About Us
Delivering the world's premier undergraduate construction engineering degree program.
CEM offers students more than just an engineering degree. We’re passionate about teaching, coaching, and mentoring students.
We’ll help you turn your passion for engineering and architecture into a lucrative career that impacts others.
Our vision is to deliver the world's premier undergraduate construction engineering program. We’re passionate about educating construction engineering leaders of tomorrow.
Makarand Hastak
PhD, PE, CCP
Dernlan Family Head of Construction Engineering and Management
What is a Construction Engineer?
Construction engineers design and execute processes for building and maintaining the infrastructure of our world. They have the option of either working in an office setting or out in the field—oftentimes, it's a combination of both.
Some construction engineers focus on the design aspect, while others focus on the actual build phase of a project. There are many career paths to choose from with a degree in construction engineering:
- General contractors (bridges, roads, buildings, healthcare, data centers, sports facilities)
- Owners and developers
- Mechanical/electrical contractors
- Renewable energies
- Consulting and design firms
- Oil and gas industry
- Aviation industry
- Law firms*
- Historical restoration*
*Additional education may be necessary
As your career progresses, you may want to take your PE exam to become a licensed Professional Engineer. With a construction engineering degree and a PE license, you can attain executive positions with a company or even become an owner of a construction firm.
Construction engineers design and execute processes for building and maintaining the infrastructure of our world. As a construction engineer, your responsibilities may include:
- Planning and overseeing the construction operations of a project
- Conducting site layout
- Scheduling
- Selecting equipment
- Organizing the work crew
- Managing materials
- Safeguarding the environment
- Building temporary structures
- Designing both temporary and permanent structures
- Checking and modifying plans and specifications for constructability, efficiency, and safety
- Developing cost estimates and preparing bids
- Utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) software for 3D models
- Managing subcontractor firms
- Working with the owner to ensure that the project meets requirements
- Solving job site problems, moving between the field and office
- Gaining additional education and training
- And more
What is Construction Engineering and Management?
Our construction engineering degree program was initiated and crafted by a direct need from the industry and develops versatile engineers from the ground up. We do this by merging high-value education and hands-on, real-world experience with direct access to industry leaders and successful alumni.
Key Characteristics of Successful Students
Key Characteristics of Successful Students
The world is demanding innovative engineers who have the ability to design and manage projects as well as have skills to manage people. Key characteristics of a successful construction engineer include:
- An aptitude for applying science and engineering methods to solve problems
- A love of building structures such as bridges, airports, buildings, stadiums, dams, and highways
- An interest in working indoors and outdoors
- A drive to excel and a strong work ethic
- The ability to collaborate with diverse people
- Good communications skills and a desire to learn in a constantly changing environment
Students in the Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) program have the opportunity to develop additional expertise in mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, management, building information modeling, and many other options through minors in these fields.
Internships & International Travel
Internships & International Travel
Each student completes three 12-week paid internships before graduating. Internships are normally completed during the summer and begin between your freshman and sophomore years.
CEM offers internship opportunities across the country (maybe even in your hometown)—with some students choosing to intern internationally. Our student interns perform duties with increasing responsibilities in field operations, office operations, and project management.
The CEM program also provides global opportunities—from engineering service trips to Ecuador to internship and study abroad opportunities across the world.
Job Placement
Because of the unique and hands-on educational and internship experiences, we have a 100% job placement rating for our graduates. What does this mean? Each and every one of our graduating seniors has a job, often receiving multiple job offers before graduation!
Fast Facts
Below you will find fast facts regarding CEM culture, student enrollment, curriculum, internships, and more.
Construction Engineering and Management
average starting salary
average student enrollment
credit hours
Engineering program with additional focus in construction operations management
1 of 16 majors offered by internationally renowned Purdue College of Engineering
Small class sizes
Strong sense of community
High-energy learning environment
4 student organizations run by CEM students
Students complete 3 full-time paid internships
We place students with over 30 sponsor companies every summer
Students have worked with more than 180 companies throughout our program’s history
CEM faculty and staff support our graduates through the job search process
Graduates are employed by many of the nation’s largest and most advanced construction firms
Purdue Engineering
Purdue College of Engineering ranked #9 in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report
undergraduates
graduate students
campus-wide student organizations
engineering student organizations
