The Construction Technology Program at UM-Helena aims to address both the needs of the student and the demands of the construction industry in Montana and beyond.  Through excellence in teaching, we consistently graduate students who are employable and useful to the industry from their first day on the job.  Our graduates are highly sought after due to their exceptionally well-rounded education.

WHAT CAN I LEARN?

Construction Technology provides students with entry-level skills useful in the construction industry.  This program provides students with two educational options: a one-year Carpentry Certificate of Completion or a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Construction Technology.  The Carpentry program provides students with entry-level residential construction skills, while the Construction Technology program provides students with a broader background in the residential and industrial construction field, as well as some background in business.  Both program options only allow for Fall Semester entry into the construction-oriented courses.

WHERE CAN THIS TAKE ME?

The Construction Technology program prepares students for careers as contractors, subcontractors, project managers, contract administrators, building inspectors, and more.  With potential employment by contractors, engineering or architectural firms, developers, city or state governmental agencies, or equipment vendors, UM-Helena graduates are in high demand.  The Construction Technology program also offers the ability to transfer credits to another school within the university system and go on to advanced degrees.  The Montana Department of Labor and Industry’s Research and Analysis Bureau indicates that between 2002 and 2012, carpenters can expect more than 4,000 job openings in Montana.   

 

HOW CAN I EARN MY DEGREE?
 

The certificate, or one-year program, includes site layout, framing walls, floors, and roofs, as well as interior and exterior finishing.  The two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) program adds Cabinet making, CAD, construction management, metal construction, and masonry.  Students learn construction skills through a combination of classroom work and hands-on building.

 

Certificate of Completion Carpentry students take a variety of courses, including:

 

·          Site Preparation, Foundations, and Industrial Concrete Work

·          Floor/Wall Residential and Industrial Framing

·          Truss, Rafters, Roofing, and Stair Construction

·          Drafting, Blueprint Reading, and Housing Development

·          Windows, Doors, and Exterior Finish

·          Insulation and Energy Building Practices

·          Drywall Application and Finishing

·          Cabinet Installation, Finishing, and Painting

·          Technical Math for Carpentry

·          Basic courses in English, human relations, and computer applications

 

The two-year AAS program adds the following courses:

·          Welding Fundamentals

·          Cabinet Making

·          Basic Wiring and Plumbing

·          Construction Project Management

·          Decks and Patios

·          Masonry

·          Computer Aided Design and Construction Estimating

·          Spreadsheet Applications for Carpentry

·          Introduction to Business

·          Career Development and Human Relations

 

To see more detail about course requirements and course descriptions, click on the Catalog link to the left.