Professional Certificate in Construction Supervision

About the Program

Supervisors are an essential part of any construction project. To become an effective supervisor, you need advanced technical knowledge of construction practices coupled with an ability to oversee large teams of laborers, make data-driven decisions, and drive the project forward in the face of potential change and uncertainty.

SDSU’s Professional Certificate in Construction Supervision program is a comprehensive eight-course certificate program that will help you build on your background in construction and begin to take on supervisory responsibilities. With two unique specializations to choose from — an emphasis in either Civil Sitework or Building — you can become a better leader on the job site in as few as five months.

All courses are offered in cooperation with the San Diego Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.

Is This Program Right for Me?

SDSU’s construction supervision program is designed to help you acquire the leadership skills you need to take on supervisory roles at various stages of construction projects. It’s ideal for students who have experience in construction, as well as students who are transitioning into construction from another similar field.

There are no prerequisites and no application is necessary to participate in the program, which means that you can take any of our online construction courses. However, our construction supervision program is designed to build on your existing background in the construction industry. If you’re completely new to construction, 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.

Take a Tour of an Online Classroom

What Can I Learn?

SDSU’s Construction Supervision program is a variation on the popular AGC Supervisory Training Program with added material that include web tours, expanded topic studies, and group problem-solving sessions that address common industry issues.

You’ll be able to customize your certificate by specializing in one of two emphases:

Professional Certificate in Construction Supervision with an Emphasis in Building

If you’d like to take on supervisory responsibilities during the building phase of a construction project, this certificate will help you gain a more thorough understanding of the building process.

Professional Certificate in Construction Supervision with an Emphasis in Civil Sitework

Interested in job site preparation? This certificate will show you how to supervise the preliminary steps of many different types of construction projects.

Become a Better Leader

Construction supervisors utilize a range of leadership skills to perform their day-to-day responsibilities effectively. SDSU’s certificate program will help you hone these skills, which include:

Lessons are reinforced 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 how to become a better supervisor 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 certificate in Construction Supervision 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

The outlook is bright for construction professionals who work in supervisory roles on the job-site. 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.

Salary varies depending on your level of experience, location, and which type of construction projects you’re working on. In 2019, the average salary for a first-line construction supervisor is $66,000 per year. 25% of construction supervisors earn less than $53,400 per year; 25% earn more than $85,540 per year. In California, the average annual salary for construction supervisors is nearly $80,000 per year.

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 quickly learn how to become a leader on the job site and supervise projects of any scope.

Personalized Program

What type of supervisor do you want to be? In addition to six core courses, you can customize your certificate by studying either sitework or building, depending on which construction project phase you’re interested in working on.