Capstone course in construction management

Capstone courses offered in most construction engineering programs are designed to pull together much of what the student has already learned in previous courses. This will enable the student to gain an appreciation of how the different aspects of a construction project come together. The course is not an in depth study of any one function or technical aspect, but rather a synergistic overview of the project process. Penn State Harrisburg's Structural Design & Construction Engineering Technology (SDCET) capstone course is separated into two sections so students can focus in either structural design or construction management. The sections stress their specialized area while still integrating elements of the other area. The four credit-hour course begins in the last seven and one-half weeks of the fall semester for one credit, and continues in the spring for three credits. The fall syllabus for the construction management option includes teams of students each forming a firm, dealing with organizational structures and personnel responsibilities, a marketing plan, company portfolio and potential client interview. The course continues in the spring with pre-qualifications, financial statements, RFP for CM services, project planning, bid packages and bidding, scheduling (bid and construction), value engineering, safety policy, and other CM services. Industry presentations and involvement provide the course with real world experiences. The course also integrates written and oral communications throughout to stress the importance of these skills for a successful manager.