Associate degree in Specialized Business (ASB) – Construction Management Program Overview and Course Descriptions
Semesters: 4
Credits: 60; 15 credits per semester
Location: Orleans Technical College, 2770 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia, PA
Mode of Delivery: Technical Courses are offered in person and General Education Courses are offered Online (Hybrid Model)
Program Overview
Orleans Technical College’s Associate degree in Specialized Business (ASB) – Construction Management provides a comprehensive overview of a construction managers’ roles during the building process. The program equips students with the technical skills to manage construction projects from start to end.
Topics covered include: blueprint reading, estimating, business law, business/technical writing, scheduling, basic computer skills, and Computer Aid Drafting (CAD).
Course Descriptions
Technical Courses
Introduction to Building Construction – 3 credits
This course provides an overview of the construction management process and the role of a construction manager. It covers the built environment, the architectural, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) industry. Insight into the processes, the people, and the practices involved in bringing a building from a concept to reality.
Construction Materials and Methods – 3 credits
This course offers in-depth knowledge of the materials and methods used in building construction. Students are introduced to building science, materials science, codes, and standards in the construction industry. Construction techniques are presented as related to sitework and the building envelope. This course covers major construction materials such as soil, concrete, masonry, wood, metal, and other finish materials.
Construction Law – 3 credits
This course provides an overview of the laws concerning contracting and construction. Students will gain substantive knowledge in the various areas of construction law, including private and public contracts, bidding, liens, stop notice and payment bonds, contractors’ license law, agency, business organizations, bankruptcy, and dispute resolution. By the end of this course, students will possess a framework for recognizing, understanding, and mitigating legal issues that could arise during a construction project.
Building Construction Documents – 3 credits
This intermediate course provides a basic knowledge of how construction documents are prepared and the extraction of information from these documents. It will emphasize interpreting the information from the construction documents for construction planning and management as it applies to the scope of work, sequencing, processes, submittals, request for information, addendums, and change orders. This course will familiarize students with commercial construction building systems, assemblies, and the relationship between drawings from various civil, architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines. Topics include basic construction abbreviations, symbology, and understanding various drawing scales. Emerging computer technologies for construction management are introduced.
Construction Scheduling and Planning – 3 credits
This introductory project scheduling and planning course uses bar charts, critical path method (CPM), precedence diagrams, and linear scheduling methods. Students will develop an understanding of resource leveling, cost-loaded schedules, updating, and expediting the schedule on construction projects. Students will work on a semester project to develop activities and sequences involved in a typical construction project. Industry-standard software will be introduced in the class to create the various schedules.
Workplace Safety – 3 credits
This introductory course provides need-to-know information for students working in the construction environment. The course identifies safety best practices adopted to reduce or prevent workplace accidents and injuries based on current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards as related to the building construction industry. Other topics introduced include current worker’s compensation laws affecting the construction industry, methods available to reduce worker’s compensation premiums, identifying the direct impact of long-term injuries, minimizing risk and identifying personal protection equipment (PPE) for safe working conditions. Upon successful completion of OSHA training modules, students will earn an OSHA 10-Hour industry certification.
Estimating Fundamentals – 3 credits
This course introduces the fundamentals of the estimating process for construction projects. Topics include the work breakdown structure (WBS); extraction of quantities (quantity take-offs) such as area, volume, weight, etc., from construction documents; analysis and determination of direct and indirect costs; the uses of unit cost databases; bidding process; project delivery methods; and types of estimates. Computer-based construction estimating software will be introduced.
Introduction to Management – 3 credits
This course emphasizes the study of the four fundamental functions of management: planning, leading, organizing, and controlling and their application to business decision-making. Connections will be made between the planning process and the controlling function to evaluate organizational performance. The course also studies theoretical principles of management, communication concepts, human resource management, organizational structures, and motivational theory. Principles will be applied to entrepreneurial, corporate, and international organizations.
Business/Technical Writing – 3 credits
This course is an intensive study of and practice in writing for professional settings. Focus on the types of documents necessary to make decisions and act on the job, such as proposals, reports, instructions, policies and procedures, e-mail messages, letters, and descriptions of products and services. Practice in individual and collaborative processes involved in creating ethical and efficient documents.
Surveying – 3 credits
This course covers the theory and practice of surveying, use, and care of instruments, instrument error, balancing and closing traverses, introduction to land, and construction surveying.
Building Rehabilitation and Energy Retrofit – 3 credits
This course will examine three integrally related topics: 1) the re-development process by which existing building stock is rehabilitated, 2) construction issues specific to the rehabilitation of existing buildings, and 3) energy retrofit, which includes sustainability and related strategies.
Graphic Communication in Construction (CAD) – 3 credits
This course provides an understanding and interpretation of construction drawing systems, including blueprint reading. Students will develop both free-hand sketching skills for onsite redline drawings utilizing industry software such as Bluebeam and the introduction of basic Computer-aided design (CAD) applications.
Blueprint Reading – 3 credits
This course provides the knowledge and skills to effectively use and interpret construction drawings and specifications. Students will learn how to examine a variety of different types of plans included within a standard set of drawings, such as civil, landscape/irrigation, architectural, structural, MEP, fire protection, and communications, to understand the scope of the project and the means and methods required to construct the project. Basic construction abbreviations, symbols, and various scaling will be introduced.
Construction Project Management – 3 credits
In this course, students will learn the Project Manager’s role in the construction industry. Emphasis will be placed on understanding factors that impact construction projects and their timely delivery. Through case studies, students will learn how to properly interface with stakeholders throughout project lifecycles by leveraging process groups and their processes. Project Integration Management will cover value engineering, contract management, strategic decision-making, and efforts to close projects.
General Education Courses
Introduction to Psychology – 3 credits
This introductory course examines the history, methodology, definitions, and ideas relating to such concepts as personality formation, self-concept, defense mechanisms, emotions, and conditioning. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of these concepts to the student’s understanding of self and others in everyday interactions.
Introduction Sociology – 3 credits
This course is an introduction to the foundation of the scientific study of human social life, to theories and methods of Sociology, and to such basic concepts as culture, society, social organization, social stratification, and social change.
Environmental Science – 3 credits
This course provides the student with an overview of current environmental concerns and the management of these concerns. Emphasis is on the application of biological, physical, and chemical methods to the understanding of and solutions to environmental problems. The student will gain insight into the natural interactions among living things and the physical aspects of the environment.
Applied Mathematics for the Trades – 3 credits
This course teaches mathematical concepts and basic computational skills routinely needed on a construction project. Using workplace situations, the following topics are covered: mathematical operations using whole numbers and fractions; measurements; geometric figures, angles and graphic math; and simple algebraic equations.
Basic Computer Skills – 3 credits
In this course, students will learn the basic computer applications related to creating a PowerPoint presentation, creating an Excel spreadsheet, preparing a Word document, and other related applications.
Introduction to American Government – 3 credits
This course examines the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the structure and processes of the American governmental system. All government branches are examined within the economic, historical, political, social, and contemporary context.
If you’re ready to progress in your construction career, apply here.