Internship and Application Guide

The M.Eng. in civil engineering with a concentration in construction management is a professional engineering degree that is popular with students seeking construction management leadership roles in the industry. 

Built on the fundamentals of civil engineering, our program strives to balance the latest developments in construction technologies and software, and management principles in order to understand and solve the broad range of challenges confronting the construction industry and the built environment.

This 30-credit-hour course-based program is designed for flexibility and working professionals, with the majority of classes offered in the late afternoon and early evening slots. This format allows students to work full- or part-time while pursuing their M.Eng. degree.

Construction Management Specializations 

Vanderbilt offers construction management students the following areas of emphasis to tailor their construction management degree to their interests and desired field. 

• Healthcare Construction — explore unique challenges of building new health care facilities and renovating existing facilities while maintaining operational capacity
• Project Delivery Systems — engage with in-depth analysis of traditional and modern project delivery systems such as Design-Build, PPP, Design-Assist and IPD and their application for various projects
• Project Constructability Analysis — learn comprehensive constructability and risk analysis for projects from pre-project planning through turnover including modularization and prefabrication
• Building Information Management — gain a thorough understanding of BIM protocols, contracts and hands-on experience for designing and creating 4-D models
• Smart Buildings — explore why the design of Intelligent Buildings and Green Buildings continues to rise globally; be exposed to Green Building Codes and LEED^TM and WELL criteria
• Project Schedule Reduction Techniques — engage in analyzing risk for project crashing and examining cost-schedule trade-offs for fast-tracking 

The program consistently stresses the interrelationship of planning, design and construction throughout its studies and coursework. Interaction with the construction industry is enhanced through internship opportunities, project case study analyses, field trips and guest lecturers of national and international prominence. 

Furthermore, Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering was ranked No. 42 in the 2023 annual graduate rankings by U.S. News & World Report, and our construction management program boasts a 100% employment rate upon graduation. 

Vanderbilt’s construction management internship program is designed to immerse students in hands-on experience in the construction industry, providing an integral layer of applicable education outside the classroom. Internships are zero credit hours, making it no extra cost to students, but still appear on transcripts as a completed course. 

While internships are not mandatory, it is highly recommended that every student partake in at least one during their tenure in the program. Most students participate in two to three internships during the course of their study, often with the same company. All internships are paid competitive wages in accordance with industry standards. 

Finding and Securing an Internship 

Vanderbilt School of Engineering recognizes internship experiences as a vital component of our students' career development. We offer an array of resources and support services that enable our students to seamlessly connect with top-tier industry placements. Below are four distinct avenues of assistance: 

Benefits of the Construction Management Internship Program

The construction management internship program allows students to gain firsthand experience with some of the most prominent names in the industry. In the 2022-2023 academic year, students participated in internships at a variety of companies including:

Are you curious about what a construction management internship looks like in the day-to-day? Hear from current Vanderbilt students, Foluso Baruwa, Yash Kothari, Tara Avery and Jennifer Rigdon, share firsthand about their experiences as current construction management interns. 

Explore their stories to discover more about how a construction management internship can shape your future career.

Vanderbilt is dedicated to equipping future engineers with the confidence to succeed in their careers. To join our community of innovators, please submit the following materials to be considered for admission: 

• Online application
• Transcript
• Resume or CV
• Three professional or academic references
• A statement of purpose
• TOEFL, DuoLingo, or IELTS test score (if applicable)

Applications are accepted year-round for fall, spring and summer semesters. As soon as your application is complete, you will hear our decision within seven business days. You can explore additional information about our application requirements here.