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Graduate Curriculum

Master of Science in Construction Management Degree Requirements

The information below applies to the in-person Master of Science in Construction on the UW Seattle campus. If you are interested applying to the online MSCM program please visit our dedicated requirements page for that degree.

Effective in autumn quarter 2025, students will be admitted to the Master of Science in Construction Management in regular or advanced standing. Students in either standing may choose to complete the degree through a research (thesis) or professional (coursework) pathway. Please review our Graduate Admission page to learn more about the required qualifications for regular and advanced standing.

Advanced Standing (42 credits)

Research Pathway

  • 2 Required Pathway Courses (12 credits): CM 700 (thesis, 9 credits), CM 535
  • 3 Program Core Courses (9 credits): CM 500, CM 520, and Capstone CM 560 or CM 565
  • 7 Construction Management Elective Courses (21 credits to meet the required total)
    • Non-CM Elective Courses: A maximum of 9 credits of approved non-CM coursework may apply to the 21 required Construction Management Electives
  • Required 3.0. cumulative GPA in courses applied to program requirements.

Professional Pathway

  • 1 Required Pathway Course (3 credits): CM 575
  • 3 Program Core Courses (9 credits): CM 500, CM 520, and Capstone CM 560 or CM 565
  • 10 Construction Management Elective Courses (30 credits to meet the required total)
    • Non-CM Elective Courses: A maximum of 9 credits of approved non-CM coursework may apply to the 30 required Construction Management Electives
  • Required 3.0. cumulative GPA in courses applied to program requirements.

Regular Standing (52 credits)

Research Pathway

  • 3 Foundation Courses (10 credits) *: CM 449, CM 411, CM 421
  • 2 Required Pathway Courses (12 credits) Thesis: CM 700 (thesis, 9 credits), CM 535
  • 3 Program Core Courses (9 credits): CM 500, CM 520, and Capstone CM 560 or CM565
  • 7 Construction Management Elective Courses (21 credits to meet the required total)
    • Non-CM Elective Courses: A maximum of 9 credits of approved non-CM coursework may apply to the 21 required Construction Management Electives
  • Required 3.0. cumulative GPA in courses applied to program requirements.

Professional Pathway

  • 3 Foundation Courses (10 credits) *: CM 449, CM 411, CM 421
  • 1 Required Pathway Course (3 credits): CM 575
  • 3 Program Core Courses (9 credits): CM 500, CM 520, and Capstone CM 560 or CM 565
  • 10 Construction Management Elective Courses (30 credits to meet the required total)
    • Non-CM Elective Courses: A maximum of 9 credits of approved non-CM coursework may apply to the 30 required Construction Management Electives
  • Required 3.0. cumulative GPA in courses applied to program requirements.

*Students admitted to regular standing who have previously completed equivalent foundational coursework for academic credit may request to replace specific courses with additional elective credit.

Additional Program Information

  • Graduate-level CM courses are offered on an evening schedule, meeting either once or twice per week between 4:00p and 9:00p, Monday-Thursday. Non-CM elective courses may meet at other times throughout the week.
  • Full-time students typically complete the degree in 4-5 quarters and part-time students may enroll in as few as one course per quarter.
  • MSCM students may also pursue a graduate certificate in the College of Built Environments. Up to 9 credits of certificate coursework may be used toward the degree elective requirements.

2024-25 Graduate Electives (subject to change)

  • Autumn 2024
    • CM 555 – Construction Firm Management
    • CM 565 – Managing International Projects
    • CM 598 – Special Topics – Building Information Modeling (BIM)
  • Winter 2025
    • CM 520 – Construction Procurement Systems
    • CM 527 – Managing Scope & Risk for Construction Projects
    • CM 598 – Special Topics – Virtual Modeling for Digital Fabrication (VMDF)
  • Spring 2025
    • CM 515 – Virtual Construction Management
    • CM 518 – Lean Construction
    • CM 530 – Project Economics and Risk Analysis
    • CM 540 – Sustainable Construction
    • CM 560 – Design-Build Project Management