About Department of Construction Management · Seattle
The Department of Construction Management (CM) at the University of Washington in Seattle is a nationally accredited academic program in the UW College of Built Environments. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, and a Ph.D. track in the management of construction projects, blending engineering, architecture, and business. Founded in the late 1960s (with roots in the 1950s), the department has educated more than 2,500 students and reports a 100% placement rate. It is led by Chair and Professor Giovanni Migliaccio, PhD, who also serves as Executive Director of the Center for Education + Research in Construction (CERC).
The University of Washington Department of Construction Management traces its roots to the 1950s, when students first built their own study programs from existing UW courses and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees through the College of Arts and Sciences. In October 1962, the program was re-housed within the College of Architecture and Urban Planning under what became Building Technology and Administration, with the first course offered in winter quarter 1964 and the first six B.S. graduates in June 1965. The present department was formally established by the UW Board of Regents in August 1968 as the Department of Building Construction; in April 1994 the Regents approved a Master of Science track, the first graduates earning that degree in June 1997. In 1996 the Regents renamed the unit the Department of Construction Management. In 2002 the department launched one of the earliest self-sustaining online graduate construction management programs in partnership with UW Extension and Civil & Environmental Engineering. Today the department serves roughly 180 undergraduates, about 55 resident graduate students, and around 15 online graduate students, supported by 12 full-time and 28 part-time faculty (AY 2023-24) under Chair Giovanni Migliaccio, PhD. Programs include a B.S. in Construction Management accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), a dual Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design + B.S. in Construction Management, a minor, an M.S. in CM (resident, online with Heavy Construction emphasis, and a concurrent degree with Real Estate), a Ph.D. in Built Environment, and blended and online Certificates in Construction Management through CERC. Graduates typically enter field supervision, project planning and scheduling, cost estimating, management, or sales with public agencies, general and specialty contractors, homebuilders, consultants, real-estate developers, or material suppliers — a sector the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies as having far more openings than qualified candidates.
- In business
- Department founded 1968; program's roots date to the 1950s; over 50 years of operation as of AY 2023-24
- Owner
- University of Washington (College of Built Environments); department established by the UW Board of Regents in August 1968. Current Chair: Giovanni Migliaccio, PhD
- Serves
- Primarily the University of Washington campus in Seattle, Washington; online programs and certificates serve students nationally (and internationally) via UW distance learning; industry partnerships extend throughout the Pacific Northwest
About the Department of Construction Management
Construction Management at the University of Washington is a professional four-year Bachelor of Science degree program that blends engineering, architecture, and business. The curriculum includes technical elements but does not focus on learning a trade; prior construction experience is helpful but not required for admission. CM students are typically hands-on learners who are strong in math and project management, with interests in architecture or working outdoors, and they graduate into roles in field supervision, project planning and scheduling, cost estimating, management, or sales. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the number of job openings for construction managers is projected to exceed the number of qualified individuals — a labor-market signal the department highlights to prospective students.
- 4-year, professional B.S. degree
- Blend of engineering, architecture, and business
- Career paths in public and private sectors
- 100% placement rate reported by the department
- Job outlook flagged by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
History of the Construction Management Program
The UW Construction Management program traces its roots to the 1950s, when students built their own study programs from existing university courses and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees through the College of Arts and Sciences. A pivotal shift came in October 1962, when the B.A. option was discontinued and replaced with a College of Architecture and Urban Planning program that became Building Technology and Administration; the first course was offered in winter quarter 1964 and the first six B.S. graduates finished in June 1965. The Board of Regents formally created the department in August 1968 as the Department of Building Construction, then approved a Master of Science in Building Construction in April 1994 — the first graduate courses began that autumn with an initial cohort of ten students. The department's online graduate program followed in 2002 through a partnership with Civil & Environmental Engineering and UW Extension.
- 1950s: Student-built study programs in the College of Arts and Sciences
- 1962: Moved into the College of Architecture and Urban Planning
- 1964: First course offered; 1965: first six B.S. graduates
- 1968: Board of Regents formally established the Department of Building Construction
- 1994: M.S. approved; first graduate courses offered Autumn 1994
- 1994: Certificate Program in Construction Management with UW Extension
- 1996: Renamed Department of Construction Management
- 1997: First M.S. in Construction Management awarded
- 2002: Self-sustaining online graduate program launched with CEE and UW Extension
From the Chair
"Over the past 50 years, our Department has built a legacy of excellence. CM has educated over 2,500 students. We do this in partnership with the local construction industry. Our partners provide advice, mentoring, research, scholarships, and career opportunities for CM students. Our successes are marked by our 100% placement rate, the numerous student competition awards, and a highly decorated faculty." — Giovanni Migliaccio, PhD, Chair and Professor, Executive Director of CERC. The Chair's welcome emphasizes a mix of courses and programs to meet varied needs, with options that prepare students for management positions, research, academia, and continuing-education certificate tracks.
- Chair and Professor: Giovanni Migliaccio, PhD
- Executive Director, Center for Education + Research in Construction (CERC)
- 2,500+ alumni educated
- 100% placement rate reported
Undergraduate Programs
Three undergraduate pathways prepare students for management positions across the construction industry, with the B.S. pathway accredited by the American Council for Construction Education.
- Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (BSCM) — ACCE accredited
- Dual Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design + Bachelor of Science in Construction Management
- Minor in Construction Management
Graduate Programs
Graduate study spans resident, online, dual-degree, and doctoral pathways, including specialized options in heavy construction and real estate.
- Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM) — in-person
- Master of Science in Construction Management — online, Heavy Construction emphasis
- Concurrent Master Degree in Construction Management and Real Estate
- Ph.D. in Built Environment with emphasis on Building, Construction & Property Sciences
Professional Certificate Programs (CERC)
The Center for Education + Research in Construction (CERC) offers professional certificates in Construction Management for working professionals seeking continuing-education credentials, in both blended and fully online formats.
- Blended Certificate in Construction Management
- Online Certificate in Construction Management
Faculty and Staff
The department's faculty includes named primary faculty such as Yong-Woo Kim, Carrie Sturts Dossick, Hyun Woo "Chris" Lee, Giovanni Migliaccio, Ahmed Abdel-Aziz, Ken-Yu Lin, Amos Darko, Lingzi Wu, Jeffrey Pulliam, David Salzer, Carey Smith, Len Holm, Fred Aguayo, Barry Aaronson, and Matt Wiggins, along with emeritus faculty including John Schaufelberger. In AY 2023-24 the department employed 12 full-time and 28 part-time faculty, with a chair, three program coordinators, and four staff members. Faculty research areas noted in the program's self-study include structural systems (Saeed Daniali), Public-Private Partnerships and financial modeling (Ahmed Abdel-Aziz), student-outcomes research (Bill Bender), and BIM and AEC communications (Carrie Dossick, director of CERC).
- 12 full-time + 28 part-time faculty (AY 2023-24)
- 3 program coordinators, 4 staff members
- Research strengths: structural systems, PPP/finance, BIM, AEC communications
Contact, Location, and Office Hours
The CM Department offices are located in Architecture Hall (room 120), just past the West Gatehouse on the UW Seattle campus. The front desk can be reached at 206.543.6377, and CERC at 206.616.3389. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The mailing address is University of Washington, Department of Construction Management, 120 Architecture Hall, Box 351610, Seattle, WA 98195; the shipping address (UPS, FedEx, couriers) is 120 Architecture Hall, 3943 W Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA 98195.
- Front Desk: 206.543.6377
- CERC: 206.616.3389
- General email: [email protected]
- Advising: [email protected]
- Certificates: [email protected]
- Administration: [email protected]
Career Outcomes and Industry Demand
Construction Management jobs are available in both public and private sectors — government agencies, private corporations, general contractors, specialty contractors, homebuilders, consulting firms, real estate developers, and construction material suppliers. Typical entry-level roles include field supervision, management, construction project planning and scheduling, cost estimating, or sales. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more job openings for construction managers than qualified candidates, and the department reports a 100% placement rate. Companies conduct interviews throughout the year and hire summer interns and full-time candidates, and the department hosts company presentations in autumn and winter quarters.
- 100% placement rate (department-reported)
- Hiring across public agencies and private firms
- On-campus company presentations in autumn and winter
- Summer internships and full-time recruiting
Strategic Plan and Accreditation
The department's June 2024 Strategic Plan reaffirms its commitment to ACCE accreditation standards for the BSCM program and to maintaining comprehensive education that prepares students for a broad range of professional roles. The plan reiterates the department's 60-year history, the 2,500+ alumni figure, and the 100% placement rate, while documenting current undergraduate and graduate enrollment figures and the program mix offered in AY 2023-24.
- ACCE accreditation of the B.S. program
- Strategic Plan published June 2024
- Enrollment profile (AY 2023-24): ~180 undergrad, ~55 resident grad, ~15 online grad