Construction Engineering

and Management

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Southern California

The purpose of the Construction Engineering and Management program

is to teach professionals to understand and execute the broad array of techni-
cal and nontechnical activities associated with Construction Engi-
neering and Management. The University of Southern California
enjoys a particular prominence in teaching the various skills needed
by any Construction Engineering and Management professional. The
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING
AND MANAGEMENT

Today’s construction industry provides Construction Engineering and Management program covers the most
a high demand for well-trained current theories and practices, which properly prepares students for
professionals in the area of Construction their chosen careers. This program reflects the University’s signature
Engineering and Management. The bond of professional and liberal education.
total cost of construction in the
United States is approximately $500 The instruction and research facilities of the Civil and Environmen-
billion dollars (10% of the United tal Engineering Department are complemented by the instructional
States’ Gross National Product), program of the Marshall School of Business Administration and the
making the construction industry Industrial and Systems Engineering Department. For example, the
one of the most important industrial Robotics Institute, Information Science Institute, and the Communi-
sectors in the American economy. The cation Science Institute conducts research in advanced robotics and
international construction market is intelligent machine systems, information management, and telecom-
growing even faster than the American munications systems, respectively.
market, creating even more oppor-
tunities for professionals in the field. MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAM
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a one
The Construction Engineering and
year Master of Science program for students interested in Construction
Management program’s graduates have
Engineering and Management.
a variety of employment opportunities.
These include such opportunities as, Prerequisites: Students possessing a Bachelor of Science degree in
working for general contractors, real Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics,
estate developers, sub contractors, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics may work toward
construction management firms, and the Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Students with
architectural engineering firms. Gradu- a degree in Mathematics or Physics are required to take additional
ates also have the opportunity to seek engineering courses.
employment with the most prominent
global architectural/engineering/con- Requirements: In order to receive the Master of Science degree in
struction firms in the field. Parsons, Civil Engineering, students should complete a minimum of 27 units
Fluor Daniel, and Jacob’s Engineering, of course work and directed research beyond the Bachelor’s degree.
are all headquartered in Los Angeles. The 27 units must include 21 units of required courses and six units
of elective courses, selected after consultation with an advisor.
Effective Construction Engineering and
Management is highly complex. The 1. Required Courses:
construction field spans the elements CE 462 Construction Methods and Equipment
of construction technology, construc- CE 501 Functions of the Constructor
tion engineering, and project manage- CE 502 Construction Accounting and Finance
ment, and in many cases, it requires a
CE 556ab Project Cost Estimating, Scheduling and Control
profound awareness of the technical,
economic, and political environment.
 Bid organization and preparation; competitive simulations and
exercises. Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
CE 462 Construction Methods and Equipment (3). Current
procedures in selected fields of construction; organization and
planning; equipment economics; machinery.
CE 472 Construction Labor Management (3). Unionism in
construction. Craft tradition, objectives, regulation, motivation,
labor force economics, productivity, and technical change. Hiring
systems, supervision of project labor operations, jurisdictional
administration.
CE 501 Functions of the Constructor (3). Systems, processes, and
constraints governing the initiation, direction, engineering, and
delivery of major construction projects. Professional construction
management, responsibility, and practice.
2. One or more of the following: CE 502 Construction Accounting and Finance (3). Cost control,
CE 506 Heavy Construction Estimating finance, and engineering economy for construction operations.
CE 557 Advanced Building Estimating CE 505 Heavy Construction Operations and Methods (3).
Methods and operations involved in constructing hardrock and
3. One Course from the Following List: soft ground tunnels, shafts, bridge piers in water, and design-
construction of concrete formwork and shoring.
CE 402 Computer Methods in Engineering
CE 506 Heavy Construction Estimating (3). Methods engineer-
CSCI 455x Introduction to Programming Systems Design
ing, work analysis and pricing for route construction. Grading,
ISE 530 Introduction to Operations Research draining, paving, haul economy, plant-materials production,
MATH 501 Numerical Analysis and Computation pipeline and bridge building. Prerequisite: CE 462
CE 525b Engineering Analysis (suggested) CE 525ab Engineering Analysis (3). Typical engineering prob-
CE 554 Risk and Reliability Analysis for lems discussed on a physical basis. Setup and solution of prob-
Civil Infrastructure Systems lems by means of the existing mathematical tools.
CE 556ab Project Cost Estimating and Control (3-3). Fundamen-
4. Electives:
tal principles and practices of cost estimating, budgeting, and
CE 505 Heavy Construction Operations and Methods cost control of construction projects. Case studies and software
CE 558 International Construction and Engineering exercises based on project data. Graduate standing in engineer-
CE 472 Construction Labor Management ing, architecture, business or urban planning required.
GSBA 532a Behavior and Organizations CE 557 Advanced Building Estimating (3). Processes in compil-
CE 412 Contracts and Specifications ing a bid for construction of nonresidential buildings.
CE 559 Strategic Planning in Construction Engineering CE 558 International Construction and Engineering (3). Busi-
ness development and project management in international
Any other electives from Civil Engineering; other Engineering markets. Topics include marketing, planning, contracts and ne-
disciplines; the School of Architecture, School of Policy, Planning gotiations, procurement, logistics, personnel and financing . Con-
and Development, The Law Center, or the Graduate School of struction operations in adverse environments. Graduate standing
Business, must have an advisor’s approval. in engineering, architecture, business,
or urban planning required.
COURSES OFFERED CE 559 Strategic Planning in Con-
CE 412 Contracts and Specifica- struction Engineering (3). Elements
tions (3). Standards of construction and techniques of strategic planning
practices. Contracting law, agency, for construction engineering. Funda-
venture arrangements, agreements, mentals of engineering as a service
conveyance, liens, contingency ne- sector enterprise. Assessment of mar-
gotiations, and arbitration. kets (including international issues),
CE 460 Construction Engineering competitors, and technology. Aspects
(3). Introduction to the construction of overseas engineering business.
processes; estimating and bidding, Management of technology and the
construction administration, planning role of R&D. Emphasis on concepts.
and scheduling, equipment and methods, labor relations, cost Recommended preparation: CE 502.
control systems, and safety. ISE 520 Optimization: Theory and Algorithms (3). Conditions for
CE 461 General Construction Estimating (3). Theory of esti- optimality. Nonlinear programming algorithms for constrained
mating. Quantity surveying; unit cost synthesis and analysis. and unconstrained problems. Special problems such as qua-
dratic, separable, fractional, geometric programming. Prerequisite: for Strategic Planning and Long Range Thinking in Guiding
MATH 225 or EE 441, or departmental approval. Business Management. Dr. Crain is also a lecturer in Strategic
ISE 525 Intermediate Engineering Statistics II (3). Intermediate Planning for the Marshall School of Business at the University
statistical methods in design of experiments; analysis of variance of Southern California.
and hypothesis testing.
MICHAEL W. D’ANTUONO, Lecturer.
CE 402 Computer Methods in Engineering (3). Fundamentals
Mr. D’Antuono was born in New York City, New York, and
of analog and digital computers; simulation of nonlinear physical
systems; numerical analysis and solution of engineering prob- received his B.A. degree in education from the University of
lems. Prerequisite: CE 108 and MATH 245. Washington, Seattle, Washington, in 1970. He completed his
graduate studies at the University of Southern California in In-
CSCI 455x Introduction to Programming Systems Design (4).
ternational Affairs. He is the President of Parsons Constructors,
Intensive introduction to programming principles, discrete math-
ematics for computing, software design and software engineering Inc., a subsidiary of the Parsons Corporation in Pasadena, Cali-
concepts. Not available for credit to computer science majors, fornia, one of the world’s largest engineering and construction
graduate or undergraduate. Prerequisite: Departmental approval. organizations, servicing transportation, infrastructure, power, and
process sectors. His expertise is in management and business
ISE 530 Introduction to Operations Research (3). Linear pro-
administration, labor negotiations, and labor relations.
gramming, integer programming, transportation and assignment
problems, networks, dynamic programming, Markovian models, PAUL E. GIORGIO, Lecturer.
and queueing. Prerequisite: MATH 225, ISE 220. Mr. Girogio was born is Staten Island, New York. He received
MATH 501 Numerical Analysis and Computation (3). Com- his B. S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the John
putational linear algebra; solution of general nonlinear systems Hopkins University, and earned his M. S. degree in Civil
of equations; approximation theory using functional analysis; Engineering from the University of Southern California. His
numerical solution of ordinary and partial differential equations. experience focuses on building construction, more specifically
Prerequisite: MATH 425a and MATH 471.
residential and commercial building types. Mr. Giorgio currently
works for Morly Builders, an ENR top
CURRENT RESEARCH 400 Construction Firm, located in Santa
At present, research activities in con- Monica, California. He has held varying
struction engineering and management positions in pre-construction and field
lie in the area of improvement of project operations, and currently has the title of
delivery. Specific recent research and Senior Engineer.
publications have focused on:
• Optimization of management structures MARC S. GLASSER, P.S.P., Adjunct
and processes Professor, Construction Engineering
and Management Program.
• Integrated multi-dimensional project Professor Glasser teaches Project Controls,
control tools Planning and Scheduling at the University
• Automation, integration, and use of of Southern California. Born in New York,
information in the project process New York, Professor Glasser received
his BARCH degree cum laude from the
Dr. Kuprenas, research assistant professor in construction en- University of Southern California in 1971
gineering, currently pursues diverse funded research in the and after serving almost six years in the U.S. Navy, an MBA from
areas of: the Graduate School of Management, University of California,
Los Angeles in 1979. Currently employed as the Project Controls
• Construction work zone safety improvements for the California
Department of Transportation Manager by Jacobs Engineering, Professor Glasser is a certified
Planning and Scheduling Professional providing conceptual and
• Impacts of professional construction management services on detailed planning and scheduling for a variety of projects for all
total project costs market sectors of the design and construction industry.
• Stormwater treatment requirements and cost implications for HENRY M. KOFFMAN, P.E.,
tertiary treatment of storm runoffs. Director, Construction Engineering
and Management Program.
THE FACULTY Professor Koffman teaches construction management and esti-
DAVID W. CRAIN, Ph. D., Lecturer. mating. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Professor Koffman received
David Crain is from Southern California and received his educa- his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering cum laude from the
tion at USC: B.S. Physics (1968), M.S. (1971) and Ph.D. (1976) University of Southern California in 1961 and earned his M.S.
in Materials Science. Dr. Crain was Director of Markets and degree in Civil Engineering from Stanford University in 1962.
Strategies for Fluor Corporation, the largest engineering and Prof. Koffman is a Registered Civil Engineer and Licensed
construction firm in the world. He is President of the Association Building Contractor.
 wide training program currently being implemented in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Currently is the Manager of Project Controls for
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group, the largest global
business unit of Parsons Corporation, based in Pasadena, Cali-
fornia. Education includes BA in Geology from the University
of Rochester (N.Y.), and a Master of Engineering Management
from the George Washington University (D.C.).

DOMINICK PESCAROLO, Lecturer.

Mr. Pescarolo was born in Brooklyn, New York and received his
B.S. degree in Industrial Technology from California State Uni-
versity, Long Beach in 1970. Mr. Pescarolo is a Project Director
with Fluor Daniel. Mr. Pescarolo has over twenty-five years of
engineering and construction experience spanning the follow-
ing areas: marine terminals, power plants, refineries, classified
BRUCE KUCH, P.E., Lecturer. manufacturing facilities, nuclear waste processing facilities, and
Born in Illinois, Mr. Kuch grew up in Tucson, Arizona and re- pipelines. His background includes overseas field assignments
ceived a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in both the Middle East and Far East.
from the University of Arizona in 1970. His project experience
F. EDWARD REYNOLDS, JR. P.E., Lecturer.
includes power generation, educational facilities, hospitals,
Mr. Reynolds was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He received
municipal projects, and commercial projects for two top five
his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern
design-build firms, Bechtel and Jacobs Engineering, as well as
California in 1981, his M.S. in Civil Engineering from the
a top ten general contractor. Mr. Kuch is a Registered Profes-
University of Houston in 1984, and his MBA from Harvard
sional Engineering in Texas and a licensed General Contractor
University in 1986. As a practicing professional engineer and
in California. He is currently President of his own firm, BHK
business owner, Mr. Reynolds is interested in the problems of
Consultants, Inc., that provides project and construction man-
emerging consulting and construction firms, in environmental
agement services for a variety of projects. Bruce is also on the
engineering, and career development for students. Mr. Reynolds
Planning Commission for the City of Manhattan Beach.
is a Registered Civil Engineer.
JOHN A. KUPRENAS, P.E., Research Assistant Professor.
DANA SHERMAN, Esq., Lecturer.
Dr. Kuprenas was born in Dayton, Ohio. He received his B.S.
Dana Sherman, Attorney at Law, was born in Los Angeles,
degree in 1984, M.S. degree in 1985, and D. Eng in 1988, all in
California and received his B.A. degree in Mathematics from the
Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
University of California, Los Angeles in 1975. He received his
Dr. Kuprenas is a Registered Civil Engineer and is currently a
Jurist Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles
V.P. and project director for a major construction management
in 1978 and also received a Master’s degree in Business Admin-
firm. His research concentration is on computer applications in
istration (MBA) from the Claremont Graduate School in 1979,
construction and on construction processes, productivity, and
a Master’s of Business Taxation (MBT) from the University of
quality.
Southern California in 1984, and a Master’s of Public Administra-
LEN MARVIN, A.I.A., C.S.I., Lecturer. tion (MPA) from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
Mr. Marvin was born in Aurora, Illinois. He received his degrees University in 1992. He has been admitted to practice law in
(B. Architecture, M. Architecture, MBA) from the University California since 1978 and has been admitted to practice before
of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He graduated magna cum the United States Tax Court and the United States Supreme
laude with numerous academic awards, was a member of Alpha Court. A member of the USC faculty since 1979, Mr. Sherman’s
Rho Chi fraternity and studied at the Ecole des Beaux Artes primary areas of legal practice include real estate, construction,
in Versailles, France. In graduate school, Mr. Marvin taught in business, tax, and civil litigation.
the Illinois Department of Engineering and also worked for the
Corps of Engineers construction research laboratory. Mr. Marvin
is currently an architect and both Director of Construction and
Manager of Quality Control for the architectural-engineering
firm of Albert C. Martin and Associates in Los Angeles. He is
a licensed architect in Illinois, New Mexico and California. He
holds an NCARB certificate, and is a member of the American In-
stitute of Architects and Construction Specification Institute.

MICHAEL NOSBISCH, C.C.C. P.S.P., Lecturer.

Began professional career as an infantry officer (Captain) in the
U.S. Marine Corps, ultimately serving as manager of service-
 Selected Publications
Kuprenas, J.A. and Tisher, T.E. (2003). “Bridge Falsework Pro-
ductivity – Measurement and Influences”, Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management, ASCE, 129, No. 3, May/June.

Kuprenas, J.A. (2003). “Project Management Actions to Improve

Design Phase Cost Performance”, Journal of Management in
Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 19, No. 1, January.

Haraga, R.K. and Kuprenas, J.A. (2000). “Performance Mea-

surement of Training in Engineering Organizations”, Journal of
Management in Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 5, Sep/Oct.

Chung-Li, J., Fakhouri, A.S., Jreij, W.G., and Kuprenas, J.A.

(2000). “Project Manager Workload – Assessment of Values and
Influences”, Project Management Journal, Project Management
Institute (PMI), Vol. 31, No. 4, December.

Kuprenas, J.A., Chinowsky, P.S. and Harano, W. (2000). “Strategic

Planning in a Public Sector Engineering Organization”, Journal
of Management in Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 16, No. 5, Sep/Oct.

Hester, W.T., Kuprenas, J.A., and Thomas, H.R. (1987). “Arbi-

tration: A Look at Its Form and Performance,” ASCE Journal of
Construction Engineering and Management, 113 (3).

Kuprenas, J.A., Soriano, C. and Ramhorst, S. (1996). “Total Qual-

ity Management Implementation and Results,” ASCE Practice
Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, 1(2).

Mondorf, P.W., Kuprenas, J.A. and Kordahi, E. (1997).

“Segmental Cantilever Bridge Construction Case Study,” ASCE
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 123(1).

Kuprenas, J.A. and Kenney, M.A. (1998). “Total Quality Manage-

ment Implementation and Results - A Progress Update,” ASCE
Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction, 3(1).

Kuprenas, J.A. and Chang, J.Y. (1998). “Cost Segregation Analysis

of Depreciable Properties,” Cost Engineering, 40(10).

Kuprenas, J.A., Madjidi, F., Vidaurrazaga, A. and Lim, C.L.

(1998). “The Seismic Retrofit Program for the City of Los
Angeles Bridges,” ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 4(4).

Kuprenas, J.A., Madjidi, F. and Smith, B.M. (1999).

“Implementation of Project Management Concepts in a Public
Sector Engineering Organization,” ASCE Journal of Management
in Engineering, 15(3).

Kuprenas, J.A., Madjidi, F. and Alexander, A.S. (1999). “Project

Management Training Program,” ASCE Journal of Management
in Engineering, 15(6).

Kuprenas, J.A., Kendall, R.L. and Madjidi, F. (1999). “A Quality

Management Case Study: Defects in Spacecraft Electronics
Components,” PMI Project Management Journal, 30(2).
 ADMISSION PROCEDURE FOR
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Admission to the Graduate Programs in Civil Engineering is
granted to those students who show promise and who provide
sufficient evidence that they can meet the scholastic require-
ments of study at an advanced level. The general GRE test is
required. Regular admission to the MSCE (Construction Engi-
neering and Management) program is open to students holding
a BSCE. Applicants with degrees in Engineering, other than
Civil Engineering, may be granted conditional admission to the
MSCE (Construction Engineering and Management) program.
However, they must complete additional remedial units before
they are admitted to full graduate status.

ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES
Application forms for admission to the Master of Science Degree
may be obtained from:

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Graduate Admission, KAP 239
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2531
Tel: (213) 740-0587
Fax: (213) 740-8662
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.usc.edu/cee

FINANCIAL AID
Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships are two
major forms of financial aid available for graduate students. Both
types of assistantships are awarded on the basis of high academic
achievement and potential.

The application forms for financial aid from Civil Engineering

may be obtained from the Department of Civil and Environ-
mental Engineering, office of Graduate Admissions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information can be found in the Engineering
Bulletin of the University of Southern California, which lists
and describes all the engineering courses offered at USC, and
in the Schedule of Classes, which lists all the courses offered
each semester.