AA/AS in Construction Management

This associate of applied science program at McHenry County College blends the technical and managerial sides of putting up buildings. Students become familiar with modern tools used on job sites, the methods contractors rely on, and software that coordinates how a project gets delivered. Alongside the technical material, the curriculum teaches the principles and processes that keep a project organized from the first plan to completion. After graduating, students can apply to general contractors, specialty contractors and construction management companies, usually starting as an assistant project manager or project engineer. Others choose to carry their credits into a bachelor's degree. The sample plan runs through fall, spring and summer sessions and includes one elective chosen from related technology areas, which helps applicants picture the whole sequence. A direct phone line for the program is listed for prospective students, and a former student quoted on the page explains that early courses made schoolwork enjoyable again and motivated a commitment to finish.