Schedule of Classes

Ethical and professional issues in the construction industry including an overview of applicable codes of ethical behavior and principles of professional conduct; introduction to ethical decision making; understanding of professional development opportunities; legal versus ethical responsibilities; written and oral communication practices and case studies.

Symbols, conventions, details of construction drawings, and blueprint reading. Emphasis on interpretation and communication of requirements of contract drawings.

Full-time cooperative education assignment for construction students who alternate periods of full-time school with periods of full-time academic or career-related work in industry. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

Introduction to commonly used computer based drafting and visualization programs with applications in construction; CAD standards; introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM) and project collaboration techniques.

Survey of basic principles, methods, and equipment for building component systems related to human health and comfort. Introduces heating/cooling systems, electrical systems, plumbing, and lighting systems.

Introduction to soil mechanics and foundation construction. Soil index properties, classification, stress analysis, soil compaction, settlement, seepage, dewatering, excavations, and foundation construction.

Feasibility estimates, design estimates, quantity takeoff, direct and overhead costing, and cost control. Material, equipment, and labor estimates of construction projects, bidding strategy, and basic concepts in management and business. Includes laboratory.

Planning residential areas: geographic location, orientation, functions, and interrelationships of functions. Fundamentals of residential design which can result in quality living environments for all income levels.

Introduction to OSHA Construction Safety Standards. Design of a safety program, risk analysis of a company`s home office and field safety performance characteristics, potential problems, contingency planning, and safety audit analysis.

Introduction to AGC and AIA construction contract documents. Types of contracts; contents including specifications, general conditions, bidding requirements. Introduction to construction law, bonding, insurance, and DBE requirements. Preparation of contract documents.

Economic considerations and tools of management: cost reporting; scheduling. Emphasis on network methods of scheduling: resource allocation and least-cost expediting. Introduction to computerized scheduling with emphasis on Primavera and MS Project.

Union and non-union activities in construction industry: history, analysis, organizing, bargaining, contract language, jurisdictional disputes, training, and restrictions on operating non-union.

Contractual obligations and funding of horizontal construction. Emphasis on estimating, environmental compliance analysis, excavation and earthwork operations, and safety of horizontal construction operations.

Design and detailing of wood and masonry structures. Application to industry problems in bracing, formwork, and temporary excavation supports.

Topics of special interest which may vary each time course is offered. Topics are stated in the current Schedule of Classes.

Application of construction principles to actual industry projects. Detailed estimate of the project, bidding strategies, site layout/development plan for construction staging, preparation of sample contracts using AIA and AGC formats, construction scheduling, project closeout plan, jobsite safety plan, and strategies to achieve LEED rating points.

Issues of the processes affiliated with the construction and engineering consulting profession: project delivery, conception through construction of projects, phases of design, and unique challenges. Case studies will be utilized.

Advanced techniques in taking-off quantities, pricing techniques, computer estimating, and bidding strategy models.