scenarios.
 
CNST 6530 Construction Markets 4-0-4
Prerequisite: CNST 6500
A study of the dominant factors at work in different construction markets. Geographic, technological, economic, political, organizational, and social influences on construction markets are included. Market groupings by type of construction are identified and paradigms of construction are explored.
 
CNST 6600 Construction Risk Analysis and Control 4-0-4
This course focuses on the safety practices mandated by government regulation and required by good business practice. The costs of safety and the lack of it is examined. Workers' compensation insurance cost is integrated into the issues of safety. Exposure analysis, risk management, risk transfer and the costs associated with each are examined in this course.
 
CNST 6901 - 6904 Special Topics variable credit-1 to 4 hours
Prerequisite: Consent of the department head
Special topics offered by the department when the demand warrants such offerings.
 
CNST 7701 - 7704 Master's Project variable credit-1 to 4 hours
Prerequisite: CNST 6000 and Consent of the department head
This course is designed for the students who want to focus their course of study on a particular aspect of construction. The student works independently under the supervision of the course professor on a project or an inquiry that is significant in the construction industry. The topic of the project or inquiry must be approved prior to registration and the student must continue the work in a manner that is satisfactory to the course professor. The student is expected to submit a substantial report and to defend this submittal and the course work taken in the degree program. This course may be repeated with departmental approval but no more than 8 hours may be applied toward the requirements for graduation.
 
CNST 7801-7804 Master's Thesis  variable credit-1 to 4 hours
Prerequisites: CNST 6000, completion of 28 hours of graduate Construction degree course work or consent of the department head, approval of thesis proposal
Intensive research project that results in a formal written thesis. The thesis topic will usually be in an area of interest discovered by the student in early stages of the Construction program or work experience. Students may enroll for a maximum of 4 hours per quarter for thesis credit. The student works independently under the supervision of the thesis advisor on an inquiry that is significant to the construction industry. The topic must be prior approved prior to registration and the student must continue the work in a manner that is satisfactory to the thesis advisor. The student is expected to submit a substantial body of research work and to defend this submittal and the course work taken in the degree program. This course may be repeated with departmental approvalbut no more than 8 hours may be applied toward the requirements of graduation.