Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

1. What is the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Construction Management degree?
The BAS in Construction Management degree combines building design and engineering concepts with management, business, and communication skills: all the right mix of skills construction managers need to deliver projects on time and within budget. The curriculum focuses primarily on commercial construction, not residential. You can complete the program by taking courses part time in the evening. The University of Minnesota offers this degree in partnership with Inver Hills Community College and North Hennepin Community College.

2. Will my current college credits transfer to this program?
Check the credit transfer guide, which includes course equivalents for the lower-division requirements at partnering community colleges and the University of Minnesota. To have a credit evaluation done, request a Planning Chart

3. Will my credits from a technical school count?
Credits from a technical school cannot be used toward this degree, but we will evaluate your work experience and technical college course work and possibly waive a course requirement.

4. What are the admission criteria?

  • Complete 45 semester credits;
  • Complete one college-level calculus course;
  • Complete one college-level calculus-based physics course;
  • Complete a building-plan reading course;
  • Complete lower-division community college construction courses;
  • Achieve an overall grade point average of 2.5, based on a 4.0 scale.

The following lower-division construction courses are recommended but not required:

  • Construction Management
  • Building Organization Technology
  • Construction Estimating
  • Critical Path Method

5. Are there admission deadlines?
Applications for Fall Semester admission to the BAS in Construction Management are due June 1. (March 1 for students transferring from another college within the University of Minnesota.)

Applications for Spring Semester admission are due October 15.

6. What if my grade point average (GPA) is lower than 2.5?
The BAS Admission Committee will review your overall GPA as part of the admissions process. If you have less than a 2.5 GPA and your recent course work shows a strong improvement, the committee will consider your current course work as a positive indicator that you will be successful in the program, and will consider you for admission.

7. If I am an international student on a student visa, can I be admitted to the BAS in Construction Management program?
Because the BAS in Construction Management was designed for part-time, evening students, it is generally not an option for international students. Although it may be possible for you to register full-time in any given term, we cannot guarantee that you could proceed for four years and complete the program at a full-time rate attending every semester. These programs do not meet the spirit and the requirements of the laws for international students attending the University.

8. If I am currently a University of Minnesota student, do I have to take courses at a community college partner school such as North Hennepin Community College or Inver Hills Community College?
The BAS degree is a partnership program in which the first half is completed by taking community college courses and the second half by taking University of Minnesota courses. While all lower-division construction courses are offered only at our partner schools, it is possible to complete some of the lower-division courses at the University of Minnesota. It is also possible to take courses at other metro area community colleges and baccalaureate-granting colleges or Universities. See the Transfer Guide for course numbers.

9. Do I need to take my courses in any particular order?
It is important when you are planning your course work each semester to pay careful attention to the prerequisites listed in the class schedule. For example, the physics course required for the BAS in Construction Management degree needs to be taken after one semester of calculus is completed. The lower-division construction courses should be taken before the upper-division construction courses. Also, prerequisites can vary between schools. Some schools have more prerequisites for a particular course than others do.

10. What if the course I want is filled?
Contact a construction management academic adviser at CCEinfo@umn.edu or 612-624-4000.

11. Can the BAS in Construction Management be done entirely through distance or online education?
No, at this time the BAS in Construction Management degree is an on-campus program only. It is possible, however, to take a few of the liberal education courses and many of the applied business courses online via the Web.

12. Can I get credit for work experience?
The BAS in Construction Management program does not grant credit for work experience. However, in some cases, and upon consultation with the BAS faculty director, a course requirement may be waived based on your work experience.

13. What careers are available with a BAS Construction Management degree?
The BAS in Construction Management curriculum focuses on preparing you to work in a commercial construction setting. Construction managers plan and direct construction projects, making decisions regarding daily construction activities at the job site. Job titles vary but some examples include: field engineer, assistant project manager, project manager, project engineer, general construction manager, and others.

14. Is an internship required for the program?
Yes, there is a credit-based semester internship required for the program. Students typically do the internship towards the end of their degree program. You may seek out your own internship experience or work with the faculty director for assistance. Generally, the internship is a paid experience.