Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 5/13/2009

Question
Hello.  My name is Rashad.  I’m in the process of registering for school at a 2 year college.  I want to enroll in a program that will help me reach my goal of becoming a real estate builder/developer.  The program that they offer is as follows:


COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Commercial Construction Management
Associate of Applied Science Degree
CCM3
Program Description
Construction continues to employ more people than any other industry. It is an ever-changing
environment with top salaries in the six-figure category. The mission of the commercial construction
management degree program is to prepare students with the skills to obtain satisfying employment and
to lead the construction industry with high standards. Program graduates will manage construction
teams in order to solve complex technical and managerial problems in the building process. Completion
of the program will provide graduates with the necessary skills to manage construction projects with
confidence and authority.
The associate of applied science degree program includes commercial construction management
courses and college-level general education courses. Coursework is accomplished through business
simulations that prepare students to immediately and effectively impact the work environment. Student
industry employment is encouraged to allow direct application of skills learned through course projects.
(Program Length: 8 Quarters Minimum)
Employment Opportunities
Project manager, contract administrator, superintendent, estimator, project engineer, safety engineer,
assistant cost engineer, quality control engineer, scheduling engineer, building inspector
CURRICULUM
COURSE TITLE NUMBER CREDITS
Essential General Education Core Courses 35
Area I - Humanities/Fine Arts
Composition and Rhetoric ENG 191 5
Literature and Composition OR ENG 193 5
Introduction to Humanities HUM 191 (5)
Fundamentals of Speech SPC 191 5
Area II - Social/Behavioral Sciences
Macroeconomics ECO 193 5
Introduction to Psychology PSY 191 5
Area III - Natural Sciences/Mathematics
College Algebra MAT 191 5
Physical Science I OR PSC 191 5
Introductory Physics PHY 190 (5)
190
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Essential Technical Courses 75
Introduction to Microcomputers SCT 100 3
Introduction to Commercial Construction CCM 101 2
Construction Materials and Techniques CCM 102 4
Commercial Print Reading CCM 103 3
Construction Safety CCM 110 4
Workplace Law CCM 210 5
Construction Accounting and Financial Management CCM 230 5
Mechanical, Electrical and Conveying Systems CCM 130 4
Commercial Building Code CCM 140 3
Construction Scheduling CCM 160 4
Quantity Estimating CCM 180 5
Conceptual Cost Estimating CCM 181 5
Cost Estimating CCM 182 5
Contract Administration CCM 220 3
Construction Project Management CCM 270 5
Capstone Project CCM 290 5
Elective(s) XXX xxx 10
Total Hours 110
Elective(s)
Elective choices include any CCM courses, PHY 191, BUS 101, INT 100, MKT 110, ACT 100, INT 104,
MSD 101, MSD 103 and/or MKT 115.


My question is, will this help me become a builder/developer?


Answer
Hi Rashad, Obvious area 1 is necessary for the basic educational requirements leading up to your degree.  The CCM courses you have chosen should definately help you achieve your desired goal.  If you have the opportunity to take a CAD course it would be good to do that also.  A lot of building plans are electronically filed now and a lot of file sharing goes on between builders, engineers and architects so it will behoove you to know the basics of AutoCAD. Another good course is surveying.  Learning the basics of how land is measured, how to calculate distances using trigonometry and understanding elevations will prove invaluable in your life's work.  And of course if you can find maybe a summer job working as a builder's assistant,(I spent one summer as a chainman on a surveying crew) preferably on a large commercial project, nothing beats field experience.  You will find that what you learn in the books regarding project management sometimes doesn't directly translate the same in the field or in real life.  I have written several treatise on project management.  Feel free to visit my website:bejohnsonconsulting.com you will find some highlights related to my field experience and how to deal with problems in the field.    But other than that, it looks like you have selected some good courses. Good luck and if there is anything else you would like to discuss feel free to write again, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com