Gibbs College of Architecture, Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division • Norman, OK • Campus, Online, Mostly Online • $515/Credit (Online B.S., all residencies)
The University of Oklahoma offers 4 construction management pathways:
- B.S. in Construction Science (campus, ACCE-accredited)
- Online B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Construction Management major (degree completion)
- Master of Construction Business (M.C.B.), mostly online
- M.S. in Construction Management (campus, thesis or special studies)
Program Pathways Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. (Campus) | $63.9K in-state / $139.2K out-of-state | 4 years (8 semesters + 1 summer) | 120 |
| B.S. (Online) | $15.5K-$30.9K | 1-2 years (12+ months) | 120 (30-60 at OU) |
| M.C.B. | $32.5K | 16+ months (4 semesters) | 32 |
| M.S. | $17.3K in-state / $41.0K out-of-state | 2 years (4 semesters) | 32 |
Tuition estimates use OU’s 2026-27 tuition plus mandatory and college fees; online programs use OU Online’s published per-credit rates.
- Why choose it: One division covers every career stage: an ACCE-accredited campus B.S., an online degree completion at $515 per credit for students with 60 credits, and a business-heavy M.C.B. for working project managers. The campus B.S. requires a 480-hour summer internship, and OU pays half the AIC Associate Constructor exam cost for seniors.
- Trade-off: The online B.S. carries only 15 credits of construction coursework, no internship, and no ACCE accreditation. The campus B.S. caps junior-level admission at 60 students each fall.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Credentials Offered | B.S. Construction Science; online B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies (CM major); M.C.B.; M.S. Construction Management |
| Format | Campus (B.S., M.S.); Online (online B.S.); Mostly Online (M.C.B.) |
| Campus Location | Norman main campus; M.C.B. residency also in Norman |
| Credit Hours | 120 (both bachelor’s); 32 (M.C.B., M.S.) |
| Internship | Required in campus B.S. (CNS 4941, 480 hours); none in online programs |
| Programmatic Accreditation | ACCE (campus B.S. only) |
| Software Taught | BIM for Constructors required (campus B.S.); estimating and scheduling software, products not named |
| Industry Certifications | AIC Associate Constructor exam (division pays half); Associate DBIA via elective |
| Limited Admission | Campus B.S.: top 60 students admitted to junior-level courses each fall |
| Math Requirement | Precalculus and Trigonometry plus General Physics (campus B.S.) |
| Tuition | Flat-rate campus tuition; $515/credit online B.S.; $1,015/credit M.C.B. |
B.S. in Construction Science (Campus)
The estimated tuition for the B.S. in Construction Science at the University of Oklahoma is approximately $63,881.30 in-state (8 flat-rate semesters plus a summer internship credit and college fees; about $532/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 4 years, including one required summer internship.
B.S. Curriculum
The degree combines 56 major credits, 26 credits of major support courses, and at least 40 credits of general education. Construction courses start in the first fall.
- Math and science: Precalculus and Trigonometry, General Physics with a life-science focus, Physical Geology with lab
- Business support: Fundamental Financial Accounting, Legal Environment of Business, Principles of Organization and Management, macroeconomics
- Documents and methods: Materials and Form, Materials and Methods, Construction Documents, Construction Fundamentals Lab, Surveying
- Estimating and controls: Construction Cost Estimating, Project Planning and Scheduling, Project Management and Cost Controls, Pre-Construction Services
- Technical and systems: MEP Systems 1 and 2, Architectural Structures I
- Technology and law: Computers in Construction Lab, BIM for Constructors, Legal Issues in Construction
- Capstone and communication: Construction Communication, Construction Science Capstone
- Division electives (6 credits): options include Lean Construction, Heavy Civil Project Management, Residential Construction, Design-Build, and Leadership
The curriculum leans toward management. Of the 19 required CNS courses, about seven cover estimating, scheduling, controls, preconstruction, law, and communication, against three on structures and building systems. The math bar is higher than at many two-year programs: Precalculus and Trigonometry plus physics are required before upper-division structures work.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Several CNS courses run once a year. Construction Documents and Estimating are fall-only; MEP Systems 1, Scheduling, and Cost Controls are spring-only. A missed course can delay graduation a year.
- Students must earn a C or better in every CNS course and finish within seven years of entering the program.
- OU strongly encourages a minor in architecture, business, or communication.
B.S. Internship and Field Experience
- Required: CNS 4941 Field Work (Internship), 1 credit, summer before senior year
- 12 weeks and 480 hours of construction work
- Students secure their own internship; paid status not clearly stated
- Career fairs every fall and spring semester, run by the division
- Professional Advisory Board of industry members; 34 top-three competition finishes since 2011 (TEXO, ASC, DBIA, NAHB)
A required, hour-counted internship means every graduate leaves with at least one summer of documented site experience. That is a real advantage with employers. The catch is that placement is the student’s job, so the twice-yearly career fairs matter. OU reports a 90% job placement rate for construction science graduates, without a stated year or method.
B.S. Admissions
Admission to the major is competitive and happens after the sophomore year.
- Minimum 2.50 OU and combined GPA
- All first- and second-year courses must be complete before applying for junior standing
- Admission limited to the top 60 students by GPA each fall
- ⚠️ OU’s Gibbs College undergraduate page says 70 students are admitted each fall; the catalog and division page say 60. Confirm the current cap with an advisor.
Online B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, Construction Management Major
The estimated tuition for the online B.S. in Construction Management at the University of Oklahoma is approximately $15,450 to $30,900 (30 to 60 credits at $515/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 12 months or more, depending on transfer credit.
Online B.S. Curriculum
This is a degree-completion program for adults with at least 60 college credits. The 30-credit major splits evenly between an interdisciplinary core and construction courses; the rest of the 120 credits comes from transfer work, general education, and electives.
- Interdisciplinary core (15 credits): Effective Communication, Digital Literacy and Data Analysis, Critical Inquiry in Interdisciplinary Studies, Innovative Problem-Solving, Portfolio in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Construction major (15 credits): Preconstruction Management, Applied Construction Project Management, Applied Construction Estimating and Scheduling, Construction Efficiency, Communication and Personnel Management in Construction
- Foundation courses if needed: Construction Industry Fundamentals and Construction Materials and Methods, required for students without construction experience
- General education: 40 credits, including one math course of the student’s choice
All five construction courses are management courses. There is no structures, MEP, surveying, or BIM coursework, so the degree builds on field experience rather than replacing technical training. The ePortfolio capstone is an interdisciplinary studies requirement, not a construction project.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- ⚠️ OU Online markets this degree as a B.S., but the OU catalog’s online program list and the 2023 program approval name it a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. Confirm the diploma title before enrolling.
- The 2023 program approval requires at least 60 credits from a four-year institution and 30 credits from OU’s College of Professional and Continuing Studies. Students with mostly community college credit should confirm how many OU credits they will need.
- A grade of C or better is required in every major course.
- This degree is not the ACCE-accredited Construction Science program.
Online B.S. Internship and Field Experience
The online B.S. has no internship or field requirement. It assumes students already work in the industry, and applicants without one year of commercial construction experience or construction coursework must take two foundation courses first.
Online B.S. Admissions
Admission is restricted to adult learners.
- Age 25 or older, or five years past high school graduation or GED, by the first day of class
- At least 60 college credits from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Rolling admission; starts in fall, spring, and summer; decisions within about two weeks
Master of Construction Business (M.C.B.)
The estimated tuition for the Master of Construction Business at the University of Oklahoma is approximately $32,480 (32 credits at $1,015/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 16 months, over 4 semesters.
M.C.B. Curriculum
The M.C.B. is a joint program of the Gibbs College of Architecture and the Price College of Business. It runs as a cohort, with 17 courses: 12 construction credits and 20 business credits.
- Construction core (12 credits): Introduction to Construction Management, Construction Business Development, Lean Construction, Leadership Principles in the Construction Industry, Advanced Construction Law, Experiential Learning in Design and Construction, Capstone
- Finance and accounting: Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Investments, Real Estate Finance and Investments
- Management and analytics: Managerial Economics, Quantitative Analysis I, Planning and Operations Management, Management Information Systems
- People skills: Negotiations, Organizational Behavior
Most courses are 2 credits on 8-week modules, so students carry several short courses at once. With 62% of credits in business, the degree works as a construction-focused alternative to an MBA, not a technical master’s. The experiential course has students shadow industry professionals in their workplaces.
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Most courses require one live online lecture per week.
- The final semester includes a 4-week capstone course and a 3-day residency on the Norman campus. OU covers food and lodging; travel is the student’s cost.
- Up to 12 graduate credits may transfer in with department approval.
M.C.B. Internship and Field Experience
There is no internship. Field contact comes through the job-shadowing course and the capstone, which students build with industry professionals and present to a faculty panel during the residency.
M.C.B. Admissions
The M.C.B. is built for working professionals with significant field time.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- At least three years of direct, full-time construction industry experience
- Resume, personal statement, and official transcripts; no GRE listed
- OU Online states a “minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA” in one place and calls 3.0 “preferred” in another.
- Fall and spring starts; $350 nonrefundable deposit on admission, applied to first-semester tuition
M.S. in Construction Management (Campus)
The estimated tuition for the M.S. in Construction Management at the University of Oklahoma is approximately $17,280 in-state (32 credits at $540/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 2 years (derived: 32 credits at 9 credits per semester, about 4 semesters).
M.S. Curriculum
OU offers two 32-credit versions: a thesis option and a special studies (non-thesis) option.
- Required: Research Methods in Planning, Design and Construction
- Fundamentals (up to 9 credits): Construction Fundamentals I and II, Applied Project Management; may be replaced with electives for students with construction education or experience
- Electives (15-24 credits): approved by the graduate liaison; options include BIM for Constructors, Lean Construction, Pre-Construction Services, Legal Issues, Heavy Civil, Design-Build, and Leadership
- Thesis option: 5 credits of Research for Master’s Thesis
- Special studies option: Special Studies Research (3) and Special Studies Presentation (2)
The fundamentals block lets the M.S. take career changers from other disciplines. Graduates of construction programs can skip it and use the credits for electives. OU lists the degree as STEM-recognized for F-1 visa holders.
More curriculum details are available here.
M.S. Internship and Field Experience
No internship is required. An optional Construction Industry Practicum (1-3 credits) lets students apply work experience to a proposed project.
M.S. Admissions
The M.S. is fully in person; OU states it has no online classes.
- Apply through the OU Graduate College and meet its requirements
- GRE scores required
- Minimum GPA and start terms: not clearly stated by the division
Tuition
OU charges campus undergraduates a flat rate for 12 or more credits: $2,766 tuition plus $2,476.50 in mandatory hourly and semester fees, or $5,242.50 per semester in-state. Non-residents add $9,339 per semester. Gibbs College courses add $199.25 per credit in college program and technology fees. OU Online programs use their own rates, the same for all students.
| Item | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Campus B.S.: flat tuition + mandatory fees (8 semesters) | $41,940.00 | $116,652.00 |
| Campus B.S.: summer internship credit + health fee | $388.50 | $1,011.10 |
| Campus B.S.: college program and tech fees (derived) | $21,552.80 | $21,552.80 |
| Campus B.S. total (derived) | $63,881.30 | $139,215.90 |
| Online B.S. ($515/credit, 30-60 OU credits) | $15,450-$30,900 | $15,450-$30,900 |
| M.C.B. ($1,015/credit, 32 credits) | $32,480.00 | $32,480.00 |
| M.S. ($413.20 + $126.80 college fee per credit; non-resident $1,280.50) | $17,280.00 | $40,976.00 |
Be aware that:
- College fees for the campus B.S. are derived by course college: 59 Architecture credits at $199.25, 9 Business credits at $265.25, physics at $176.95, geology at $182.25, and the remaining 44 credits at the Arts and Sciences rate of $135.75. Actual fees depend on which electives a student picks.
- OU’s 2026-27 schedule lists the Business undergraduate fee as $265.75 in one table and $265.25 in another.
- The M.S. total assumes all 32 credits carry the Architecture graduate fee; business or other electives carry different college fees.
- Online course fees of $41.20 per credit apply to campus students who take online sections.
- Books, materials, and M.C.B. residency travel are not included. OU notes the State Regents may change tuition and fees.
Residency is the biggest cost lever on campus: an out-of-state student pays more than twice the in-state total for the B.S. The online programs remove that gap. A non-resident with 60 transfer credits pays at most $30,900 for the online bachelor’s. See OU’s official tuition and fee schedule and OU Online cost and aid for current rates.
Why Choose This Construction Management Program?
Best suited for students who want to pick a pathway by career stage within one university, from a first-year campus start to an executive-level online master’s.
Students starting from high school or early college. The campus B.S. is the only ACCE-accredited option here and the only one with a required internship. Students should plan their first two years around the 2.50 GPA floor and the 60-seat junior cap.
Working adults with credits and field experience. The online B.S. is a fast, low-cost way to finish a degree, but it is a credential upgrade, not technical training. Field supervisors who already know the trades benefit most; career changers will find little technical content.
Experienced managers eyeing leadership. The M.C.B. suits project managers with three or more years in the field who want finance, negotiation, and law rather than more estimating. Students who want research, a thesis, or a STEM-recognized degree should choose the campus M.S. instead.
Accreditation and Credentials
The University of Oklahoma is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which reaffirmed OU’s accreditation in 2023. Institutional accreditation makes students eligible for federal financial aid and makes OU credits evaluable for transfer.
The Haskell & Irene Lemon Construction Science Division’s B.S. in Construction Science is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the program organizes its outcomes around ACCE’s 20 student learning outcomes. ACCE’s March 2024 baccalaureate list shows OU’s accreditation dated February 2020 with a February 2026 expiration; ACCE’s public directory does not yet confirm the renewal, so students should check current status. ACCE status applies to the campus B.S. only. The online B.S., M.C.B., and M.S. do not list separate programmatic accreditation.
Campus B.S. students may take the AIC Associate Constructor exam in their final year, with the division paying half the fee. The elective Design-Build Principles and Practices course earns credit toward the Associate DBIA professional designation. OU does not state Oklahoma contractor-licensing relevance for any of these degrees.