Comments on: The Changing Face of Graduate Degrees in Engineering and Construction https://constructonomics.com/blog/2009/12/03/the-changing-face-of-graduate-degrees-in-engineering-and-construction/ A construction industry blog that digs below bedrock Tue, 30 Oct 2018 01:56:38 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Edward https://constructonomics.com/blog/2009/12/03/the-changing-face-of-graduate-degrees-in-engineering-and-construction/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:09:40 +0000 http://www.constructonomics.com/blog/?p=58#comment-157 All of the above have to some degree valid arguements, however a little hands-on experience with education is a much better mix. I earned a MBA degree with a concentration in engineering management after having worked on various projects as a project architect/engineer, superintendent and then project manager, then the manager of project managers. Before embarking on this career I worked as a construction laborer while earning my first degree in architectural engineering. The education and experience was very helpful when it came to solving problems in the field as well as the drawing board(computer monitor).

Having the experience and education undoubtedly allows one to pursue a speciality within the industry that is more appealing to their particular career goals. I am afraid the rift between the academicians and the real-world purists will continue as long neither gets to “walk in each other’s shoes”.

Developing dual MS/MBA programs in construction management along with co-op experience within those programs as a requirement may be the direction the industry needs follow. Combining the “Big picture” financial and technical management curriculum may offer individuals a glimpse into everything the industry has to offer. Whatever sector one chooses to pursue will undoubtedly be up to individual desires and their respective experiences.

]]> By: Portable Storage https://constructonomics.com/blog/2009/12/03/the-changing-face-of-graduate-degrees-in-engineering-and-construction/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:50:20 +0000 http://www.constructonomics.com/blog/?p=58#comment-88 Thanks for the article it is informative.Hope so i will get the further updates in future.

Thanks,
Portable Storage
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]]> By: Anne Merica https://constructonomics.com/blog/2009/12/03/the-changing-face-of-graduate-degrees-in-engineering-and-construction/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:41:10 +0000 http://www.constructonomics.com/blog/?p=58#comment-41 Sadly, this is just an extension of many rifts between not only academic and real-world experience, but between isolated specialties that has contributed to the many problems in construction. Architects and general contractors are well known to not respect each others background,and that certainly plays out in the field. But even architects and engineers are trained not to value what the other brings to the table. Engineers are taught to narrow a problem down to one concise equation so that they get one numerical answer. Architects are trained to have genius ideas (preferably while in the shower) and the better the idea, the less able they should be to explain it. Frankly, its a miracle anything gets built at all.

What happened to the renaissance person who could design and build just about anything? Answer: The MBA’s told them they could never get financing, and the lawyers said it was too risky….(Kidding!) Now the hope comes in the multi-disciplinary programs that encourage teams from several departments (and several cultures, if possible) to solve real problems. I just spent the summer in China with a team of engineering and business students from Baylor and American Universities and several Chinese schools. The students were bright and enthusiastic, the teachers were fantastic, and it helped my project move along much more rapidly.

Everyone should encourage these programs- coop with a school to help with a business problem, hire graduates who have shown the brains to look beyond one department, and tell your professional organizations to talk to each other! It’s a global world and it needs global solutions.

]]> By: Herman https://constructonomics.com/blog/2009/12/03/the-changing-face-of-graduate-degrees-in-engineering-and-construction/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:39:31 +0000 http://www.constructonomics.com/blog/?p=58#comment-40 I agree with you John

I’m also not a fan of the MBA, and would recomend a more specialized degree depending on what side of the fence you want to be in. For us construction pro’s a CM or CEM graduated degree is a plus and gives us an edge for the type of work we do, which is construction. Currently I’m doing my MS degree in Construction Management and find it very well suited for my goal to be a project manager. I’ve taken courses that have updated my technical Knowledge and also courses about construction accounting, finance, control and scheduling. all very important for anyone thinking of furthering their career in construction, in my opinion more so than the MBA.

Herman

]]> By: Paul Lesieur https://constructonomics.com/blog/2009/12/03/the-changing-face-of-graduate-degrees-in-engineering-and-construction/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:01:45 +0000 http://www.constructonomics.com/blog/?p=58#comment-33 Degrees in construction, what about them? Experience trumps education every time, and although I believe our construction industry in under educated it is overrun with masters degree graduates that struggle to produce. You go to school and you are taught processes, that’s going to save the human race if your drinking the cool aid provided by universities.

Lets get real, education has nothing to do with competence, ethics or a will to produce. One of the best things about the construction industry is that talent still has a chance over a nebulous degree that invokes discussions rather than production.

The problem may lie in the fact that construction degrees should be more like a medical degree, cut open a couple of cadavers and get your hands dirty, then if your good enough we’ll let you work on a live one.

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