Business Department • La Plata, MD • Online or Campus • $175/Credit (Tri-County Residents, incl. fees)
The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) offers 2 construction management pathways:
- Business Management A.A.S., Construction Management Concentration
- Construction Management Certificate
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.A.S. | $10.5K in-county / $25.1K out-of-state | 2 years (4 semesters) | 60 |
| Certificate | $3.7K in-county / $8.8K out-of-state | 1.5 years (3 semesters) | 21 |
Tuition estimates use CSM’s 2026-27 per-credit tuition plus the combined fee of 25% of tuition.
- Why choose it: CSM’s construction management concentration sits inside a Business Management A.A.S. that is accredited by ACBSP and can be completed fully online.
- Trade-off: Only 12 of the 60 credits are construction courses; the rest is business core and general education, with statistics rather than algebra or trigonometry as the math course.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | Business Management A.A.S. with Construction Management Concentration (60); certificate (21) |
| Format | Can be completed fully online; campus sections at La Plata |
| Credit Hours | 60 (A.A.S.), 21 (certificate) |
| Internship | Optional paid co-op, CNT-2915, 3 credits, 300 hours |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACBSP (business accreditation for the A.A.S.); no ACCE |
| Math | Business Mathematics and Introduction to Statistics |
| Transfer Pathway | Business transfer agreements only; no current construction management agreement found |
| Tuition | $140/credit tri-county, $245 other Maryland, $335 out-of-state, plus 25% combined fee |
Business Management A.A.S., Construction Management Concentration
The estimated tuition for the A.A.S. at CSM is approximately $10,500 for Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s County residents, $18,375 for other Maryland residents, and $25,125 out-of-state (60 credits at $175/credit in-county, including fees).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (4 semesters).
The Business Management A.A.S. with Construction Management Concentration replaced CSM’s former Construction Management Technology A.A.S. It prepares students for entry-level management roles in construction, including preparing construction documents, cost estimates, and project schedules, performing site inspections, and working with regulatory agencies.
A.A.S. Curriculum
The 60 credits break into 12 credits of construction courses, 30 credits of business core, and 18 credits of general education. Math is Introduction to Statistics, with Business Mathematics in the core.
- Construction (4 courses): Construction Methods and Materials, Construction Specifications and Estimating, Construction Project Management, Construction Contracts and Related Laws
- Accounting and finance: Principles of Accounting I and II, Business Mathematics
- Management: Introduction to Business, Principles of Management, Human Resource Management, Human Relations and Leadership
- Business law and marketing: Business Law, Principles of Marketing, Applied Business Communications
- General education: Composition and Rhetoric, Introduction to Statistics, a speech course, Intercultural Communication, Principles of Microeconomics, Scientific Reasoning and the Modern World
This is a business degree with a construction concentration, not a construction degree. Accounting, human resources, leadership, and two law courses give it a strong small-contractor business base, but there is no stand-alone scheduling, safety, blueprint reading, or drafting course. More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Estimating is combined with specifications in a single 3-credit course.
- Students who plan to transfer to a four-year school are directed by CSM to the Business Administration A.S. instead of this A.A.S.
- ENG-1010 must be completed with a C or better.
A.A.S. Internship and Field Experience
- CNT-2915 Cooperative Education I: Construction Management, 3 credits, optional
- At least 300 hours of paid work experience, coordinated by department faculty
- Requires CNT-1010 or CNT-1020 and permission of the department chair; students meet the instructor six weeks before the course
The co-op is the only field experience in the program, so students without construction jobs should plan for it early.
A.A.S. Admissions
CSM is open admission, and the A.A.S. has no separate program application.
- Placement testing may require developmental English or math before ENG-1010 and MTH-1015
- CSM’s Credit for Prior Learning can award credit for on-the-job training, apprenticeships, licenses, and certifications
Construction Management Certificate
The estimated tuition for the certificate at CSM is approximately $3,675 for tri-county residents, $6,431 for other Maryland residents, and $8,794 out-of-state (21 credits at $175/credit in-county, including fees).
The program can generally be completed in about 1.5 years (3 semesters).
The Construction Management Certificate is intended for students already in the construction industry and can be completed online.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate takes three of the four A.A.S. construction courses and adds business foundations.
- Construction: Construction Methods and Materials, Construction Specifications and Estimating, Construction Project Management
- Business: Introduction to Business, Principles of Management, Human Resource Management
- English: Composition and Rhetoric
All 21 credits apply to the A.A.S., so a certificate graduate needs 39 more credits for the degree. More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The certificate does not include Construction Contracts and Related Laws, which is part of the A.A.S.
- CSM accepts a maximum of 15 transfer credits toward the certificate.
Certificate Internship and Field Experience
No internship is required. The co-op course is intended for students pursuing the Construction Management degree.
Certificate Admissions
Admission is open; ENG-1010 placement applies.
Tuition
CSM’s Fall 2026 through Summer 2027 tuition is $140 per credit for Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s County residents, $245 for other Maryland residents, and $335 for out-of-state students. A combined fee equal to 25% of tuition covers registration, activities, and technology, bringing the totals to $175, $306.25, and $418.75 per credit.
| Program | Tri-County | Other Maryland | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.A.S. (60 credits) | $10,500 | $18,375 | $25,125 |
| Certificate (21 credits) | $3,675 | $6,431 | $8,794 |
Rates come from CSM’s tuition and fees page.
Be aware that:
- Course-specific fees vary and are listed only in CSM’s Online Services.
- Electronic book fees are charged by course unless students opt out.
- Credit by examination costs $20 per credit.
- Books and supplies are not included above.
Because the combined fee is a percentage of tuition, residents of other Maryland counties pay a larger fee as well as higher tuition. The certificate is a low-cost entry point that rolls fully into the degree.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for Southern Maryland tradespeople and crew leaders who want a business-heavy management degree they can finish online.
For working tradespeople: The online option, the 21-credit certificate, and Credit for Prior Learning fit students who already know the field side.
For future business owners: Two accounting courses, business law, marketing, and human resources prepare students to run a contracting business.
The honest trade-off: With four construction courses, the concentration is thin on technical content, and students headed to a construction management bachelor’s should confirm transfer of the business-core courses in advance.
Accreditation and Credentials
The College of Southern Maryland is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which supports federal financial aid eligibility and credit transfer.
The Business Management A.A.S., including the construction management concentration, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP is a business accreditor; the program does not hold construction-specific accreditation from ACCE, which is uncommon at the two-year level.
CSM does not name an embedded industry certification in the credit program or tie it to Maryland contractor or home improvement licensing. CSM’s separate non-credit workforce programs offer OSHA-10 training.