| Criteria | MSCE | MBE |
|---|---|---|
| Prior education and experience | Requires an undergraduate engineering degree, in any engineering discipline | Requires either: 1) An undergraduate CEM, CE or similar degree (3+ years' industry experience is encouraged but not strictly required), or/ 2) Any undergraduate degree and 3+ years construction industry management experience. |
| Continue working while obtaining degree | Generally, MSCE students pursue their coursework on a full-time basis at the Corvallis campus. However, many have opted to take reduced coursework and contue their occupation. Course scheduling may cause conflicts with work. | The MBE is designed to allow for one day per week class attendance; it is anticipated that many students will pursue this degree without interrupting their careers. |
| Flexibility of coursework | The MSCE allows for the most flexible course choices--each student custom-designs the program of courses to fit particular needs. | The MBE is a fairly structured program to provide a broad professional program. |
| Strong management content | The MSCE program does not require strong management coursework. | The MBE is designed for the student looking for an even blend of Construction Management and Business Management coursework. |
| Strong engineering content | The MSCE program is designed to encourage engineering learning and enquiry. Project/thesis research encourages development of engineering principles. | The MBE program primarily focuses on professional business and construction management development. |
| Build on your work experience | Students may continue their learning directly after receiving their undergraduate engineering degree, or may decide to further their understanding of construction engineering principles after entering industry. | To gain maximum benefit, students are encouraged to enter the MBE program after having developed several years of managerial experience in the construction industry. |
| Focus on research | The culmination of the MSCE degree for most students will be a graduate project/thesis that furthers—through research—the student's understanding of the principles of construction engineering. | The MBE encourages completion of a project, through a specific industry case study. Preferably—for those students who are sponsored by their employer—the study would focus on their sponsor's business or project management operations. |
| Develop an academic career | The MSCE provides the best approach for developing a thesis program of study in an area of personal interest. This program could provide the basis for later teaching and possibly the pursuit of a Ph.D. | The MBE is intended as a professional degree, creating skills and knowledge for those interested in putting into practice new principles of construction management. Those MBE students wishing to pursue further academic interests should consider pursuing a thesis option in lieu of the professional internship. |