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Construction manager employment is expected to grow 5% from 2022-2032 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, faster than the average for all occupations, and Southern Adventist University offers the only Adventist construction management program in the United States. Within the program, students combine technical skills, such as masonry, with managerial skills, such as budgeting, to achieve a well-rounded understanding of the field. It can be a lucrative option for individuals searching for a unique, fulfilling career.

Andy Baker, assistant professor for the program, strives to facilitate an experience that provides students with high-quality learning opportunities. “Compared to other programs, we are much more hands-on, which is incredibly valuable for students,” he shares.

Josh Castro, sophomore construction management major, says, “We learn how things work in class and immediately practice them in the labs. I’m a hands-on learner, so if I just read something, I don’t learn it very well. The labs help me actually learn the content.”

Baker coordinates with workers at on-campus building projects such as the recently renovated library entrance and the new Southern Mountain Cottages to show students examples of various types of construction projects in different phases.

“I think it makes the program feel more practical,” says Ila Lassel, junior construction management major. “I learn skills in class and see them used by professionals in real-time.”

Learn more by visiting Southern’s construction management webpage.

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