An investigation into current Construction Engineering and Management programs and curricula and their applicability to the U.S. Armed Forces

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to research and explore the available programs and curricula in Construction Engineering and Management and assess their applicability to the needs of the civil engineering segments of the U.S. Armed Forces. The writer's interest in this subject was piqued by discussions with fellow officers who had attended various institutions for similar programs. Opinions and levels of satisfaction with the programs seemed to vary widely, yet no apparent action had been taken to guide potential students to the more gratifying and appropriate schools. To identify the need for construction engineering and management, a short history of construction education is presented. Turning next to industry's desires, an examination of what the construction industry is looking for from construction education is made. Looking then from the other side of the fence, and explanation of what the industry can provide the educational establishment of further promote the field is given. In order to better understand what the military civil engineer needs in an education, a synopsis of duties and functions of each service (Army, Navy, and Air Force) is provided. A comparison of the tasks performed and educational programs available is presented. (kr)