Master’s in Construction Project Management

WPI’s interdisciplinary master’s in Construction Project Management (MS CPM) will prepare you to manage complex construction projects at every stage, from resource planning and risk mitigation to reporting.

Our rigorous yet practical program, offered both on campus and online, is based in WPI’s world-class Civil & Environmental Engineering department but bridges multiple disciplines to produce professionals knowledgeable in design and construction engineering processes, legal relations, and organization and management of resources.

As an on-campus or online student you will learn from and work closely with expert WPI faculty members who have practical experience in construction project management and continue to serve as consultants to leading corporations.

Graduate Admissions

Curriculum for Master’s in Construction Project Management

The master’s in Construction Project Management curriculum combines courses in civil engineering, project management and management science, business and economics, as well as system dynamics. You will work with an advisor to create a plan of study that matches your interests and career goals. All students take core courses featuring hands-on projects and case studies in advanced project management, advanced cost estimating, and building information modeling, and you can select from electives in topics such as sustainable construction practices, physical and chemical treatment processes, fire protection, and conflict resolution.

You may choose to complete a research-based thesis or an entirely course-based program.

Graduate Catalog

This degree is available online.

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Master’s in Civil Engineering

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Research for Construction Master’s

Faculty in WPI’s Civil & Environmental Engineering department conduct groundbreaking research aimed at discovering safer, more sustainable, and more efficient ways to build and maintain buildings and infrastructure. Students pursuing a construction master’s have worked alongside them to tackle problems such as these:

Creating a life cycle cost analysis framework for sustainable buildings based on WPI’s LEED-Gold Certified East Hall.
Evaluating the use of Building Information Modeling to improve processes that universities use to renovate old buildings.
Comparing Earned Value Performance Indicators with Earned Schedule Performance Indicators to predict more reliable project time durations.

As a student in our interdisciplinary degree program, you will have access to a wide variety of facilities and resources across campus, including labs equipped with industry-standard computer-based simulation software. Many of our students also complete field research at local engineering and construction firms and projects.

Research & Facilities

Faculty Profiles

Guillermo F. Salazar

Michael Radzicki

Associate Professor

, Social Science & Policy Studies

Professor Radzicki is an economist, creator of WPI’s program in system dynamics, and co-creator of WPI’s program in trading and investment system development. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Notre Dame and his training in system dynamics computer simulation modeling from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition, he is a certified Rapid-I Predictive Analytics Analyst.

Steven Van Dessel

Associate Professor & Director Architectural Engineering Program

, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering

My research and teaching activities are in the area of sustainable building design and building technology, with a special focus on the study of adaptive building enclosure systems. One of the goals of this research is to develop smart materials that can alter their thermal properties in response to changing outdoor conditions, in order to conserve energy and optimize building thermal comfort. This research entails the use of energy modeling tools, experimental investigations including synthesis of new materials, and the study of practical applications.

Getting Involved

Graduate students are an integral part of WPI’s active and engaged campus, from student government to performing arts. You can also join the WPI student chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America, a professional organization that defines, teaches, and promotes best practices in design-build.

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After Graduation

Work in the Industry While You Earn Your Construction Master’s Online

Are you a busy construction professional who needs the flexibility that an online master’s provides? Our masters in construction management online is a great fit for construction leaders looking to take their skills to the next level and still work closely with our expert faculty who have practical experience in the construction project management field. Maybe you have your bachelor’s and already have professional exposure, but want to gain a graduate-level introduction to managing projects? Our online certificate in construction project management will provide a grad-level introduction to core courses and a range of electives so you are ready to manage complex construction projects from resource planning to risk mitigation and more. If you prefer in-person interaction and instruction with our expert faculty, explore our on campus construction project management certificate.

Take Your Passion for Our Planet to the Next Level with a Master’s

If you have a passion for our planet and natural resource preservation, our master’s in civil engineering may be a good fit for you. You’ll be immersed in globally recognized research from chemical treatment processes, analysis of structural systems, pavement engineering and highway materials, and more. Our state-of-the-art laboratories allow students to collaborate with our world-class faculty on groundbreaking research areas. Whether it’s eradicating pollution from water and soil, sustainable structures, or even construction, you will have the flexibility to find solutions to pressing civil engineering problems. Maybe you’re looking to develop core fundamental knowledge as you mold into a leadership role? Our ABET-accredited master of engineering in civil engineering is designed to prepare students to become effective team leaders who can dive into real-world problem solving. Are you passionate about protecting public health and our environment? Consider earning a master’s in environmental engineering which will set you up for a successful career specialized in whichever area most interests you from pollution to hazardous waste, wastewater, and more. If you prefer the convenience of an online graduate education, explore our online civil engineering master’s offerings.

Start with a Bachelor’s Degree to Gain a Foundation

Construction project management careers require a broad understanding of many fields. You’ll want to know how projects can impact the environment or existing infrastructure, and how the latest materials can enhance the final outcome. If you’re interests lean toward preserving and protecting natural resources like water WPI’s environmental engineering BS bestows a professional-level of understanding how these systems work and are impacted by changes. Maybe you want to know how buildings and roadways can be better integrated into the natural world or built using resources more mindfully. A bachelor’s in civil engineering can give you the expertise you’ll call on in a construction project management role. If you want to blend your love of engineering topics with the study of architecture, a BS in architectural engineering lets you explore topics that interest you and result in a capstone that gives you hands-on experience in sustainable building design.

Earn an Advanced Degree and Take Your Career Further

If you want to use your focused expertise gained from rigorous research and studies, a PhD in civil engineering gives you a specialty for further career growth. This civil engineering PhD program lets you cross boundaries even as you specialize so you can advance into industries as diverse as construction project management, highway infrastructure, geotechnical engineering, or environmental engineering.

Balance Life as a Working Professional with Your Commitment to Life-Long Learning

If you think your full-time job doesn’t leave time for meaningful learning opportunities, you need to check out our certificate programs. WPI’s graduate and advanced water resources certificates are a specialized and targeted program of graduate-level courses that will expand your knowledge while increasing your professional value in the market and in your current job. Whether you have a prior bachelor’s or master’s degree, our graduate and advanced water quality systems certificates will build on the knowledge you have. You’ll be able to build a program that lets you explore your specific interests including water flow, analysis, chemistry, treatment, hydraulics, and resource management. You can apply your new expertise in your job right away.

Civil, Environmental & Architectural Department

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