Goals & Objectives
Graduate Program Goal
We will establish the direction of the MSCM as an advanced course of study in construction management with a focus on producing advanced student work that contributes to the research agenda of our research faculty.
Graduate Program Objectives, Strategies, and Metrics
Objective 1: Emphasize and promote advanced study and research in the Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) degree program.
Strategy: The department head through the graduate program coordinator, with the advice of the graduate instruction committee, will facilitate the continued shift towards an emphasis of quality research and instruction on advanced topics in graduate course work.
- Spring 2016 – Define graduate faculty membership guidelines in the department. Update website and promotional materials to reflect the shift.
- Fall 2016 – COSC 681 will be used to facilitate topic identification and proposal development. COSC 690 will only be taught by faculty who are actively engaged in research activity.
- Fall 2017 – COSC 690 and most graduate courses will only be taught by faculty who are actively engaged in research activity.
Metrics: By Fall 2020, 75% of student theses are published in a peer-reviewed venue.
Objective 2: Create specializations in 3-4 topic areas. These areas should be kept as close and as related as possible to the Department’s Centers of Excellence, and will impact the graduate program in terms of teaching and research.
Strategy: The department head through the graduate program coordinator, with the advice of the graduate instruction committee, graduate students, and the CIAC will facilitate the creation of specialized topic areas for MSCM graduates.
- Spring 2016 – Graduate faculty will each identify the subject matter/course content that would contribute to their research. Using these courses the graduate committee will identify topic areas best suited to the faculty direction.
- Fall 2016 – Fall 2017 – Form core faculty groups for each topic area. Faculty groups to align appropriate coursework (new or existing courses) for each group’s topic area.
- Spring and Fall 2018 – Core groups will present course work for each topic area, including curriculum mapping. Deliverables for courses will be defined and new courses will be submitted for approval.
- Fall 2019 – Course approvals will be secured and MSCM curriculum and elective offering will reflect topic area foci.
Metrics: Implement topic area foci with incoming class in Fall 2020
Objective 3: Increase diversity in the MSCM student body, relative to itself.
Strategy: The department head through the graduate program coordinator, with the advice of the graduate instruction committee, will facilitate additional recruiting strategies.
- Each Spring – The department will fund the use of Hobson’s GRE search, allowing faculty to identify top graduate students and offer them incentives (scholarships/fellowships) to matriculate.
- Each Fall – Using the GRE search the graduate program will seek underrepresented students that qualify for OGAPS diversity scholarships.
Metrics: By Fall 2021, no single ethnic group will constitute more than 50% of incoming MSCM students.
Objective 4: Explore the creation of a Master of Construction Business Administration program in partnership with the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.
Strategy: The department head through the graduate program coordinator, with the advice of the graduate instruction committee, will facilitate exploration of such a program.
- 2016 – The graduate program coordinator and the department head will meet with the appropriate individuals at the Mays Business School to explore the possibility.
- 2017 – Necessary structure and requirements will be identified for creation of such a program, and a plan will be in place for its roll out. A proposal will be presented to the COSC graduate faculty for review and preliminary approval.
- 2018 – If approved, the graduate program coordinator, with the advice of the graduate instruction committee and representatives from the Mays Business School, will work to put together a curriculum for the new program.
- 2019 – The curriculum will be presented, reviewed, and discussed by the COSC graduate faculty for additional comments, input, and revisions.
- Spring 2020 – The curriculum will be presented to the University for approval.
- Fall 2021/Spring 2022 – Advertisement of the new program, recruitment efforts.
Metrics: By Fall 2022, create and offer a Master of Construction Business Administration degree program.
Objective 5: Improve and expand the Ph.D. program.
Strategy: The department head will facilitate the administration of a productive Ph.D. program that benefits the research faculty in the department.
- 2016 – Existing Ph.D. program is being reviewed by the School of Architecture to seek eliminating the “strings” that currently exist for faculty to chair Ph.D. students and determine their course of study.
- 2017-2021 – Explore the possibility of entering into a relationship with the College of Education to facilitate a Ph.D. in education with a construction emphasis.
Research and Scholarly Activity Goal
We will be engaged in discovery and research related to the built environment both in construction and related disciplines to enhance the economic development of the State of Texas and to extend the frontiers of knowledge.
Objective 1: Create an environment of scholarship that is synergistic in the production of quality publications in peer-reviewed venues and regular submissions of proposals for funded research, by our research faculty.
Strategy: The department head will facilitate the administration of a productive scholarship environment.
- Spring 2016 – Re-institute the CIAC research grant with an emphasis on its use as seed money or matching to leverage additional funding from external sources.
- 2016-2017 – Continue providing Grant Training Center (GTC) support to research faculty in grant writing.
- Fall 2017 – Evaluate the outcomes of the services provided by the GTC in order to determine continuation/dis-continuation of this support.
- 2016-2021 – Department research faculty will meet biannually to present their current work and to promote collaboration and synergy in the department. The group will discuss and plan strategies and actions to approach the department’s research challenges and activities.
- 2016-2021 – The department will continue to award publications in the top journal(s), as well as the department’s Research Excellence Award.
Metrics: By 2020, externally funded research in the department will see an increase of 50% compared to the baseline measurement (the 2012/13 through 2014/15 academic years).
Admissions
Enrollment Trends
| Fall 2020 | Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applicants | 120 | 125 | 259 |
| Number of admits | 99 | 68 | 84 |
| Number enrolled | 68 | 139 | 135 |
| % women enrolled | 32% | 32% | 30% |
Assessment
Academic Quality Plan
The department maintains a comprehensive plan for quality improvement of the program and its students through development and assessment of educational program objectives, as well as learning outcomes through internal and external measures of student achievement.
Academic Quality Plan for the Master of Science in Construction Management (PDF)
Academic Assessment Plan & Report
- 2018 – 2019 MS Academic Program Assessment (PDF) and 2018 – 2019 Assessment Reflections (PDF)
- 2017 – 2018 MS Academic Assessment Report (PDF)
- 2016 – 2017 MS Academic Assessment Report (PDF)
Graduate Annual Report
- MS Annual Report 2016 – 2017 (PDF)
- MS Annual Report 2015 – 2016 (PDF)
- MS Annual Report 2014 – 2015 (PDF)
Job Placement
Job placement percentages for 2016-2017 was 57% based upon the responses of 7 graduates that responded to the exit survey. The average starting salary was $62,000 with a maximum of $72,000 and a minimum of $58,000.
| 2014 – 2015 | 2015 – 2016 | 2016 – 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Job placement |
62% |
55% |
57% |
|
Average Starting Salary |
$59,800 |
$61,450 |
$62,000 |