Taylor Launches BS in Construction Management

Starting this fall, Taylor University will offer a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management. This new major is a dynamic blend of engineering, construction, and business classes.

Indiana has reported $5 billion in construction projects in the pipeline as of January 30, 2025, and the US Department of Labor projects a 9% growth rate for construction managers through 2034—about 6% higher than average—with a median salary of $106,980. The Construction Management degree is arriving at a time of strong state-wide and national demand for construction managers.

On campus, the recent launch of 1846 Enterprises, a community and economic development organization that supports new ventures in both private and public sectors, creates an ideal training ground for students interested in the construction industry. Hands-on learning is a key component of Construction Management, as students will complete two practicums and a senior capstone project. The first practicum emphasizes surveying and project planning, and the second focuses on project management during the building phase. The final capstone project allows students to partner with Upland through 1846 Enterprises, their hometowns, or other local communities to enhance the lives of the people who live there.

"The Construction Management program leverages engineering, business, and environmental science in a cohesive way that builds relationships between these three stellar departments," said Dr. Danielle Nobles-Lookingbill, the program director. "Furthermore, students interested in owning their own business can easily add a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship."

Emphasis on Servant-Leadership

All academic programs at Taylor share a Christ-centered, service-focused mission, and Construction Management is no different. The Physics & Engineering Department emphasizes co-developing sustainable solutions to real problems in communities in need. The department has a unique partnership with Christian engineers in Kenya to serve youth in a small rural village, where students have visited to help with water management, waste management, school construction, and other projects. A mission trip to Kenya or another location around the world is a required part of the curriculum.

"We are equipping students to serve as the hands and feet of Christ, both here and around the world," said Nobles-Lookingbill. "With the on-site mentorship of our colleagues in 1846 Enterprises, Taylor students will have unprecedented access to job sites and experienced industry professionals."

Students will experience a combination of lecture-based classes, laboratory work, practicums, and construction/engineering mission work.

Construction Management Facilities

Supported by generous funding from Lilly Endowment, Inc., a new Construction Management laboratory will be built on campus. This space will house survey equipment, laboratory equipment for asphalt, concrete, and soil mechanics, and drafting tables. Other necessary equipment and lab space are currently housed in the Don Wood Engineering Hub in the Euler Science Complex."