Program Chair

Dr. Seokyon Hwang - Chair
Office: Galloway Business Bldg. 235
Telephone: (409) 880-7757
Email: construction@lamar.edu

The Reese Construction Management (CM) Program was established in 2008 through the generous support of Jerry and Sheila Reese. Since its inception, the CM Program's goal is to meet the needs of the construction industry in Southeast Texas. The CM Program reports to the dean of the College of Business. Lamar University offers an ACCE accredited, four-year academic degree program with small class sizes, hands-on activities, and strong ties to regional industry professionals. The CM Program provides education both in the processes of construction techniques and construction management, including safety, materials and methods, surveying, project management and control, electrical and mechanical systems, legal issues, and estimating and scheduling, as well as in business management. The CM Program complements the Houston and Southeast Texas construction landscape with an emphasis in commercial and industrial/plant construction. Through site visits, career guidance, service projects, and a required internship, the CM Program ensures that students will graduate with real-world skills, ready to begin a career in construction management. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management enter a world of exciting career opportunities. Construction is one of the largest industries in the United States. Whether you want to work in an office or out in the field to build houses, hospitals, highways, bridges, or plants, the jobs available to Construction Managers are as varied as our students' interests. Construction Management majors often become Schedulers/Estimators, Superintendents, Construction/Project Managers, Safety Managers, or Business Owners. With hands-on experience, a required internship, and high industry demand for qualified construction managers, many students graduate with a job offer in hand. Students start work as schedulers, estimators, or assistant project managers for large commercial and industrial construction companies. Depending on the size company you work for, you may be paired with a mentor to expand the scale of construction projects you manage, or you may work as part of a team to deliver large construction projects. In a few years, most of our students have advanced to manage multi-million dollar projects and come back to campus to recruit more LU students just like them.

Accreditation

The construction management degree is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). ACCE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as the accrediting agency for four-year baccalaureate degree programs in construction, construction science, construction management, and construction technology.

About the Program

The Reese Construction Management Program aims to:

1. Prepare students to become competent experts and passionate leaders in the construction industry.
2. Seek continuous improvement and innovation to provide students a demanding, hands-on, and balanced education.
3. Devote to growing the body of knowledge in construction through original and applied research.
4. Engage students, faculty, and staff in outreach to the community through professional and volunteer activities.

Program Educational Objectives

• Goal 1: Teaching – Maintain a quality improvement plan.
• Goal 2: Teaching – Build program size, facilities, and reputation.
• Goal 3: Teaching – Maintain ACCE accreditation.
• Goal 4: Research – Attain research activities.
• Goal 5: Service – Conduct professional service.
• Goal 6: Support – Develop faculty/staff.

Programs

Student Outcomes

The Reese Construction Management Program has twenty student learning outcomes:

1. Create written communication appropriate to the construction discipline.
2. Create oral communication appropriate to the construction discipline.
3. Create a construction project safety plan.
4. Create construction project cost estimates.
5. Create construction project schedules.
6. Analyze professional decisions based on ethical principles.
7. Analyze the methods, materials, and equipment used to construct projects.
8. Apply electronic-based technology to manage the construction process.
9. Apply basic surveying techniques for construction layout and control.
10. Understand different methods of project delivery and the roles and responsibilities of all constituencies involved in the design and construction process.
11. Understand construction accounting and cost control.
12. Understand construction quality assurance and control.
13. Understand construction project control processes.
14. Understand the legal implications of the contract, common, and regulatory law to manage a construction project.
15. Understand the basics of sustainable construction.
16. Understand the basic principles of structural behavior.
17. Understand the basic principles of mechanical, electrical, and piping systems

Program Faculty

Dr. Zhe Luo, Assistant Professor
Office: Galloway Bldg. 219
Telephone: (409) 880-8644
email: zluo@lamar.edu

Dr. Minkyum Kim, Assistant Professor
Office: Galloway Bldg. 221
Telephone: (409) 880-7860
email: mkim5@lamar.edu