Anyone here currently in or recently studied and/or received a degree in construction science from A&M? My son is searching for a degree plan (currently a Senior in HS)and we were wondering about this one (versus Civil Engineering). What are some of the better jobs you can get with this degree and what about the money. Thanks for the info.

I work in CM/PM and i would recommend that he go with Civil. He will have many more options with that degree over a construction science degree (consulting and other service jobs).



I have a business degree, but looking at my co-workers this is what i would recommend.

Civil- Math 151, 152 and a bunch of BS

Construction Science- Math 141, 142
I am in the process of switching to Construction Science. If your son is like me and grew up working with his hands and liked to apply his learning then i would go with Construction science. If he is very into his studies and excellent at things like calculus then go engineering. With all that said I am horrible with engineering math. I can do business math and accounting. If he is really undecided he can start off with engineering. His math will transfer even though the course numbers dont match. Construction Science transfers have to have around a 2.9 to switch majors. Its getting very tough to switch. If he goes to engineering and hates it he can't slack off whatsoever if he wants to transfer. A&M has the Number 1 construction science program in the nation and its pretty competitive. Don't let him do General Studies. In my opinion you need to get a feel for what you're gonna be doing the next four years in freshman year. It makes no sense to take core curriculum and then think you know what major you want to be when you finish core curriculum. That just my two cents. Tell him congratulations on wanting to be an aggie!

I know a lot more about Civil Engineering than Construction Science, but I believe that graduating with an Engineering Degree is quite an accomplishment and will serve him well throughout his life. A lot of people believe that Civil Engineers can get the same jobs as Construction Science majors and tons of other types of jobs.

He almost has to be an aggie. The whole family is. That being said, he is only top 14% so getting an academic admit is going to be close. If not, he will go to A&M galveston and start in Maritime systems engineering, go a year and transfer into civil on the main campus. Does anyone know what GPA he needs to transfer into the civil eng. dept. Actually the program at galveston looks really interesting.

I don't know what the transfer GPR is. My guess would be around a 3.0.

I do know that there is a Constuction Management track in CE. Getting involved in that track would enable him to do construction science type things if he wants.

COsci is a better way to go IMO

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He almost has to be an aggie. The whole family is. That being said, he is only top 14% so getting an academic admit is going to be close. If not, he will go to A&M galveston and start in Maritime systems engineering, go a year and transfer into civil on the main campus. Does anyone know what GPA he needs to transfer into the civil eng. dept. Actually the program at galveston looks really interesting

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TAMU @ Galveston is underrated as a get-to-A&M option. he doesnt even need to go a full year. enroll him in summer school for 6 hrs. Summer I, 6 hrs Summer II then 12 in the fall and he can be in CS in the spring! i believe he only needs a 2.5 to do this.

To transfer to upper level in civil is around a 2.85 now. It's not very high because there's room for a lot of students (~1200). It's a great department, in the top 10 in the country. Personally, I think it's getting better because they are making several changes, including bring the 200-level classes under the control of the department instead of the college of engineering to make them more relevant to civil engineers. Also, due to big donations from the Zachry family, there will be more of an emphasis on construction engineering and management. CE&M is one of 9 specialties. Others are general, structural, transportation, geotechnical (soils), water resources, environmental, materials, and coastal and ocean engineering (it's own degree program).

Every class I've taken has been taught by the actual professor, and they all care about their students and want us to succeed. The department is very, very good at supporting their students during job and internship searches, student competitions, and research opportunities. Relevant internships and co-ops are STRONGLY encouraged. Full-time job placement has been 100% for the past couple of years. Civils are always in demand somewhere.

They have tons of scholarship opportunities and close ties with several engineering firms.

Thanks for the info guys. I think civil eng. is the way to go. We're going to assume a 2.85 is needed to transfer in from galveston, until we find out for sure in an official visit with an advisor from the civil eng. dept.

there's never sure gpr. it is a percentile basis

There are GPRs for automatic advancement to upper division; if you are a little below, they may still let you in. However, they may change every year based on enrollments.

Think seriously about the maritime systems then going the ocean and coastal concetration in Civil Engineering. The Aggie Network with the Ocean Department is unreal -- TAMU is one of the only schools in the area with the concentration and degree, so many managers in the field are aggies. Many interviews and come from connections the profs have with industry -- and the pay is higher than the average for civil engineers. Also, some of the best profs at the school are in the ocean department. Finally, the since the department is small, you see many of the same students for most classes, and the profs get to know you really well.

The Ocean concetration gives you an opportunity to explore both the ocean engineering jobs and civil. It widens your scope during the job search.

Best of both worlds.

[This message has been edited by hombre (edited 7/25/2006 9:49p).]

I would also suggest not shooting too low...a 2.85 should not be that hard, especially with less distractions down in Galveston. At least a 3.0 would be a nice start, college will only get harder.

If a CoSci major can you minor in business or econ? I am planning on law school afterwards. I know weird path to take but i need a good job in case i decide not to go to law school, something happens etc...

Yes you can minor in buisness or econ with a cosc degree. I think my sister is doing business bc it is just like one more class.

I have the COSC degree and work with Civil grads doing construction related things. I doubt there are very many COSC grads doing any actual civil engineering work. Both are good. It seems to me that a COSC grad can make more money early on, but a civil degree will eventually win out in the long run. Either, or...