Engineering Construction Technology Capstone

Course Description

ECT4815 — Engineering Construction Technology Capstone is an upper-division (4xxx) college-credit course in Florida's Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management or Bachelor of Science in Construction Management Technology programs. The course typically serves as a capstone integrating construction management, engineering technology, business management, and project management concepts. Students apply knowledge across the construction lifecycle: conceptual planning; design coordination; estimating; scheduling; project execution; quality and safety management; project closeout. The course often includes a substantial project or case-study component reflecting real-world construction industry practice.

This course is offered at Florida public colleges with B.A.S. Construction Management programs, and at SUS institutions with B.S. Construction Management Technology programs. Florida's substantial construction industry — reflecting population growth, hurricane recovery, infrastructure expansion, and tourism development — provides strong demand for graduates of construction management programs.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ECT4815, students will be able to:

• Integrate construction management knowledge across the project lifecycle: planning, design coordination, procurement, construction, commissioning, closeout, and operations support.
• Apply project management principles per PMI PMBOK Guide: scope; schedule; cost; quality; risk; communications; resources; procurement; stakeholders.
• Apply construction-specific management techniques: critical path method (CPM); earned value management (EVM); cost-loaded schedule; change management.
• Conduct integrated project analysis: feasibility; constructability review; value engineering; risk assessment.
• Apply construction safety leadership: SMS; OSHA compliance; safety culture; subcontractor safety management.
• Apply quality management: quality control programs; inspection; commissioning; warranty.
• Apply construction contracts and law awareness: AIA contracts; ConsensusDocs; design-bid-build; design-build; CM at-Risk; integrated project delivery (IPD); Florida construction law fundamentals.
• Apply professional ethics: AGC and CMAA codes of ethics; ethical decision-making in construction.
• Communicate effectively in professional construction settings: written reports; presentations; stakeholder communications.
• Demonstrate capstone competency through major project or case study integrating multiple disciplines.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Construction Project Lifecycle: Conceptual phase; design phase; bidding/procurement; construction; commissioning; warranty.
• Project Delivery Methods: Design-bid-build (traditional); design-build; CM at-Risk; CM Agency; Integrated Project Delivery (IPD); public-private partnerships (P3).
• PMI PMBOK Application: Knowledge areas; process groups; tools and techniques applied to construction.
• Scheduling Advanced: CPM; resource leveling; cost-loaded schedules; earned value management; schedule-cost integration.
• Estimating and Cost Control: Detailed estimating review; cost code structures; commitment vs. expenditure; cost forecasting; change order management.
• Constructability and Value Engineering: Constructability review process; VE workshop methodology; life-cycle cost analysis.
• Risk Management: Risk identification; risk register; quantitative analysis; mitigation strategies; risk transfer (insurance, contracts).
• Safety Leadership: Site safety plans; subcontractor safety qualification; OSHA recordkeeping; safety culture metrics.
• Quality Management: Quality control vs. quality assurance; inspection programs; commissioning (Cx); turnover documentation.
• Construction Contracts: AIA contract families (A101, A102, A201, etc.); ConsensusDocs; Florida construction lien law (Chapter 713, F.S.); construction industry licensing (FDBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board).
• Capstone Project: Integrated project applying multiple disciplines; team-based work; presentation to industry panel where possible.

Resources & Tools

• PMI PMBOK Guide (Sixth or Seventh Edition); CMAA Standards of Practice
• Frederick Gould and Nancy Joyce Construction Project Management (Pearson)
• Construction software: Procore; Primavera P6; Microsoft Project; Bluebeam Revu; Sage Estimating
• AIA contract documents; ConsensusDocs
• Florida Statutes Chapter 489 (Construction Contracting); Chapter 713 (Construction Liens)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926

Career Pathways

ECT4815 supports senior-level entry into Florida's substantial construction management industry:

• Project Manager / Assistant Project Manager at Florida general contractors (Suffolk, DPR, Skanska USA, Coastal Construction, Brasfield & Gorrie, Kast Construction).
• Construction Estimator with management progression.
• Construction Superintendent with project leadership scope.
• Owner's Representative at developers, public agencies, and program management firms.
• Construction Consultant at construction consulting firms.
• Continuation toward graduate construction management programs and PMP, CCM (Certified Construction Manager) certifications.

Special Information

Course Format

Typically 3 credits, 45 contact hours (lecture/seminar). Capstone project work substantial outside class.

Upper-Division Status

ECT4815 is upper-division (4xxx) and typically requires senior standing in a B.A.S. Construction Management or B.S. Construction Management Technology program. Students at Florida College System institutions take this only when enrolled in an applicable B.A.S. program.

Industry Certifications

Coursework supports preparation for the CMAA Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential and the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (both require additional experience and exam).

Florida Construction Industry

Florida's construction industry is among the largest in the U.S. and continues to grow. Major employers include national general contractors with significant Florida operations and the substantial Florida residential, commercial, hospitality, and infrastructure markets.