The Certificate in Civil Sitework Construction will equip students with career advancement skills in the areas of site work development including excavation, site utilities, and road way improvements. This online program will help students develop usable skills in understanding construction equipment utilization, civil blueprint reading, and civil estimating. The program focuses on skills needed by constructors interested in site development. Excavation, roads, bridges, and underground utilities will also be covered. Students will learn how to work with the earth, how to select, use, and budget for the best equipment needed to transform a plot of land into a developed site and how to utilize related construction documents.

Learn how to prepare construction sites for construction by earning your Professional Certificate in Civil Sitework Construction from SDSU Global Campus.

We have additional construction programs being offered, click below.

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About the Program

Before any construction takes place, there are many steps that need to take place when preparing a job site for development — including clearing, grubbing, shoring, and acquiring heavy sitework equipment to begin excavation and utility installation. Sitework is a vital stage in any construction project, and requires highly-skilled construction professionals that can prepare a job site quickly and efficiently.

$3,450

Total Estimated Cost

5 Months

Min. Completion Time

Online

Course Format

Textbooks not included.

Take an active role in the preliminary steps needed to prepare a job site for construction by earning your Professional Certificate in Civil Sitework Construction from SDSU Global Campus. All courses are 100% online, open to all, and run throughout the year.

Is This Program Right for Me?

Whether you’re already a sitework laborer and want to move into a supervisory position, or you’re transitioning into sitework from a different role in the construction industry, this program will help you acquire the in-demand skills that employers are looking for in their next sitework professionals.

SDSU’s civil sitework certificate program will prepare you to work on many types of job sites, including:

  • City projects
  • Highways
  • Government buildings
  • Schools
  • Residential housing projects
  • Bridges
  • Roadways

There are no prerequisites and no application is necessary to participate in the program, which means that you can register for any of our online construction courses no matter what your experience level is. However, if you’re completely new to the industry, we also offer two Introduction to Construction courses to help you build a solid foundation in construction.

You can log onto any course from any computer with an internet connection. Most classes have assignments with weekly due dates — please ensure that you can complete any necessary coursework for the duration of the course.

Services Available

SDSU is a State-approved provider for the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If you’re unemployed or underemployed, you may be eligible to receive full or partial tuition assistance on this program. Click here to learn more.

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What Can I Learn?

Before any actual building takes place, teams of laborers, engineers, and supervisors need to prepare the job site for construction. From excavation and stabilizing subgrade to installing drainage systems, septic systems, and other utilities, sitework is a lengthy and complex process —but it’s a vital step in ensuring that the construction project will be a success.

SDSU’s Certificate in Civil Sitework Construction will equip you with the skills you need to transform a plot of land into a developed site in preparation for a construction project. Courses cover a wide range of topics in the field of civil site development, including:

  • Construction equipment utilization
  • Blueprint reading
  • Estimating
  • Excavations
  • Roads, bridges, and underground utilities
  • Earthwork
  • Construction documents

Online lessons are supplemented by quizzes, which will give you immediate feedback on your understanding of the course content. You’ll set your own class times to complete the work due each week. Typically, you should plan on dedicating about five hours per week, per class.

You’ll learn about civil sitework construction under the guidance of a panel of expert instructors. Your lessons are led by active career professionals from all levels of the construction industry. Through their experience and extensive knowledge, you’ll learn what works — and what doesn’t — for job site leaders who are currently working in construction.

This Civil Sitework program is authorized by SDSU's College of Engineering. This means that you’ll be able to earn three professional development units (PDUs) per course, which can raise your career potential through more job opportunities at a higher pay scale.

Career Outcomes

Labor Analysis
Construction Laborers — Nationwide

Job Postings
448,000
Last 12 months

Projected Growth
+12%
Over 10 years

Salary Range
$88,310
Average Salary

The construction industry needs knowledgeable job site leaders who can take an active role through the entire construction project lifecycle. According to the leading estimates, there are currently more than seven million construction laborers employed across the country, and those numbers are projected to grow by 12% over the next decade.

Any preliminary work on a construction project requires teams of highly-trained, knowledgeable construction laborers. The outlook for construction laborers is bright; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently over 1 million construction laborers employed across the country, and those numbers are projected to grow by 5-7% over the next decade, which is faster than the national average rate of employment growth.

By participating in SDSU’s Civil Sitework program, you’ll be well-prepared for work in a variety of roles throughout the preparation phase of a construction project lifecycle. Some of these roles include:

  • Excavator contractors
  • Demolition contractors
  • Utilities contractors
  • Civil estimators
  • Construction Project Managers
  • General Contractors
  • Operations manager
  • Site development contractor
  • Paving contractors
  • Utilities directors
  • Military contractors
  • Field engineers
  • Heavy civil sitework contractors
  • Residential contractors building subdivisions/master-planned communities
  • Roadwork contractors
  • Transportation engineer
  • Earthwork estimators
  • Developer
  • Concrete contractor
  • City planner

Why Choose SDSU?

Accessibility

All courses are 100% online and accessible from anywhere in the world, which means you can earn your certificate on your schedule. You can complete the program in as few as five months, or take up to two years to complete all your courses.

Expert Instructors

The program is led by seasoned construction professionals with years of industry experience. Through their knowledge, combined with a robust online curriculum, you’ll acquire the skills you need to become an asset on the job site.

Customized Curriculum

In addition to four core courses, you can customize your curriculum by choosing between two unique elective courses — one in documents and law, one in planning and scheduling.

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In order to earn your Professional Certificate in Construction Estimating, you’ll need to complete four (4) core courses, as well as one (1) of our elective courses.

Core Courses

  • ENGR 0043: Construction Equipment and Methods
  • ENGR 0044: Practical Applications of Heavy Civil Construction
  • ENGR 0045: Estimating Civil Construction
  • ENGR 0046: Civil Blueprint Reading and Materials

Elective Courses

  • ENGR 0031: Contract Documents and Construction Law
  • ENGR 0032: Planning and Scheduling

Please see below for current course offerings by term*:

*Checkmarks indicate course availability.

Dates: SP ISpring I (1/18-3/27), SP IISpring II (4/11-6/19), SUSummer (6/27-9/4), and FAFall (9/12-11/20)

Core Courses

Elective Courses

Elective Courses (complete either 1 of 2) SP I SP II SU FA
ENGR 0031 Contract Documents and Construction Law    
ENGR 0032 Planning and Scheduling
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Registration Instructions

To register for courses in the Civil Sitework Construction program, please complete the following steps:

  1. Choose your courses in the "Courses" tab
  2. Click “Register”
  3. Check the dates and times to ensure that you can attend all
  4. sessions of the course
  5. Click “Add to Cart”
  6. Add more courses to your cart or click “Checkout”
  7. Log into your SDSU Global Campus Account, if you haven’t already done so
  8. Pay for your course(s)

Enroll in the program at any time, even before registering for a course. It’s free, and offers many benefits:

  • Secure your curriculum (should the requirements change in the future).
  • See upcoming courses when you log into your student account.
  • Track your progress.

Enrolling in a program doesn’t mean you’re registered for courses. You’ll still need to register and pay for each course you wish to take.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check my progress?

Students taking our construction intro courses can check their progress by logging into their SDSU Global Campus student account. If you need assistance with your account, contact our Registration staff at (619) 594-5152 or enrollment.global@sdsu.edu.

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Do I receive a letter grade once I complete my course(s)?

You’ll earn three units of professional development credit from SDSU for each intro course you complete. Other institutions may or may not accept this for academic credit; please confirm with these institutions that SDSU's courses are transferable before enrolling in our courses.

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How is the program structured?

Our construction intro courses are 100% online. Courses begin four times per year. You must complete all necessary coursework within 5 weeks from your date of enrollment. You’ll have access to course materials for up to 10 weeks from the date of enrollment.

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What is the program format?

Our introductory construction courses feature a mostly asynchronous virtual instruction learning modality. Courses in this modality feature instruction provided through a combination of recorded and limited direct instruction with academic activities, quizzes, etc., at the arranged times and dates described in the footnotes and syllabus unless otherwise noted. Content may be open for restricted periods.

  • Students may be expected to attend any live sessions necessary to complete the course.
  • Final exams or assignments will be listed in the course syllabus and may need to be completed at a set time and date.
  • Faculty and instructors are available for office hours and instructional support when needed.

Mostly Asynchronous courses may be preferable for students in different time zones as they provide the flexibility to work on your schedule at your own pace. However, these courses may require group activities and arranged meetings with faculty.

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Is there financial support available for this program?

Federal financial aid does not generally apply to our online construction programs, but you may qualify for other private loans from lending institutions, or employer-based tuition reimbursement programs. Please see our Financial Aid Information to learn more.

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What happens once I complete my intro course?

Your final grade will show on your SDSU transcript. You’ll also receive a digital certificate of completion once you’ve successfully completed the course.

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Click Here for More FAQs

Related Links

Request Your Certificate
FAQ - Online Construction Certificates
Certificate Programs
Construction Programs
Construction Courses and Schedules
Tour an Online Construction Classroom

This program presented in partnership with a third-party provider is not taught by San Diego State University faculty. It is authorized by SDSU's College of Engineering for professional development credit. Courses offered in partnership with third-party providers are not degree-eligible at San Diego State University.

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Want To Learn More?

Tell us who you are, the best way to reach you, and your message and we'll be in touch to answer all your questions and explain the next steps in the process.

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Core Courses

2019 Fall2020 Spring2020 Summer
ENGR 0043 Construction Equipment and Methods

Students will learn skills and methods to help advance their career in civil construction, advance your understanding in how to utilize equipment, identify and understand construction methods used to increase productivity on the job site, increase awareness in how to budget for and utilize equipment efficiently. Students will better understand safety procedures associated with different equipment, learn how to select and budget for the best equipment needed for the job and understand and apply methods used in utilizing construction equipment.

Course Date(s)

Register
ENGR 0044 Practical Applications of Civil Construction

This course will focus on techniques, concepts, and procedures related to site preparation, excavation, backfill, compaction, underground utilities, road and bridge construction. Emphasis will be placed on solving real-world issues. This is a paced, asynchronous online course. The course features a high level of student-to-student and student-to-teacher interaction.

Course Date(s)

Register
2019 Summer
ENGR 0045 Estimating Civil Construction

This course features hands-on estimating and quantity take off activities associated with civil and site work construction projects. Topics will include estimate formats, drawings and specifications, productivity, site investigations, soil characteristics, blueprint reading, quantities, measurement and costing. This is a paced, asynchronous online course. The course features a high level of student-to-student and student-to-teacher interaction.

Course Date(s)
June 24 - August 25
Register
ENGR 0046 Civil Sitework Blueprint Reading and Materials
Students will learn to understand and interpret civil construction blueprints and reading specifications. Examine the manufacture, and use of civil construction materials such as aggregates, concrete, asphalt, pipe, and geosynthetics.
Course Date(s)

Register

Elective Courses

2019 Fall2020 Spring2020 Summer
ENGR 0031 Contract Documents and Construction Law

This online course focuses on understanding the relationship between contract documents and the construction process.

Course Date(s)

Register
2019 Summer
ENGR 0032 Planning and Scheduling

Students will learn how to plan, prepare, and update construction project schedules in this online course. Through the use of case studies, learn how to define construction activities, determine activity duration, and assemble the activities into a logical construction schedule. Learn to create and use bar charts and critical path schedules.

Course Date(s)
June 24 - August 25
Register

Courses

2019 Fall2020 Spring2020 Summer