Curriculum & Courses

This course is designed to provide students with introductory knowledge and basic skills they will need to understand and apply as they progress through the program. Students receive an overview of key topics that will be covered in greater detail through core courses and electives during subsequent terms. Each class session provides a primer on a specific area of vital importance, including construction techniques, legal issues, contracts, blueprint reading, scheduling, sustainability, claims and more. Upon completion students will be familiar with basic concepts, terminology and procedures associated with the industry, and well prepared to study these subjects in greater depth.

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This course will familiarize each student with the knowledge that is required to effectively utilize the contract as a tool to manage a construction project. Through a series of lectures, different topics as they relate to contract management and administration will be discussed each week. The focus of the course will be understanding key contract terms and how to apply them when managing an active construction project. Additionally, the course will focus on understanding how to manage claims and disputes, concentrating on claims related to schedule delay and productivity losses.

Provides a foundation on the economic aspects of the construction business, including accounting, finance, and taxation. Among the topics covered are accounting and bookkeeping, managerial accounting, internal controls, financial analysis and presentation, contractor surety and lending, tax issues, and fraud. Guest lecturers are featured for certain topics.

Covers the basics of estimating construction project costs. The first part of the course focuses on the quantitative aspect of estimating, including quantity take-offs, pricing, overhead costs, and profit. The components required for making successful bids are addressed and analyzed. The second part of the course concentrates on estimating in such areas as procurement, cost control, and change orders during the actual construction process.

This elective course introduces students to project and construction management and explores industry and construction projects from their place in the larger economy to execution at the project level. Classwork will focus on defining projects and breaking down their critical components within the context of current and evolving markets and regulatory environments. Students will learn the various competencies required to successfully navigate a construction project from concept to commissioning. Assignments and activities include simulation, case study discussions, individual and group projects, and a multi-phase final group project encompassing the concepts, theories, tools, and skills acquired during the course.

This course addresses the vital issue of construction site safety from a management perspective. Students gain insight into the challenges of accident prevention and techniques for managing safe and secure building projects. Includes a history of construction safety, accident causation theory, hazard control procedures, insurance and risk management, behavior-based safety initiatives, occupational safety and health management systems in construction firms, and the deployment of technologies such as three- and four-dimensional modeling and PDA-based inspection.

Provides in-depth analysis and discussion on all the relevant case law and statutory information pertaining to New York construction and engineering law along with practical insights, warnings, and advice culled from the instructing team’s years of experience. The major emphasis is on the principal contractual relationships (owner-contractor, owner-architect/engineer, contractor-subcontractor, and architect/engineer-consultant), and the problems that most commonly arise out of these relationships. Topics covered include licensing issues, contract issues, managing construction projects, design through build, bidding and procurement rules, insurance and surety bonds, site safety, mechanics’ liens, claims, alternative dispute resolution, and damages. Fall term only.

The Construction Administration Capstone Project course introduces the methods and tools necessary to analyze a set of plans and specifications for an active New York City building project (or projects) and includes a comprehensive review and analysis of documentation requirements for the selected project(s). Students are paired with appropriate industry managers and work in small teams, utilizing knowledge acquired from their core courses to develop and draft a comprehensive, professional level project manual. Review of contract plans and documents as well as site visits and interaction with actual project team members are required. To be taken during the final term of study.

A comprehensive introduction to the principles, methods and tools required for the development and implementation of scheduling in the construction industry. Topics covered include: the crucial role of the scheduling development plans, budgeting and its impact on project timelines, identification and analysis of critical paths (CPM), resource and cost loading, schedule updating, and schedule management. Coursework is integrated with hands‐on utilization of Oracle Primavera P3 and P6 scheduling and Microsoft Project 2007 software. Students may need to bring their own laptops/notebooks for some class sessions. Guest lecturers may be featured for certain topics.

OBJECTIVE: This course should prepare the student to prepare a CPM schedule, calculate the schedule manually or by use of computer software, evaluate the output of such software, and present such analysis both to field personnel for implementation and to upper management for overview.

This course provides students with a solid hands-on foundation in BIM (Building Information Modeling) and other technologies that are revolutionizing the way 21st century construction projects are delivered. Starting from the Owner’s perspective, the class sessions will explore the benefits of BIM tools/methods as used by design teams, construction managers and sub-contractors. Students work with actual industry tools to create BIM Models that extract quantities for estimation purposes, link models to construction schedules (4D simulations), generate clash reports, and effectively communicate 3D site logistics plans. Once a BIM backbone is established, discussions will lead into and highlight: advanced applications, integration opportunities, responsibilities/contractual theories and the introduction of other 3rd Party Software. This course is a recommended companion course to CNAD PS5500, the Capstone Project. Students enrolling in the course are required to have their own notebook PC meeting the noted specifications. (Specs to come).

This course concentrates on the importance of proper means and methods for insuring cost-effective design, construction and maintenance, as well as a safe work environment. The course includes guest speakers from the industry who will discuss various construction methods. Students work in teams on a semester-long case study of a Manhattan construction project, examining field activities, site safety, work progress and quality control.

This course is an elective, designed to introduce students to the administration and management responsibilities associated with innovative project delivery methods, or procurement methods, including planning, design, construction, and financing, as well as operations and maintenance requirements; for both public sector and private sector participation and collaboration.

This course will focus on defining a continuum of alternative or accelerated procurement processes when compared to traditional design – bid – build processes; for a range of public works asset types. Practices, tools, and methods will be informed by municipal planning and general economic concepts, as well as case studies. Students will develop an understanding of the political forces, principles and contractual structures in innovative project delivery agreements.

This course focuses on the core operational elements of any building: Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Prevention, increasingly complex systems requiring specialized coordination and planning. Students develop a thorough knowledge of MEP systems, equipment, and construction methods and a broad understanding of how they are implemented within the general construction process. Construction industry and project management principles are brought together in class lectures and demonstrations illustrating the process of taking a project from design to completion relative to its MEP components. Class sessions and assignments include simulations, case study discussions, individual and group exercises, and a final collaborative project drawing upon the tools and techniques taught during the course.

This elective course is designed for students looking to gain a stronger understanding of the real estate development and construction process. Students are expected to have some exposure and understanding of construction, finance, and real estate development. Ideally this experience would include having taken introductory courses in real estate or construction finance, in construction methods, and construction process. In addition to, or in substitution of academic coursework, students with a significant professional background in real estate development or construction would also qualify.

The course will explore the real estate development life-cycle from inception to completion. It will focus on detailing the process of analyzing potential acquisitions, entitlement, and permitting through an introduction of market drivers, zoning constraints, building codes, and deal underwriting. The course will introduce the practice of orchestrating the design, pre-development / pre-construction phases and the key components that inform the ultimate commercialization of a project. Students will learn the many disciplines required to make a real estate development project successful.

This course is a seminar-based elective and is designed to expose and engage students on advanced topics in project and enterprise management. There will be invited guest speakers in addition to the main instructor of the course. The course will focus on critical discussions around advanced topics related to the management of large complex construction programs and projects. By drawing on organizational and management theory as well as case studies the course will going beyond means, methods, tools, and techniques and introduce power, politics, systems-dynamics, and risk management to the practice of project management. Students are expected to have a strong understanding of the fundamental competencies of construction management and are expected to have some experience in leadership roles. Ideally this experience would include having taken advanced or professional training courses in project-based leadership, field operations, planning and supply-chain management, and large scale infrastructure or complex project execution. In addition to, or in substitution of academic coursework, students with a professional background at a management or leadership level could also qualify, as would students that have taken the Construction Project Management (PS5139), holding a PMP, CCM, MRICS, or MCIOB, designation.

Examines the skills and techniques needed for residential renovations. Residential interior renovation is a multibillion-dollar industry, and while many construction professionals enter the field of commercial core and shell work, there are many high-paying positions available in residential construction and renovation. Topics include residential versus commercial clients, budget development, contracting and subcontracting, schedule management, change orders, construction quality, and managing clients' psychological issues.

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of key concepts and approaches in green building and sustainability. Specific material will include best practices and trends in design, construction, and business; analysis tools; green building rating systems (with an emphasis on LEED and the Living Building Challenge); the paradigm of sustainable thinking; and applying sustainability in the real (working) world. The course will also provide a preparatory platform for individuals looking to take the LEED Green Associate exam (a precursor to the LEED AP). The course format is designed to support practical understanding, and will include presentations, discussions, guest lecturers, site visits, and a semester long group project to apply the concepts as they are discussed. Students will be provided with resources and tools to facilitate self-directed exploration of the topics, and a forum to develop and communicate findings and considerations.

Details will be forthcoming.