Construction Project Management (MS)

WPI’s interdisciplinary master of science 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

The MS 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 also offered online.

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Similar Degrees

Civil Engineering (MS)

Environmental Engineering (MS)

environmental engineering

Fire Protection Engineering (MS)

Research

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. MS students 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

Associate Professor

Civil & Environmental Engineering

My academic activity concentrates in the development of formal methods of analysis, computer-based methodologies, and cooperative agreements to evaluate the impact of process integration on the cost of civil engineering projects. Over the last 10 years, this work has been focused primarily on the academic and professional aspects of Building Information Modeling (BIM). This work has produced several computer-based tools.

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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.

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Roberto Pietroforte

Associate Professor

Civil & Environmental Engineering

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Steven Van Dessel

Associate Professor

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 envelop systems. One of the goals of our 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, and the development of practical applications.

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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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Students walking around the fountain in the springtime

After Graduation

With their interdisciplinary knowledge and hands-on experience, our graduates are often promoted within their current organizations or find new employment opportunities working for construction management companies, developers, and property owners, or as consultants.

Career Outlook

Civil & Environmental Engineering Department