Just like all programs within the College of Business, the department of technology and construction management (TCM) turns well rounded students into prepared professionals before graduation. TCM supports its students through early outreach, hands-on learning and broad-based curriculum.

Early outreach gets students excited about TCM

More than 3,000 high school students attended the April 2023 Build My Future (BMF) event in Springfield. The event introduces students to the varied and well paying careers in the construction and other related industries. TCM has been among the exhibitors at the event since BMF’s inception in 2019. The department also attends similar events such as iBuild in Kansas City. “We’ve partnered with BMF since the beginning,” TCM department head Dr. Richard Gebken said. “The program has since spread across the state and country. It’s a great opportunity for students to engage in hands-on activities and explore careers in construction.” Travis King, class of 2023, attended BMF while he was a student at Kickapoo High School. “It was my first exposure to the construction industry outside of materials classes at Kickapoo and small carpentry projects I did at home,” King said. “It played a large role in helping me to make up my mind on the program.”

Program meets student needs

TCM offers majors and minors in construction management, interior design and mechanical engineering technology (MET). It has a traditional and accelerated Master of Science in project management and a project management graduate certificate. Enrollment in the project management graduate degree has grown more than 200% in the past five years. Program director Dr. Nebil Buyurgan credits some of this growth to its newfound emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The program has shifted its focus to STEM education by aligning the program with the newest edition of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK 7). “The graduate degree and certificate provide STEM education to professionals from all disciplines,” Buyurgan said. “Both programs equip individuals with various skills, soft and hard, to manage projects.” Students may apply their course work toward achieving their project management professional certificate (PMP), a globally recognized certification offered through the Project Management Institute. The MET program has seen big changes since receiving top accreditation by ABET in 2022. The ABET accreditation through the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission served as a milestone for the program. “ABET is the gold standard for engineering and engineering technology programs,” said MET coordinator Dr. Kevin Hubbard. “It took years to achieve their high standards and is a significant accomplishment not only for our students, but also for tech enterprises in our region.”

Hands-on experience spurs academic excellence

TCM seeks to make classroom learning applicable for students’ future careers. Students in all disciplines put theory to practice in interior design, technology and construction. “We wholeheartedly believe in the philosophy of learning by doing,” Gebken said. “We try to give students as many experiential learning opportunities as possible in all our degree programs.” Kemper Hall is home to multiple labs where students gain experience in masonry, carpentry, welding, robotics and electrical systems. Gebken believes these experiences not only excite students but also prepare them for the realities of their future careers. “Our students will one day design, plan, and manage sophisticated and integrated projects in multiple industries,” Gebken said. “With our lab-based experiences, they graduate prepared to understand the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of things.” The department makes regular improvements to its experiential learning repertoire. This fall, the new Linda Bailey Interior Design Studio (pg. 8) opened in Glass Hall. Students now have exclusive access to the software they will use when entering industry. Additionally, student organizations and competitions provide a layer of hands-on support and relevant experience for students. The Construction Club, the International Interior Design Association, and the Society of Automotive Engineers are just a few of the student organizations in TCM.

Internships integral to student success

Construction management and interior design are two majors that require completion of at least one internship during= undergraduate studies. Faculty encourage students to seek out opportunities as early as their freshman year. By graduation, many students will have multiple internship experiences and a full time position waiting for them. King, a construction management major, completed two internships before his senior year, and learned different sides of the industry. In his first position, he worked on projects that included multi-million dollar residential properties. In his second, he worked on commercial projects that included a $26 million school expansion project and Bass Pro Shops’ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena near Branson. “Interning gave me the opportunity to narrow my decisions about what I wanted to do within the field of construction,” King said. “I also had the opportunity to work with both companies during the school year, providing me with extra learning opportunities outside the classroom.” Following his May 2023 graduation, King began his first full-time position with Andy’s Frozen Custard corporate office as a real estate and project manager. “I feel very confident the TCM department has set the standard for what I should expect from my career,” King said. “They have put me in the best possible position for success”