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History

The Department of Construction Management at the University of Washington is one of five departments within the College of Built Environments (CBE).

The Past

The construction management program at the University of Washington has a rich history. It traces its roots back to the 1950s when students began creating their own study programs from existing university courses. These pioneering students were awarded bachelor of arts degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences. A significant turning point came in October 1962, when the bachelor of arts option was discontinued and replaced with a similar program in the College of Architecture and Urban Planning. This marked the birth of the program we know today as Building Technology and Administration. The first course was offered in the winter quarter of 1964, and the first six graduates were awarded bachelor of science degrees in June 1965, marking the successful transition of the program.

The present department was created by the Board of Regents in August 1968 and was initially named the Department of Building Construction. In April 1994, the Board of Regents approved the creation of a Master of Science in Building Construction program, marking a significant milestone in the department’s growth. The first graduate courses were offered during the autumn quarter of 1994, with an initial enrollment of ten graduate students. Also, in 1994, the department developed the Certificate Program in Construction Management with UW Extension, further expanding its offerings. In 1996, the Board of Regents changed the department’s name to the Department of Construction Management, and the degrees offered were a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Construction Management. The first Master of Science in Construction Management degree was awarded in June 1997. In 2002, the department demonstrated its adaptability by developing a self-sustaining online graduate program with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and UW Extension, a move that anticipated the future of education.

The Present

Nowadays, the department offers many programs at different levels:

Undergraduate level

Graduate level

Ph.D. in Built Environment with emphasis on Building, Construction & Property Sciences

Professional Certificate level

  • Blended Certificate in Construction Management
  • Online Certificate in Construction Management

In Academic Year 2023-24, the department employed 12 full-time and 28 part-time faculty members. A chair administers the department with the support of three program coordinators and four staff members. Undergraduate enrollment is around 180, resident graduate enrollment is around 55, and online graduate enrollment is around 15. Between AY 2019-20 and AY 2022-23, the department has enrolled an average of 149 students per year, including 59 students annually with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, 11 students with a Dual Degree in Construction Management and Architectural Design, 4 with a CM minor, 22 with a resident graduate Master of Science in Construction Management, 5 with the Master of Science in Construction Management, and 48 in the Certificate in Construction Management.