Construction Management Certificate Program (Pre-Pay Discount 10%)

From the conceptual drawings through final construction, the ability to analyze and interpret construction plans and identify compliance with laws and regulations is a key foundational skill for construction managers. Designed for estimators, design professionals, project managers and other construction professionals, or those trying to break into the construction industry, you will learn the fundamentals of how to accurately read a set of construction plans. Topics covered in this course include how construction plans are organized under the Uniform Drawing System; how to interpret plans and specifications set forth by the architect/designer; and how to apply this knowledge to the actual construction process, from conceptual drawings through final construction. By the end of this course, you will be able to understand complex project plans and apply this knowledge to the construction process.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate ability to read complex construction plans and design specifications.
• Analyze complex plans, identify specifications and scope of use, and organize construction assembly details.
• Illustrate how construction plans are organized under the Uniform Drawing System with emphasis on showing the 8 Specification Modules set forth by the Construction Specifications Institute.
• Demonstrate building code compliance by accessing information from plans and specifications.
• Integrate select application of plan reading, specifications, and assemblies by various shareholders and agencies

Skills You Will Gain

• Construction Drawing analysis
• Reading prints
• Application of plans and specifications
• Construction compliance codes

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—including video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are released on a structured, week-by-week schedule. Students move through the course together, with regular due dates to support consistent progress and engagement. Most learners can expect to spend approximately 10–12 hours per week engaging with course content and completing assignments.

This course is a prerequisite for the Estimating Preconstruction and Bidding course.  

In order to avoid costly delays and litigation that can arise during a project, construction managers need to be aware of the legal issues that can arise in the construction process. This course will provide an overview of the laws concerning contracting and construction. Through lecture, a review of case law and engaging Q&As, you will gain substantive knowledge in the various areas of construction law, including private and public contracts, bidding, mechanic's lien, stop notice and payment bonds, contractors’ license law, agency, business organizations, bankruptcy and dispute resolution. By the end of this course, you will possess a framework for recognizing, understanding and mitigating legal issues that could arise during one of your construction projects.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze contracts and identify risks associated with contract language and clauses
• Differentiate the rights and liabilities of contractors and design professionals, including mechanic's lien, stop notice and payment bond
• Evaluate issues of agency, vicarious liability and contract responsibility
• Differentiate between mediation, arbitration and court trials for dispute resolution

Skills You Will Gain

• Contract Law
• Contract risk assessment
• Contract composition
• Bankruptcy law
• Legal research

Strong financial management is vital to success in the construction industry. Through lecture, a review of case studies and class discussion, you will learn the basics of construction accounting and will explore a variety of topics, including payroll, purchasing, job costing, revenue recognition, selection of entity structure, insurance, cash management and more. In addition, you’ll be exposed to internal controls and risk management best practices that will help you successfully manage your project finances. By the end of this course, you will have a stronger understanding of financial management principles that will help you achieve greater returns on your projects.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the basic fundamentals of construction accounting
• Evaluate basics of risk management including insurance coverage and surety
• Distinguish issues of double entry bookkeeping through the use of T-accounts
• Compare options for entity structure and evaluate general income tax implications and concerns

Skills You Will Gain

• Accounting
• Contract management
• Insurance and surety
• Cash management
• Financial statements

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—including video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are released on a structured, week-by-week schedule. Students move through the course together, with regular due dates to support consistent progress and engagement. Most learners can expect to spend approximately 10–12 hours per week engaging with course content and completing assignments.

In the construction process, the estimator not only predicts project cost, but also recognizes potential risks that might result in delays or financial losses. Designed for construction professionals, this course presents methodologies and processes necessary for developing accurate estimates. Through real-world examples and case studies, you’ll examine the foundations of cost estimation, practice with common tools and the latest technologies in the profession and explore shifts in the industry related to Lean Construction practices. By the end of this course, you will possess an understanding of the essential principles of estimating in order to produce more reliable estimates for your projects.

Learning Outcomes

• Perform basic estimating functions
• Identify potential risks and predict how to minimize risk
• Analyze regional and aggregate market conditions
• Apply methods and technologies associated with quantity take off
• Differentiate the bidding process between public versus private projects, and adapt your estimating accordingly
• Develop a reliable estimate using Target Value Design concepts

Skills You Will Gain

• Estimation software
• Risk assessment
• Target Value Design
• Applied math
• Analytics

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—including video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are released on a structured, week-by-week schedule. Students move through the course together, with regular due dates to support consistent progress and engagement. Most learners can expect to spend approximately 10–12 hours per week engaging with course content and completing assignments.

Prerequisite Information
Construction Plan Reading and Specifications is a prerequisite for this course.

Students may take the courses out of order, provided they possess the following knowledge and skills:
- Ability to interpret plan details and understand how drawings progress from general to specific views
- Familiarity with On-Screen Takeoff or similar estimating software
- Understanding of how to extract accurate quantity takeoffs based on plan details
- Confidence navigating construction plans, including interpreting directions and bearings

Industry-Leading Software
On Center software provides industry professionals with powerful tools for digital takeoffs and precise cost estimating, helping streamline workflows and improve accuracy during preconstruction and bidding. Its use in this course prepares students with hands-on experience using a platform widely adopted in the construction industry.

Software Requirements
On Center runs exclusively on Windows operating systems. Students using a Mac will need to install Windows through Parallels or Boot Camp to ensure compatibility. A reliable internet connection and a Windows-compatible device that meets minimum system requirements are essential for smooth software performance.

Construction project schedules can be unwieldy, and, without a steady hand to guide them, will spiral out of control quickly. In this course, learn a systematic approach to creating and managing construction schedules. Through lecture, class exercises and Q&As, you will learn skills and best practices necessary to effectively plan and control projects of any size, such as work breakdown structures, scheduling techniques, scheduling software, cost allocation and claims management. You will also gain an in-depth understanding of scheduling and project controls. By the end of this course, you will know the ins-and-outs of developing, managing and updating a schedule from design through construction completion.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the basic concepts and techniques of creating and managing a construction schedule, which includes planning, scheduling and control
• Apply cost and resource loading principals and identify the correlation to the estimate
• Recognize common project delays and propose solutions to best approach them
• Analyze management of change orders that are identified during the course of construction
• Create a critical path method (CPM) schedule for a construction project and manage the schedule from pre-construction to final completion.

Skills You Will Gain

• Construction scheduling
• Project management process (PDCA)
• Cost/resource planning
• Time impact analysis (TIA)

Course Format and Pacing

This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—including video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are released on a structured, week-by-week schedule. Students move through the course together, with regular due dates to support consistent progress and engagement. Most learners can expect to spend approximately 10–12 hours per week engaging with course content and completing assignments.

This course includes required live Zoom sessions during Weeks 6, 7, 8, and 9. These sessions feature third-party software demonstrations that, due to copyright restrictions, cannot be recorded. Please note that live session dates are subject to change. There will also be an optional live Zoom meeting on Day 1 of the course. While not mandatory, attending this session is highly recommended to help set you up for success.

Industry-Leading Software

Oracle Primavera P6 is a gold standard in project management software, widely used across construction, engineering, and large-scale infrastructure projects. Students gain valuable experience using this robust scheduling and project control tool, building skills that are directly transferable to roles managing timelines, resources, and budgets in complex project environments.

Software Requirements

Primavera P6 runs only on Windows and requires installation of supporting applications like Java Runtime Environment and Oracle databases in some cases. Mac users will need to use Windows via Parallels, Boot Camp, or a virtual machine. Due to its complexity, students should install the software early and verify their system meets the minimum requirements to avoid technical delays. A high-performing Windows-compatible machine and strong internet connection are strongly recommended.

Construction managers need to be aware of potential problems and pitfalls when bidding and managing their own projects. Through a combination of lectures and group exercises, this course will examine leadership concepts and forward thinking project delivery methods, such as Design/Build and CM at Risk, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and more. You will evaluate industry employment opportunities, distinguish differences between public and private construction projects, discuss LEAN construction principles, practice using Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, learn enhanced marketing techniques and the RFP process. This course will also help you identify techniques to overcome potential problems and pitfalls when managing your own projects. By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the entire delivery process from design development through construction completion.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply next generation project delivery concepts such as Design/Build, CM at Risk and Integrated Project Delivery
• Utilize techniques to successfully cross-manage cost, schedule, quality and most importantly, safety
• Examine a variety of components within the project delivery process, such as long-term programming, planning, business development, marketing, financing, risk aversion and mitigation, public relations and relationships
• Write marketing plans that support your company’s long-term goals, strengths and experience
• Plan construction projects that meet the goals and vision of the owner and all project stakeholders

Skills You Will Gain

• Construction management
• Project Delivery
• Program management
• Preconstruction

Course Format and Pacing
This is an online course delivered through Canvas, UC Davis CPE’s learning management system. Course materials—including video lectures, readings, assignments, and discussion forums—are released on a structured, week-by-week schedule. Students move through the course together, with regular due dates to support consistent progress and engagement. Most learners can expect to spend approximately 10–12 hours per week engaging with course content and completing assignments.