Certificate Program in Construction Management
Many opportunities exist for construction professionals with the right skills. To succeed in the construction industry, you must be prepared to endure intense competition and dramatic economic cycles. Construction management courses from UC Davis Extension can help you enhance and expand your skills and take advantage of these opportunities.
The Construction Management Certificate Program gives construction professionals the business and technical skills needed to thrive in this challenging industry. Certificate program courses are designed to help you prepare winning bids, successfully manage construction projects of any size and run your business effectively. Take the complete certificate program for an in-depth education in all aspects of construction management or enroll in individual courses to enhance your skills in a specific area.
The UC Davis Department of Civil Engineering and the Graduate School of Management have reviewed and approved all courses in the Construction Management Certificate Program. This is your guarantee of quality.
Who should enroll
The Construction Management Certificate Program is designed especially for construction managers and owners, contractors, architects, engineers, framers, electricians, plumbers, mechanical contractors, foundation layers, commercial and residential construction professionals, as well as real estate and financial leaders.
Learn from the best
Our instructors are construction professionals with practical experience in construction management, law, accounting, insurance and consulting. They use case studies to bring theoretical principles down to earth. Our program advisers are leading members of the business community who have first-hand experience with the construction industry. They advise UC Davis Extension on issues and trends, and provide valuable insights into training needs from the employers' perspective.
The Building Industry Association of Superior California and the Sacramento Builders Exchange endorse this program. Members receive a 10 percent discount on their course enrollment fees with proof of membership.
Certificate Requirements
Courses may be taken individually or as part of a certificate program. Participants will be awarded a certificate in Construction Management upon the successful completion of 16 required units and six (6) elective units of designated course work. Tuition for the entire Construction Management Certificate Program is $4,685 to $5,035, depending on when you enroll. The certificate application fee ($45), textbooks and parking are not included in the tuition fee.
| UNITS | F | W | SP | SU | ||
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| REQUIRED COURSES | Estimating and Bidding | 3 | 
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| Project Scheduling and Management | 3 |
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| Construction Accounting and Contract Management | 3 |
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| Construction Law and Contracts | 4 |
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| Integrating Construction Management Principles | 3 |
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| ELECTIVE COURSES | Effective Negotiation Strategies | 3 |
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| Construction Blueprint and Plan Reading | 3 |
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| California Building Codes | 3 |
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| Managing Public Works Projects, Construction Change Orders, and Claims | 3 |
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| Marketing Principles for Construction Professionals | 3 |
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Classroom format
Distance Learning format |
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Required Courses
Estimating and Bidding
3 quarter units academic credit, X402.2. .
Gain a basic understanding of estimating and bidding procedures, including the role of the estimator, various levels and details of an estimate, CSI format of a general contractor's bid and the bidding process.
Contractors, subcontractors, construction managers, architects and engineers involved with this key phase of commercial construction benefit from this insightful and practical information. Topics include quantity takeoff; pricing labor, material and equipment; bonding; productivity factors; private and public bidding formats; minority requirements; markups and bidding strategies.
Prerequisites:
Construction Blueprint and Plan Reading, or two years experience reading construction blueprints and plans.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Estimating and Bidding starts June 17
Project Scheduling and Management
3 quarter units academic credit, X402.4. .
From
preliminary design to final
walkthrough, scheduling is critical for successful construction
projects. Focus
on the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively plan and control
projects
of any size. Learn a systems approach to project management as well as
historical
development of planning methods. Gain an in-depth understanding of
scheduling
and controlling construction projects. Discuss project manuals; CPM and
PERT
scheduling techniques; network analysis by computer; resource
allocation;
claims management; and purchasing, monitoring and controlling long-lead
items.
Know the ins and outs of fast-track processes from design through
construction
completion.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Construction Accounting and Contract Management
3 quarter units academic credit, X415.3. .
Construction management teams must anticipate, monitor and control the various components of every job. Using a team approach to cost management, gain an understanding of basic accounting concepts and how they apply to the construction industry.
Beginning with an introduction to accounting, learn cost accounting principles and applications. Examine profit and loss statements, cash flow evaluation, revenue projection, job management and closeout, how to monitor construction progress and payment schedules, contract administration and computer applications for the construction industry.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
- Construction Accounting and Contract Management starts June 12
Construction Law and Contracts
4 quarter units academic credit, X406.1. MCLE CEUs, MCLE Hours.
Learn to recognize actual and potential legal problems early on with this overview of the legal aspects of contracting and construction. Gain an understanding of the legal aspects of bidding, the liabilities of contractors and design professionals, mechanic's lien, stop notice and payment bond rights.
Discover
the ins and outs of remedies and obligations; performance; licenses and
other
bonds; contractors’ license law; mediation, arbitration and
court trials for
dispute resolution; public works projects; and contract phraseology.
Explore
contracts and contract administration, and then uncover details about
risk
management and avoiding litigation. Evaluate the importance of
documentation,
the effects of change orders and methods for control.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Integrating Construction Management Principles
3 quarter units academic credit, X415.4. .
Integrate the knowledge you've learned in previous courses with this comprehensive look at project management. Using case studies, the entire lifecycle of a construction project is covered, including design development, budgeting, contracting methodologies and construction oversight. This course also features guest lectures from practicing professionals in the various fields.
Prerequisites:
Estimating and Bidding, Project Scheduling and Management, Construction Law and Contracts, Construction Accounting and Contract Management.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Elective Courses
Effective Negotiation Strategies
3 quarter units academic credit, X422.10. .
You will examine the principles that won President Jimmy Carter his Nobel
Prize for Peace with the Camp David Accords and that create successful
labor/management negotiations and enable complex multi-party decision
making situations to be successful. This course also provides the knowledge to
address the different values, priorities and goals of each party. Discover how to
create effective strategies and achieve win-win solutions.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Construction Blueprint and Plan Reading
3 quarter units academic credit, X406.25A. .
Construction
professionals, and many real estate and financial leaders, must be able
to read
and understand building plans. Honored with an Outstanding Course Award
for
2008 by the University Continuing Education Association, this overview
provides
a stimulating learning experience. Multimedia components, including
mini tours
of narrated on-screen blueprint walk-throughs, provide visual support
and
interactivity as you learn about the design-and-build method of the
construction process.
This course is not currently scheduled.
California Building Codes
3 quarter units academic credit, X406.24. MCLE Hours.
This course provides an overview of the state laws and codes regulating construction in California. You'll learn about code origins and applications for the Uniform Building, Uniform Plumbing, Uniform Mechanical and the National Electrical codes; organization, application, scope and fundamental requirements for building design; egress, disabled access and fire protection; and plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. You will also examine how product standards are developed and how to investigate and verify approvals.
This course covers the California Building Standard Code (Title 24) within the scheme of California's regulations, its basis in law, when and where it applies, and the code adoption process supervised by the California Building Standards Commission.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Managing Public Works Projects, Construction Change Orders, and Claims
3 quarter units academic credit, X406.27. .
Discover the major procedures and pitfalls of participating in large public works projects, and review the legal and contractual duties and responsibilities of each participant. Using case studies, explore the process dynamics through contracts, schedules, change orders and claims.
Discuss useful contract provisions and methods of calculating and evaluating change orders and claims. Contractors, subcontractors and public (and private) works administrators involved with managing public works projects, change orders and claims gain a clear sense of how to improve their management processes.
Sections of this course open for enrollment:
Marketing Principles for Construction Professionals
3 quarter units academic credit, X402.27. .
This course focuses on developing the practical marketing skills and methodology you need for creating and maintaining a successful business development program. You will examine all aspects of the marketing principles construction professionals need, including:
- communication skills
- research
- planning
- proposal development
- interviews
- presentations
In today's complex market, these skills are essential to all industry professionals.
This course is not currently scheduled.
Choose elective courses from other certificate programs
UC Davis Extension offers a wide array of elective courses in other certificate programs to build the career skills that are right for your goals and plans. Working with UC Davis Extension staff you can choose elective courses in:
- Human Resource Development and Management
- Labor-Management Relations
- Land Use and Natural Resources
- Project Management
- Marketing and Public Relations
- Workplace Health and Safety
For More Information
Download a Construction Management Certificate Program brochure for a list of current quarter courses and enrollment information. 
(234 KB)
The Building Industry Association of Superior California and the Sacramento Builders Exchange endorse this program. Members receive a 10 percent discount on their course enrollment fees with proof of membership.
testimonials
"As a project manager for a commercial contractor, I continuously work to update and learn new skills. I have found the classes offered through the Construction Management Certification Program at UC Davis Extension to be the best source for furthering my education. I've also been working on earning my bachelor's degree in Organizational Management and have been able to transfer the units earned through UC Davis Extension to that university system. Thanks for offering such a great program."
Ed James
" After 22 years as a manufacturer's representative, I wanted to pursue other interests in construction. Supplementing my previous work experience and educational background, UC Davis Extension's Construction Management Program has allowed me to make this transition successfully. I highly recommend this program for anyone looking to make a career change or improve their management skills."
Duane Bendixen, project manager, Eric F. Anderson, Inc.
