State: California

Academic Program

Our full-time tenured faculty each have 10+ years of industry experience prior to changing careers to become university professors, in the areas of architecture, engineering (mechanical and civil), and construction (general and specialty).  We also employ over 25 part-time faculty from the industry throughout the academic year to assist us in teaching courses across our curriculum, such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, construction and labor law, heavy civil, commercial contracting, etc. We provide a practice-orientated undergraduate education with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management combined with a Minor degree in Business Administration.

Since we established a student chapter of MCAA on our campus approximately 10 years ago, we have seen a shift from 0% job placement into mechanical contracting firms to between 20-25% of our graduates going into the mechanical and electrical contracting career fields.  The Northern California Mechanical Contractors Association has been instrumental in providing our students locally with networking opportunities through events and job site tours with their member companies.  We also work closely with the other two Northern California universities with MCAA student chapters for fundraising and events to stretch this networking even further.  The education opportunities provided to us through MCAA at no out-of-pocket costs have been priceless for me as the faculty advisor, and especially for our undergraduate students that participate in the MCAA annual student competitions, the annual conventions, and the student summits each year.  Our program is general in the sense of construction management education, with only one required course in the combined mechanical and electrical engineering principles course, taught by industry engineers.  Without the support of Northern California MCA and MCAA, we would not be able to introduce the depth of the mechanical contracting field to our students, and we would have missed a great opportunity for careers with MCAA member companies.

Awards & Activities

The Department of Construction Management at Sacramento State has earned over 50 awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) in regional and national student competitions over the past 10 years, and we walked away with the best record of all universities at the 2017 Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition with 5 awards out of the 7 teams we sponsored to compete.  Specifically, in the mechanical contracting problem category, we have earned 8 awards in the past 10 years, two of which were the final four (2nd and 3rd places) for the MCAA student competition. 

Academic Program

Chico State CMGT has almost 500 students and about 10-20% of the 100+/- graduates each year find a home with a specialty contractor (non-GC). Our program teaches a Mechanical class in the 2nd to 3rd year (CMGT 235). Our MCAA student chapter typically has 10-12 members each year. The chapter has been aggressively trying to increase this number through mixers and setting up a table in front of our office each week to answer student questions. 

Awards & Activities

Our chapter won the “Emerging Chapter of 2017” award this year. The chapter has been aggressively trying to increase this number through mixers and setting up a table in front of our office each week to answer student questions. 

Academic Program

The University of Southern California is one of the world’s leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international business, USC’s diverse curricular offerings provide extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration with leading researchers in highly advanced learning environments. Each one of USC’s students exemplifies the five-character traits of what it means to be a Trojan. These traits are:

– Faithful
– Scholarly
– Skillful
– Courageous
– Ambitious

The USC MCAA student chapter is dedicated to connecting students interested in subcontracting with industry professionals and exposing them to potential career paths in construction. We pride ourselves on our members and take much care to give them the skills that they need to succeed in the field. Through training sessions in topics like BIM, estimating, professional conduct, and scheduling as well as info sessions with local MCAA companies, we teach our members the tools and concepts used in the field. With events and conferences such as the MCAA Student Competition, CPMCA Technology conference, and job walks, our members get a great amount of exposure to innovative ideas and hands-on experience.

Our chapter has received great support from our local chapter, the California Plumbing and Mechanical Contracting Association (CPMCA). With their help, we have been able to engage in numerous networking and social events with local CPMCA affiliates. We look forward to establishing ourselves as a very active chapter throughout the MCAA community and the local Southern California region.

Awards & Activities

Newly established in Spring 2018, the USC MCAA student chapter has been very active in connecting our students to subcontracting companies as well as construction projects. We are proud to have been granted a Student Chapter Charter at the 2018 MCAA National Conference in San Antonio, Texas and have already engaged in activities with the local industry. A few of our recent and current events include:

– USC CMAA 24th Annual Construction Symposium
– Numerous Informational Sessions with industry professionals
– Job walk at L.A. Coliseum Renovation
– Professional Training Session
– CPMCA social night at Staples Center

Academic Program

The goals of the B.S. degree in Construction Management are to prepare effective managers for public and private construction projects, to prepare the workforce required by the construction industry, and to enable high school graduates, transfer students and working professionals to assume leadership roles in the construction industry. Special attention is given to promote students participating in internships and working professionals with classes offered mainly at times convenient to students.