The Professional Certificate in Construction Practices provides an eight-course overview of the critical stages of the construction project — including estimating, bidding, planning and scheduling. Students also develop foundational knowledge of blueprint reading, construction math, materials and processes, contract documents and construction law. Discussions using an online bulletin board afford the opportunity to examine everyday construction challenges shared by others in the construction industry.
Gain a deeper understanding of the different stages of a construction project by earning your Professional Certificate in Construction Practices from SDSU Global Campus.
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About the Program
Construction projects can be broken down into a series of critical stages — including estimating, bidding, planning, scheduling, and execution. While some construction professionals specialize in certain stages, such as sitework or estimating, many take on a more fluid role throughout the project lifecycle and contribute at all stages.
$5,520
Total Estimated Cost
Textbooks not included
5 Months
Min. Completion Time
Online
Course Format
Gain the broad skills you need to work on any stage of a construction project by earning your Professional Certificate in Construction Practices from SDSU Global Campus. All courses are 100% online and open to anyone interested in a career in construction.
Is This Program Right for Me?
SDSU’s construction practices program will help you acquire practical, on-the job skills that you can use on the job site right away. The program will also prepare you to take on supervisory roles at any stage of the construction project — from estimating and bidding through procurement, construction, and project closure.
There are no prerequisites and no application is necessary to participate in the program, which means that you can register for any of our online construction courses no matter what your experience level is. However, if you’re completely new to the industry, we also offer two Introduction to Construction courses to help you build a solid foundation in construction.
You can log onto any course from any computer with an internet connection. Most classes have assignments with weekly due dates — please ensure that you can complete any necessary coursework for the duration of the course.
SDSU is a State-approved provider for the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If you’re unemployed or underemployed, you may be eligible to receive full or partial tuition assistance on this program. Equal Opportunity is the Law. Equal opportunity employer/program auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Click here to learn more.
What Can I Learn?
Construction projects need highly-trained, knowledgeable professionals at all stages. SDSU’s construction practices program will help you acquire the foundational knowledge you need to contribute and supervise at any point in the project lifecycle.
The online program provides an overview of the critical stages of the construction project — including estimating, bidding, planning, scheduling, execution, and closure. You’ll take a deep dive into many different construction topics, including:
- Blueprint reading
- Construction math
- Materials and processes
- Environmentally-friendly building techniques
- Contract documents
- Construction law
- Construction cost management strategies
Throughout the program, you’ll participate in discussions with your classmates and instructors using an online bulletin board. These discussions will give you the opportunity to examine everyday construction challenges shared by others in the construction industry.
Lessons are supplemented by quizzes, which will give you immediate feedback on your understanding of the course content. You’ll set your own class times to complete the work due each week. Typically, you should plan on dedicating about five hours per week, per class.
You’ll learn how to become a cost estimation expert under the guidance of a panel of expert instructors. Your lessons are led by active career professionals from all levels of the construction industry. Through their experience and extensive knowledge, you’ll learn what works — and what doesn’t — for job site leaders who are currently working in construction.
This construction program is authorized by SDSU's College of Engineering. This means that you’ll be able to earn three professional development units (PDUs) per course, which can raise your career potential through more job opportunities at a higher pay scale.
Career Outcomes
Labor Analysis
Construction Laborers — Nationwide
448,000
Last 12 months
+12%
Over 10 years
$88,310
Average Salary
The construction industry needs knowledgeable job site leaders who can take an active role through the entire construction project lifecycle. According to the leading estimates, there are currently more than seven million construction laborers employed across the country, and those numbers are projected to grow by 12% over the next decade.
SDSU’s Construction Practices program will prepare you to serve in many different roles throughout the construction industry, including:
- Office Administrator/ Office Manager
- Contracts Administrator
- Tradesworkers
- Junior estimator
- Facilities management
- Project engineer
- Apprentice
- Real estate
- Investor
- HR
- Insurance
- Foreman
- Project coordinator
- Field engineer
- Assistant PM
- Assistant superintendent
- General Contractor
- Subcontractor
Why Choose SDSU?
Accessibility
All courses are 100% online and accessible from anywhere in the world, which means you can earn your certificate on your schedule. You can complete the program in as few as five months, or take up to two years to complete all your courses.
Expert Instructors
The program is led by seasoned construction professionals with years of industry experience. Through their knowledge, combined with a robust online curriculum, you’ll get a comprehensive, hands-on look at the entire construction process from start to finish.
Proven Curriculum
When you choose SDSU, you’re choosing a construction program with a proven curriculum. All courses in the program are offered in cooperation with the San Diego Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.
Want to Learn More?
Submit this web form and we’ll be in touch to answer all your questions and explain the next steps in the process. Or, you can reach a program recruiter by emailing recruiter.global@sdsu.edu or by calling (619) 594-7700.