College of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management • Long Beach, CA • Campus • $292/Credit (In-State, incl. fees)
CSU Long Beach offers 2 construction management pathways:
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. | $35.0K in-state / $91.5K out-of-state | 4 years (8 semesters) | 120 |
| M.S. | $20.9K in-state / $35.0K out-of-state | 2 years (4 semesters) | 30 |
Tuition estimates use CSU Long Beach’s 2026-27 full-time semester tuition plus mandatory campus fees; out-of-state adds $471 per unit.
- Why choose it: CSU Long Beach’s B.S. requires at least three months of full-time construction work at technician level or higher before graduation, and its ACCE accreditation runs through July 2030 on ACCE’s 2024 list.
- Trade-off: New students enter as pre-majors and must finish Calculus I, General Physics, and English foundations with a 2.5 GPA before 60 units to be fully admitted, and CSU Long Beach describes engineering admission as extremely competitive.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S. in Construction Management; M.S. in Construction Management |
| Format | Campus |
| Campus Location | Long Beach, CA |
| Credit Hours | 120 (B.S.); 30 (M.S.) |
| Internship | B.S. fieldwork required: at least three months full-time (or part-time equivalent) at technician level or higher |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACCE (B.S.); on ACCE’s 2024 list through 07/2030 |
| Software Taught | Virtual design and construction elective (CEM 483); specific software not named |
| Industry Certifications | None embedded |
| Emphases | Design-Build, Sustainability in Construction, or Heavy Construction (6 elective units) |
| Tuition | $4,374 per semester undergraduate; $5,229 graduate (2026-27, in-state) |
B.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Construction Management at CSU Long Beach is approximately $34,992 in-state (120 credits at $291.60/credit, derived from 8 semesters at $4,374).
The program can generally be completed in about 4 years (8 semesters).
The B.S. in Construction Management sits in the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management and requires a C or better in every major course. The out-of-state estimate is about $91,512.
B.S. Curriculum
The 96-unit major combines construction, engineering technology, and business, and closes with a choice of three elective emphases.
- Estimating, scheduling, and project management (6 courses, 16 units): CEM 225 Residential and Light Commercial Practices and Estimating, CEM 324 Commercial, Institutional and Industrial Practices and Estimating, CEM 429 Advanced Estimating and Bidding, CEM 421 Planning, Scheduling, and Control, CEM 490 Construction Project Management, and CEM 415 Job Site Management Problem Solving.
- Delivery, law, and safety (4 courses, 11 units): CEM 373 Alternative Project Delivery, CEM 426 Business and Construction Law, CEM 315 Construction Safety, and BLAW 220 or 320.
- Engineering technology (8 courses, 21 units): CEM 204 Statics, CEM 304 Strength of Materials, CEM 437 Structural Building Systems, CEM 335 and 335L Soil Mechanics, CEM 200 and 200L Concrete Construction, CEM 385 MEP Equipment for Buildings, CEM 424 Earthwork and Civil Works, and CE 130 and 130L Surveying.
- Business and economics (6 courses, 18 units): ACCT 201, CE 406 Project Cost-Benefit Analysis, ECON 300, MGMT 300 Principles of Management and Operations, IB 300 International Business, and SCM 413 or HRM 361.
- Math and science (3 courses, 12 units): MATH 122 Calculus I and two semesters of General Physics.
- Foundations (7 courses, 12 units): CE 101, ENGR 101 and 102, CEM 121 Construction Drawing I, CEM 125 Fundamentals of Construction, CEM 202 Probability and Statistics, and CEM 206 Trends in Construction Engineering Management.
- Emphasis electives (6 units): Design-Build (Principles of Design-Build, Virtual Design and Construction, Senior Seminar), Sustainability (Facility Administration, Sustainability in the Built Environment and in Infrastructure Systems), or Heavy Construction (Heavy Civil Principles and Practices, Infrastructure Management).
CSU Long Beach covers estimating at three levels, residential, commercial and industrial, and advanced bidding, and adds an alternative project delivery course that suits students headed for design-build firms. The engineering technology block, including earthwork and civil works, gives graduates enough technical grounding for either building or heavy civil contractors, and the emphases let students lean one way.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- A C or better is required in every course required for the major.
- CEM 483 Virtual Design and Construction appears in all three emphases, so it can anchor any choice.
- The department’s 2026-27 major sheet lists CEM 437 as Heat and Mass Transport, while the catalog lists it as Structural Building Systems; the catalog governs.
- Students who fall short of the degree progress requirements after two semesters must change majors or petition for an extra semester.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: Yes, a fieldwork requirement for graduation.
- Length: at least three months full-time, or the part-time equivalent, of employment with an approved company or government agency.
- Level: a position equal to a technician or higher, with responsibility usually given to someone with two years of college.
- Approval: fieldwork must be certified and approved by department faculty before graduation.
- Credits, pay, and placement support: Not clearly stated; the requirement carries no listed course credit.
Three months of full-time work is a substantial requirement, roughly a full summer on a jobsite or in a contractor’s office, and the technician-level standard means students do real work rather than observe. Because the fieldwork is not a credit course, students arrange and complete it on their own schedule before graduating.
B.S. Admissions
CSU Long Beach admits first-year engineering students as pre-majors and calls engineering admission extremely competitive.
- Full admission to the major: a 2.5 cumulative GPA and a C or better in MATH 122 Calculus I, PHYS 100A or 151, and English composition and oral communication, before earning 60 units.
- First-year students: must earn a C or better in precalculus trigonometry, precalculus algebra, and General Physics within the first year.
- Transfer students: must earn a C or better in Calculus I and both semesters of General Physics within the first year at CSU Long Beach, and should complete lower-division preparation before transferring.
M.S. in Construction Management
The estimated tuition for the M.S. in Construction Management at CSU Long Beach is approximately $20,916 in-state (30 credits at $697.20/credit, derived from 4 semesters at $5,229).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (4 semesters).
The M.S. in Construction Management requires 30 units of graduate courses and offers a thesis or comprehensive exam option. The out-of-state estimate is about $35,046. Duration is derived from 30 units at about 7.5 units per semester.
M.S. Curriculum
- Core (5 courses, 15 units): CE 571 Construction Planning and Cost Control, CE 573 Engineering Specifications, Law, and Contracts, CE 574 Methods, Analysis and Design of Construction Operations, CE 576 Construction Organization and Management, and CE 697 Directed Studies.
- Interdisciplinary (2 courses, 6 units): two of ACCT 500 Financial Accounting, FIN 501 Financial Management, MGMT 500 Business Policies, Operations and Organizations, and MKTG 500 Marketing Concepts.
- Thesis option (9 units): CE 698 Thesis (3 units) plus two approved electives.
- Comprehensive exam option (9 units): three approved electives plus the comprehensive exam.
- Approved electives: engineering management, sustainability and green construction, productivity and quality, utility rehabilitation and construction, probabilistic methods, and selected topics.
The M.S. pairs four construction management core courses with two graduate business courses, so it serves engineers and construction graduates moving toward project leadership. The utility rehabilitation and sustainability electives give it room for infrastructure work.
You Should Know
- Students must enroll in at least one course every fall and spring semester or take an approved leave, or they are removed from the program.
- Students on academic warning below a 3.0 GPA for two semesters are disqualified.
- Up to nine graduate transfer units may count with approval, and the degree must be finished within seven years.
M.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: No internship is listed for the M.S.
- Applied work: CE 697 Directed Studies and the thesis option provide supervised project work.
The M.S. assumes a construction-related bachelor’s degree and suits students already working or with field experience.
M.S. Admissions
Applicants are admitted by the university, the department, and the College of Engineering.
- Degree and GPA: a construction-related bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.8 GPA; graduates of other fields may need prerequisites first.
- Materials: statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and a resume.
- International applicants: TOEFL 80 (iBT) or IELTS 6.
Tuition
For 2026-27, CSU Long Beach charges full-time undergraduates $3,419 in tuition plus $955 in mandatory campus fees per semester, for $4,374. Graduate students pay $4,274 in tuition plus the same fees, for $5,229. Nonresidents add $471 per unit.
| Item (2026-27, per semester, full time) | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $3,419.00 | $4,274.00 |
| Recreation center and student union fee | $504.00 | $504.00 |
| Student excellence fee | $173.00 | $173.00 |
| Other campus fees (ASI, IRA, health center and facility, ID card) | $278.00 | $278.00 |
| Total, in-state | $4,374.00 | $5,229.00 |
- B.S. estimate: 8 × $4,374 = $34,992 in-state; plus 120 × $471 = $56,520, for $91,512 out-of-state (derived).
- M.S. estimate: 4 × $5,229 = $20,916 in-state; plus 30 × $471 = $14,130, for $35,046 out-of-state (derived).
Be aware that:
- CSU Long Beach lists a $2 student involvement and representation fee (SIRF) in its total; this estimate leaves it out.
- CSU Long Beach says its listed fees are estimates subject to change.
- CSU tuition has risen each year, so later years may cost more.
- Housing, meals, books, and the cost of completing fieldwork are not included.
At about $35,000 for four years in-state, CSU Long Beach is priced close to Fresno State and below Chico State and Sacramento State. See CSU Long Beach’s 2026-27 tuition and fees.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
CSU Long Beach suits Los Angeles and Orange County students who want an ACCE-accredited degree that guarantees real work experience before graduation.
Required fieldwork: Three months of technician-level employment is a firmer requirement than a short internship course, and graduates finish with documented industry experience.
Choose a direction: The Design-Build, Sustainability, and Heavy Construction emphases let students tailor the last year, and the alternative project delivery course supports a design-build focus.
Path to a master’s: The 30-unit M.S. in the same department adds graduate business courses and a thesis or exam option for students aiming at project leadership.
Accreditation and Credentials
California State University, Long Beach is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, which supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer.
The B.S. in Construction Management is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), per CSU Long Beach. ACCE’s baccalaureate list (Rev. 2024.03.13) shows the program accredited from July 2023 through July 2030. The M.S. does not appear on ACCE’s bachelor’s list, which covers bachelor’s programs only.
Neither program embeds an industry certification. The catalog’s program objectives include graduates progressing toward professional certifications after they enter practice.