Fitchburg State to offer 1st construction management grad program in Mass.

Photo | Courtesy | Fitchburg State University Fitchburg State University

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Fitchburg State University will launch a new, fully online construction management graduate program seeking to address disparities between the demand in project management professionals and the lack of available talent.

The program will be offered through Fitchburg State’s Engineering Technology Department and its School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education, according to a press release issued by the university on Thursday. This program will be the first of its kind in Massachusetts to offer a public credential for a master’s degree in construction management and will offer students the ability to graduate in three semesters.

John Ferrante, the CEO of Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, said in the release this program will help tackle a backlog of work that is piling up in the construction management field, as firms are having to turn down projects due to a lack of capacity.

“There are fewer than 10 universities in New England offering construction management programs for an industry that puts in place over $10 billion of work annually,” Ferrante said. “Currently, there is a disparity between the demand for project management professionals in our industry and the availability of talent. We consistently hear that some of the most successful construction management firms are turning down opportunities to bid because they do not have the management capacity to take on additional work.”
Industry professionals can have their work experience evaluated and possibly earn credits toward the degree. Fitchburg State plans to offer a 4+1 program where undergraduate students can earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years.

“We are uniquely prepared to provide this program in national and international markets,” Nirajan Mani, the engineering technology department chair and the founding program chair for the M.S. in construction management program, said in the press release.

The program is set to begin in the fall 2024, according to the university’s website.