1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Design
  3. Majors, Minors and Specialisations
  4. Construction

Construction

Bachelor of DesignMajorYear: 2018

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Overview

The Construction major tackles the complexity of managing the people, designs, processes and materials necessary to construct buildings and infrastructure. Good construction managers must understand the physics of structures, construction methodologies, the properties of materials, and the consequences of design decisions, as well as construction law, good management techniques and the economics of building. The major emphasises learning through real world examples and case studies with frequent site visits, and engagement by guest speakers from Melbourne’s construction industry.

Construction major students are able to take Double Majors with any of the other Bachelor of Design disciplines including Architecture, Property, Urban Planning, or Civil Engineering. Further information on double majors can be found here . Graduates from the Construction major in the Bachelor of Design can work in construction management or quantity surveying in Australia or internationally, and are ideally prepared to continue with further studies in the Masters of Construction Management. For more information on the Masters of Construction Management, please visit http://msd.unimelb.edu.au/.

Intended learning outcomes


As well as the attributes generic to all Bachelor of Design alumni, graduates from the Construction major will have demonstrated:

  • an in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of construction management within the broader context of the natural, designed and built environment.
  • design skills to enable the proposal and testing of effective construction techniques and management strategies to be used to deliver domestic, commercial and industrial building types both locally and globally.
  • an understanding of stakeholder roles within construction companies and the broader designed and built environment.
  • cognitive, design interpretative, technical, interpersonal, professional, business and management skills that demonstrate the ability to synthesize complex information then plan, organise, lead and control a construction project to completion within cost, time and quality parameters.
  • a critical appreciation of the social, economic, environmental, ethical, cultural and political context in which the construction industry operates.
  • knowledge of the structural design principles and material properties for the construction of residential, commercial and industrial buildings and the construction practices associated with these.
  • understanding of construction management theory and its application to the production of the built environment particularly from a cost, time, design integrity and quality and sustainability perspective
  • the ability to interpret project design, construction and related documentation and communicate various construction alternatives through written reports, sketches, drawings and verbal presentations.
  • an appreciation of the common tools and methods used to measure, quantify and estimate the cost of building works and the ability to produce a priced bill of quantities.
  • a general knowledge of the mandatory contractual procedures for administering the total project from inception to completion.
  • ability to work effectively both independently and in collaborative team situations in designing and evaluating appropriate construction solutions
  • an ability to pursue further study in accredited construction management and quantity surveying post graduate degrees.
  • ability to communicate well and appropriately with peers and a broad array of construction stakeholders and leaders in the industry

Last updated: 18 December 2020