School of CCM (Concrete and Construction Management) FAQ
Can I come visit the MTSU campus to learn more about CCM?
Yes! Reach out to Sally Victory at sally.victory@mtsu.edu or 615/494-7658 to set up a personalized time to come visit our beautiful campus.
On the tour you will talk with faculty and students. Starting in the fall of 2022,
you will be able to tour our $40.1 million state-of-the-art building, custom designed for an academic setting.
Get a sneak peak of our campus & community by viewing these videos:
What types of degrees are offered at MTSU in the School of Concrete and Constuction
Management?
MTSU has 3 degree options available, with a variety of concentrations. MTSU is at
the cutting edge of technology with highly acclaimed professors in the industry.
Build advanced business skills in courses tailored to the concrete and construction
industry.
What are admissions requirements for Concrete and Construction Management?
Concrete Industry Management (CIM) and Construction Management (CM) do not have any
requirements beyond those of the University. Requirements for admission to MTSU can
be found online at https://www.mtsu.edu/how-to-apply/undergraduate/.
What does a degree in Concrete and Construction Management cost?
Both undergraduate programs are four-year Bachelor of Science degrees with 120-hour
minimum. You can find current tuition for MTSU on the undergraduate fee chart at mtsu.edu/tuition/. CIM also has a $175 course fee for CIM 3000 and 3050 that pays for the student’s
required ACI Field Testing and Flatwork certifications.
With MTSU’s low tuition, scholarships awarded annually to majors, and high starting salaries, a Concrete Industry Management
or Construction Management degree is a great return on your investment.
Are the MTSU CCM programs available online?
The undergraduate programs in Concrete Industry Management and Construction Management
are very hands-on with several lab classes included, so many of the classes in the
majors are only offered in person.
If you live outside of Tennessee and are considering CCM at MTSU, we highly encourage
you to reach out and seek more information.
MTSU is one of only five universities offering the CIM degree in the U.S. Because
it’s such a rare program, in-state tuition is available for many surrounding states
through the Academic Common Market. In addition, industry involvement for CIM is nationwide
and employers visit from out of state to recruit our majors. Jobs out of the area
are common and desired.
Construction Management offers in-state tuition to students from West Virginia through
the Academic Common Market. Learn more at mtsu.edu/acm.
Are there CCM scholarships available?
Yes! On top of MTSU scholarship opportunities, the School of CCM has its own scholarship committee to distribute
support from industry. CIM awards over $50,000 annually to majors, and CM awards around
$9,000 directly to students from industry. In addition, the department distributes
many other external scholarship opportunities each year.
More information can be found on our Costs and Scholarships page at mtsu.edu/ccm/scholarships.php. Applications for department scholarships are due each year on April 1 for the upcoming
academic year.
What courses do Concrete and Construction Management students take?
All students in the School of CCM take Introduction to the Concrete and Construction
Industry; Plan Reading; Concrete and Construction Law; and Construction Safety and
Health Management. In addition, all students are required to work a 400-hour internship
for course credit.
For CIM, you can find all required courses at mtsu.edu/programs/concrete-industry/requirements. Generally, students take 41 hours of General Education courses including trigonometry
for Concrete Contracting students and two science courses—Geology and Chemistry—with
labs. In addition, all CIM students are required to complete a minor in Business Administration.
For Construction Management, you can find all required courses at mtsu.edu/programs/construction/requirements. Generally, students take 41 hours of General Education courses including Algebra
and Physics with lab. Those choosing the Land Development/Residential Building concentration
also take Geology with lab.
How long does it take to complete a degree in Concrete and Construction Management?
CIM and Construction Management are four-year Bachelor of Science degrees requiring
a minimum of 120 academic credit hours. Students with prior coursework may be able
to count transfer credits toward some General Education or minor courses.
In addition, several community college transfer pathways exist between our majors
and local community colleges or trade schools. Reach out to the school director, Dr. Kelly Strong, for information.
Does MTSU accept transfer students for CCM?
Yes! MTSU and the School of Concrete and Construction Management (SCCM) accept transfer
credit(s) from accredited institutions of higher learning. There are 41 credits of
required General Education and 15–18 hours of required business courses that are commonly
offered at other institutions. Connect with the appropriate SCCM advisor to talk about your transfer coursework and what a degree plan might look like for
you.
What career opportunities are available for those with degrees in Concrete and Construction
Management?
Concrete Industry Management (CIM)
Career opportunities for CIM vary in job type and are afforded across many niches
in the industry, in Tennessee and out-of-state. Find types of jobs or employers that
hire CIM graduates on our CIM Careers page. Also, you can find our student achievement data online to see current placement and relocation rates, average starting salary, and employer
involvement.
Construction Management (CM)
Construction Management majors often work in the middle Tennessee area as project
managers, superintendents, land developers, and procurement specialists and in preconstruction/estimating.
Learn more by visiting the CM Careers page. Concentrations in both Commercial Construction Management and Land Development/Residential
Building allow students to focus on one niche in the industry.
Are Concrete and Construction Management career opportunities available only in the state of Tennessee?
No. Nashville is booming, and construction opportunities are plentiful in the middle
Tennessee area. However, most of the contractors that hire from the MTSU School of
Concrete and Construction Management also have other regional offices as well as internships
and full-time opportunities out of the area for students to explore.
MTSU’s CIM program is one of only five in the United States and strives to staff the
concrete and construction industries with graduates regionally. In addition, the Academic Common Market allows for students from states surrounding Tennessee to attend MTSU for the same
cost as in-state students.
What student opportunities will I have to connect with employers/industry from the
CCM program?
Many! The School of CCM has an industry relations specialist who works to connect
students with employers and opportunities. A Fall Networking Event and Spring Interview
Day are hosted each year and bring in nearly 120 employers to recruit students. In
addition, the school hosts socials, which are company-sponsored meals and information
sessions with employers to learn about opportunities and interview.
Check out the student achievement data to see the number of employers involved and view our Careers page to find out which employers are hiring our graduates.
Do the MTSU CIM or Construction Management programs offer hands-on experience?
Yes! Concrete and construction are difficult to learn virtually. CIM and CM have several
lab classes in which students get to apply theory to real world materials and tests.
The School of CCM staffs a full-time lab manager, and the new building boasts state-of-the-art
concrete mixing and materials labs, a student projects lab, a soils and cement lab,
and a virtual design lab. All students take Construction Safety and are able to earn
OSHA 30 safety certification, and courses like CIM 3000 and CIM 3050 require ACI industry
certifications.
All majors are required to work a 400-hour internship and also earn course credit
to assure completion. Most courses bring industry professionals or alumni in to share
their experience, show software, discuss unique problems on jobsites, or bring case
studies into the classroom. Students also have opportunity through student organizations to travel and compete in industry conferences and competitions.
See students in action at the Nashville Grand Prix in 2022:
Is an internship required to complete my degree in CCM?
Yes, all students are required to complete a 400-hour internship working at a company
in the industry for academic credit. Employers visit campus to host socials or come
to the Fall Networking Event or Spring Interview Day to meet with student candidates
they might hire as interns.
How is the CIM (Concrete Industry Management) major different from traditional Construction
Management programs?
In addition to concrete-specific coursework such as Fundamentals of Concrete, Concrete
Construction Methods, Concrete Problems, and Application of Concrete in Construction,
CIM majors are required to earn a minor in Business Administration to provide an overview
of business as a foundation to build a career in management. Students also earn three
industry certifications: ACI Field Testing, Flatwork, and OSHA 30 Hour Safety certifications
are built into required coursework.
With two concentrations, the types of jobs available to CIM majors are many and varied.
Students who choose to study Concrete Contracting may work more on the construction
end of the business, in similar or specialty roles to Construction Management majors—often
project coordination/management, estimating, and field superintendent positions. Employers
can vary but alumni have gained employment with concrete, heavy civil, or specialty
contractors or general contractors. Students who choose to study Concrete Production,
Sales, and Service also open the door to roles in operations, sales, and management
with ready mix producers, materials suppliers, or equipment manufacturers.
CIM is nationally known in the concrete industry, and MTSU is the flagship campus,
with alumni in the industry 25+ years. With more than 800 alumni working in the industry
across 30+ states, there is a great network to help you succeed and find opportunity.
Industry support of students is a huge benefit, affording students scholarship dollars,
internship assistance, internships, and conference travel to students who take advantage.
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How is Construction Management different from CIM?
Construction Management majors learn specifics about many other building materials,
and Commercial Construction majors take CMT 4100 to also learn about the mechanical,
electrical, and plumbing systems they will face. There are few Construction Management
programs in the state of Tennessee, and MTSU’s is ATMAE accredited. The proximity
of MTSU to the Metro Nashville area provides students many options in their future
careers.
