About the Program
Do you have experience in the construction industry? Do you desire an advanced role and better pay but lack the degree? Would you succeed in an online learning environment?
If you said "Yes" to any of these questions, consider earning your bachelor's degree in Construction Management online from Northern Michigan University.
This is a degree for those who already have skills in the construction field. We welcome your experience and will award university credit for the education you have gained in the industry.
Admission requirements include:
- Completion of supplemental application
- 3 professional referrals
- 7 years (post-high school) of documented construction industry experience (or equivalent)
Need more information? Refer to our Frequently Asked Questions section
Why NMU?
- This is the only program of its kind offered in the U.S. for working professionals
- NMU is a Top 10 Construction Management program in the U.S.
- NMU was named a Top 5 Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in Michigan
- NMU was named a Top 10 Military Friendly Public School in the U.S.
- Affordable tuition + financial aid assistance
Custom-Made For You
- Credits will be applied toward the degree based on your experience.
- Take your choice of required general education courses (30-40 credits) at your local community college, online from NMU, or transfer up to 90 previously earned credits.
- Continue earning a living while enjoying the flexiblity of online learning.
Employment
Graduates of NMU’s construction management program have a 95 percent placement rate within their field of study. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a steady increase in construction management roles.
The average starting base salary exceeds $70,000 with higher earnings in metropolitan areas and niche market sectors. Fringe packages have been generous too, especially for positions that require significant travel. Median annual salaries for construction managers exceeds $82,000.
Online CM Program Admission Policy
Construction Management Online Program
Admission to the Construction Management Online Program
Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the Construction Management (CM) Online Program. All baccalaureate majors must apply for admission and receive approval from the department to be admitted to the program.
To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Apply and be admitted to NMU’s Global Campus program
- Complete the equivalent of 7 years working experience within the construction industry.
- Complete the CM Supplemental Application Form which includes the following:
- Providing 3 professional references. Each reference will submit their own reference form to be reviewed.
- Submission a Professional resume
- Submission of any proof of training, certifications, or other educational coursework documentation (as applicable)
The CM faculty will review all completed applications individually, and if the applicant is deemed to have met the full admission requirements, they may be awarded advanced placement credit for the following courses:
- CN107 (3 credits): Construction Documents
- CN110 (2 credits): Construction Processes
- CN156 (3 credits): Construction Systems and Methods
- CN158 (2 credits): Concrete and Masonry
In the event that the faculty reviewers collectively believe the applicant has not met the minimum requirements for any of the 4 courses listed, the applicant may be offered a 0 credit Bridge Course (correspondence course only, no instruction included) and an associated Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Exam for the course(s). Students must earn an 80% minimum in each assigned Bridge Course PLA to be accepted into the CM program.
Completed applications, which include the reference forms, must be submitted no later than 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the upcoming semester to allow faculty review time or they will not be considered until the following semester.
Other Policies
- CM students who are conditionally admitted to the online degree program may not be enrolled in any CM online courses. These students are encouraged to complete General Education and Elective courses as necessary.
- Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) may be provided to CM online students for education gained through prior training or work experience. It is up to the student (or applicant) to initiate the CPL process with the CM Faculty and Global Campus administrators.
- Students can only earn a maximum total of 25 credits (which includes the 10 credits earned for the full admission process) of technical concentration CM courses through the CPL process.
- CM Online students must complete an OSHA 30 certification outside of the university in order to complete their CM online degree.
- Students who drop enrollment from NMU and subsequently re-enroll as a Construction Management major at a later date (re-entry students) must reapply for admission to the CM Online Program.
Grade Point Average Requirements
All CM Online students must obtain a 2.25 GPA in their (combined) technical concentration and other required major courses as well as a 2.00 cumulative Northern Michigan University GPA in order to earn a baccalaureate degree.
Program Curriculum
| Construction Specific (CN) Courses | ||
| CN107 | Construction Documents* | 3 |
| CN110 | Construction Processes* | 2 |
| CN152 | Codes & Inspection | 2 |
| CN156 | Construction Systems & Methods* | 3 |
| CN158 | Concrete & Masonry* | 2 |
| CN251 | Field Operations | 3 |
| CN254 | Construction Surveying & Layout | 3 |
| CN272 | Introduction to Construction Design | 3 |
| CN278 | M.E.P. Systems | 3 |
| CN283 | Construction Estimating | 3 |
| CN353 | Soils & Foundations | 3 |
| CN357 | Legal Aspects of Construction | 3 |
| CN369 | Construction Economics and Std. Practices | 3 |
| CN372 | Advanced Design & Conventions | 3 |
| CN445 | Property Development | 3 |
| CN450 | Project Control | 3 |
| CN455 | Construction Safety** | 3 |
| CN459 | Construction Management | 3 |
| CN489 | Graduation Assessment for C.M. Majors | 0 |
*Credits earned through completed Construction Management application processes (please see application document requirements and admissions process).
**Complete OSHA30 training and provide card for credit award.
| Other Required Courses | ||
| ACT230 | Principles of Accounting I | 4 |
| MET211 | Mechanics & Statics | 4 |
| MKT230 | Introduction to Marketing | 4 |
| MA115 | Pre-calculus | 4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the admission requirements of the program?
A: Initial admission requirements include:
- Admission to Northern Michigan University’s Global Campus
- Completion of supplemental application (including 3 professional referrals)
- 7 years of documented construction industry experience (or equivalent)
- Prior Learning Assessment (as needed based on industry experience)
- Bridge Courses to help refresh industry skills and knowledge (as needed based on industry experience)
Q: What is the Prior Learning Assessment?
A: The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is comprised of four one-hour (approximate) exams intended to assess your knowledge in specific topics
Q: What are “Bridge Courses?”
A: “Bridge Courses” are intended to help you refresh your skills and knowledge in a particular area based on the results of the Prior Learning Assessment. A “bridge” course is designed for correspondence only, and not instruction. All of the course information will be provided in modules, along with quizzes and other activities for you to practice the terminology and course content. They are 100% self-paced, and should only require minor communication with the instructor (if at all). The bridge course(s) will have 1 final exam, which is the only assessment used to determine if you have successfully completed that course and can be fully admitted into the regular program classes.
Q: How do I know which courses will transfer over to NMU?
A: Potential students are able to request an unofficial degree evaluation to see if any prior credits transfer and count toward a degree with NMU. To request an unofficial degree evaluation, please click here.
Q: I’m told I can receive credit for my experience and/or prior learning. How do I know what courses I can receive credit for?
A: All students who are fully admitted into the program will receive 10 credits for entry level courses (CN107, CN110, CN156, and CN158). Beyond the 10 credits, students are encouraged to review the program curriculum to determine which courses they can provide proof of learning which tie back to specific course outcomes. For more information on the CPL process, review our guidelines here. AP credits will be awarded once a student is enrolled in courses and the semester is active.
Q: What does it mean to be fully admitted to the program?
A: You have met all of the program admission requirements, there are no other steps prior to registering for classes, and you will earn the initial 10 credits towards your degree.
Q: What happens if I am “conditionally admitted” to the program?
A: Some applicants may be required to complete a prior learning assessment to determine eligibility for the program. If it is found that you are deficient in a particular topic required for admission, a “bridge course” will be offered, free of charge, to prepare you for the program. After successful completion of the bridge course, you will be fully admitted into the program and will be able to register for NMUCM courses.
Q: Am I able to start taking classes while I am “conditionally admitted?”
A: Yes, you are encouraged to begin taking general education courses at NMU or other institutions, but please coordinate with your advisor to ensure the degree requirement are being met.
Q: How do I know when CN courses are offered?
A: Refer to this blog for information on how to search for courses. We recommend taking courses in the order shown here.
Q: I have my OSHA30, does that help me?
A: Yes, you will receive 3 credits for CN455. You just need to submit a copy of your card to your advisor.
Q: What are the costs of the program?
A: For current rates, please visit https://nmu.edu/tuition#numbers (refer to the “off-campus/web courses” section.) For your reference, most of the courses within the construction management curriculum are 2-3 credits.
Q: Are there any other fees I should be aware of?
A: Certain Construction Management courses require an NMU issued laptop for which you will be charged each semester it is used/returned. Other fees can be found at https://nmu.edu/tuition#numbers under “Differential Tuition, Course, and Program Fees”
Q: How do I know which courses require a laptop?
A: Your general advising sheet will have a notation next to each class that requires specific software on your NMU laptop. You should expect having to rent a computer and pay the additional fee when you are registering to take those courses.
Q: How do I receive my NMU issued laptop?
A: The faculty teaching courses requiring the laptop will personally reach out to students prior to the start of the semester with specific instructions.
Q: Can’t I just use my own laptop?
A: Licensing for the software needed for the program is only available on laptops issued by NMU. Please know that it is more cost effective for you to rent a laptop from Northern than to purchase the software yourself.
Q: How do I know if I need to take the math placement test?
A: Check out more on the math placement test here.
Where You Might Work
NMU construction management graduates are managing a variety of projects. Examples include (but are not limited to) airports, bridges, educational buildings, high voltage transmission systems, hospitals, motels, offices, places of worship, and more.
Some professional titles are estimators, field engineers, project managers, safety coordinators, schedulers, superintendents and various other executive titles.
Alumni have opportunities to be employed in the local area but most venture to regional and national areas and work for larger firms. Boldt, Hill & Wilkinson, M.J. Electric, Mortenson, Power, Walsh and Whiting Turner are a small sample of employers. Ambition and the ability to adapt to challenging situations are a few of the characteristics that are attractive to the many reputable firms that recruit at NMU.