<p>Hello. I have a few questions regarding admissions to PhD programs in Civil Engineering with a focus on construction management / engineering management (whatever you wanna call it, it seems to go by a different name at every school). I have kind of a unique situation.</p>
<p>I attended a UC for undergraduate and received a BA in Economics. While attending there I was not the best student and earned around a 2.85. After my undergraduate I entered into a MS Civil Engineering program focused on CM and became more focused in my studies and have earned over a 3.9 with three courses remaining; however, I do not go to a top tier as I attend a CA State University. If you are curious how the program works, you basically start over doing the undergraduate program minus the GE's then take the Master's level courses.</p>
<p>1) Considering that I have a BA in something other than Civil Engineering, how large, if it is, of a burden is this?
2) With good GRE scores and letters of recommendations what sort (tier) of school would be a realistic possibility?
3) A general question about CM programs (if anyone here has been involved in one) how rigorous are the math requirements in PhD programs?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance :)</p>
<p>Not sure where to ask this question exactly ><</p>
<p>Honestly, with a GPA like 3.9 from your MS and good recommendation, yor undergrad GPA shouldn’t matter much if at all. Grad schools will care much more about your gradute record since you have one, especially since it is civil and the bad GPA is not.</p>
<p>I was a MS student in civil engineering with a construction management focus. In my program, the math intensive material was in risk management, probability, etc. The amount and rigor of math will depend heavily on your program’s focus. My advisor is involved more on the social network and collaboration aspect of construction. Another professor in the department focuses more on infrastructure management, which involved more math.</p>
<p>My point is different CM programs will involved varying levels of math because CM programs aren’t really standard.</p>
<p>I mean more so to what level of math is required in the PhD level. Would it be at all comparable to say and economic PhD where you are doing proofs in abstract math and running time series regressions, because in my MS program the math requirements are rather minimum? I could see how the math could really get ramped up in structural programs doing that sort of thing, but am just wondering would I possibly be blind sided by something like that in a Civ Eng programed focused on CM?</p>
<p>I feel like that is not an area that many people get a Ph.D. in, so it isn’t that surprising that there wouldn’t be anyone on here doing it. To be honest, I don’t really understand what a Ph.D. in construction management could actually do for you.</p>
<p>I don’t know many people who pursued a PhD in construction management probably because most people interested in this field want to work in industry. A PhD in this field is helpful only if you want to work in academia and research.</p>
<p>1) Allows you to pursue a career as a professor.
2) Focusing in certain areas such as BIM and energy modeling can land you positions in companies like Autodesk.
3) Can help you start off in a higher pay grade in large companies than you would with a BA or MS.
4) Also when you are in a time like now, when the options are pretty much either get more education or be unemployed, why not get more education? (I live in CA by the way — Land of No Jobs)</p>
<p>It really depends on what kind of job you’re looking for post-academia. For “typical” CM jobs such as in project management and field supervision, a PhD isn’t going to help much. You’re much better off spending the 3 years in the field and gaining the experience. It would also make more sense financially.</p>
<p>Then again, as you said, a PhD is better than being unemployed. At least you get a stipend!</p>
<p>From last January until late May I searched for a job in Southern California. I sent in letters of inquiry to just about every single construction company with follow ups and the response was the same everywhere: 1) completely ignored, 2) no work at this time, try again later. Almost no companies list having any vacancy.</p>
<p>After 4 months I had only gotten called in for 1 interview. It went well and got called back for a second and basically offered a position but was contingent on relocation anywhere in the nation that the company secured work and not working out of the home office where I live with my lady. I would not mind relocating but with her having 2 more years in her PHd program, that does not seem like a lot of fun to live apart and alone in a place like Omaha or Tacoma. </p>
<p>So why not go to more school? It can never hurt. And a stipend is more money than working at a Burger King…</p>