What is Construction Technology?
The Construction Technology program at Somerset Community College is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the construction industry. Residential and light commercial construction applications are taught. This program includes instructional units in blueprint reading, building site layout procedures, foundation systems, light framing construction methods, exterior and interior finish systems, concrete forming systems, and construction safety.
Units of instruction are designed to include lecture and practical experience in the lab or on-site projects. This program also offers an excellent prerequisite for students who plan to pursue a career in areas such as construction management, civil engineering or architectural design.
The experience gained through the lecture/lab environment gives students a better
understanding of how certain aspects of residential dwellings are constructed.
The experience gained through the lecture/lab environment
Students in the program get to actively and physically do the work associated with the building of a home. Students also learn to estimate materials, as well as work on projects associated with each class being taken, from framing floors and walls, to cutting rafters and installing doors.
What are my career choices?
The Construction Technology program can lead to several careers in residential and light commercial construction, or get you started in business as an independent contractor. This program is an excellent background for many other career options such as architect, engineer, building inspector, surveyor, construction manager, estimator and even plumbers and electricians.
Are you already working in the construction industry but need to brush up on a specific skill? With the consent of the instructor, you can take an individual class for credit, like Blueprint Reading for Construction or Ceiling and Roof Framing, to give you that edge in the workplace.
What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?
Advising Plans
Certificates
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BRX 220 - Blueprint Reading for Construction | 3 |
| CAR 126 - Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 - Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| CAR 140 - Surveying & Foundations | 3 |
| CAR 141 - Surveying & Foundations Lab | 2 |
| CAR 190 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls | 3 |
| CAR 191 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls Lab | 2 |
| Transitional Class(es) (if needed) | |
| Total | 17 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BRX 220 - Blueprint Reading for Construction | 3 |
| CAR 126 - Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 - Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| *Electives: (Suggested Technical Electives) | 6 |
| Transitional Class(es) (if needed) | |
| Total | 13 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 150 - Construction Formwork | 3 |
| CAR 151 - Construction Formwork Lab | 2 |
| Total | 5 |
Total credits for certificate: 18
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BRX 220 - Blueprint Reading for Construction | 3 |
| CAR 126 - Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 - Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| CAR 190 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls | 3 |
| CAR 191 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls Lab | 2 |
| Transitional Math (if needed) or | (3) |
| Transitional Reading (if needed) | (3) |
| CAR 140 - Construction Surveying and Foundation Systems (can be taken 1st or 3rd semester) |
3 |
| CAR 141 - Construction Surveying and Foundation Systems-Lab (can be taken 1st or 3rd semester) | 2 |
| Total Credits | (12-17) |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 196 - Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs | 3 |
| CAR 197 - Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs Lab | 2 |
| CAR 200 - Light Frame Construction III - Exterior and Interior Finish |
3 |
| CAR 201 - Light Frame Construction III - Exterior and Interior Finish Lab |
2 |
| Transitional Class (if needed) | |
| Total | 10 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 240 - Light Frame Construction IV | 3 |
| CAR 241 - Light Frame Construction IV AND | 2 |
| CAR 140 - Surveying & Foundations (if not taken 1st semester) | (3) |
| CAR 141 - Surveying & Foundations Lab (if not taken 1st semester) | (2) |
| Total | 5 |
Total credits for certificate: 32
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BRX 220 - Blueprint Reading for Construction | 3 |
| CAR 126 - Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 - Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| Transitional Class(es) (if needed) | |
| Total | 7 |
| Class | Credit hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 196 - Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs | 3 |
| CAR 197 - Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs Lab | 2 |
| Transitional Class(es) (if needed) | |
| Total | 5 |
Total credits for certificates: 12
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 126 - Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 - Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| CAR 140 - Surveying & Foundations | 3 |
| CAR 141 - Surveying & Foundations Lab | 2 |
| Transitional Class(es) (if needed) | |
| Electives (*Suggested Technical Electives) | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
Total credits for certificates: 15
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BRX 220 - Blueprint Reading for Construction | 3 |
| CAR 126 - Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 - Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| CAR 190 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls | 3 |
| CAR 191 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls Lab | 2 |
| Transitional Math (if needed) or | (3) |
| Transitional Reading (if needed) | (2) |
| CAR 140 - Construction Surveying and Foundation Systems (can be taken 1st or 3rd semester) | 3 |
| CAR 141 - Construction Surveying and Foundation Systems-Lab (can be taken 1st or 3rd semester) | 2 |
| Total | 12-17 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 196 - Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs | 3 |
| CAR 197 - Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs Lab | 2 |
| Transitional Classes (if needed) | |
| Total | 5 |
Total credits for certificates: 22
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 126 Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| Transitional Classes (if needed) | |
| Electives: (Any five (5) additional credits, program or otherwise) | 5 |
| Total | 9 |
Diploma
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BRX 220 - Blueprint Reading for Construction | 3 |
| CAR 126 - Introduction to Construction | 3 |
| CAR 127 - Introduction to Construction Lab | 1 |
| CAR 190 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls | 3 |
| CAR 191 - Light Frame Construction I - Floors and Walls Lab | 2 |
| Transitional Math (if needed) or | (3) |
| Transitional Reading (if needed) | (3) |
| CAR 140 - Construction Surveying and Foundation Systems (can be taken 1st or 3rd semester) |
3 |
| CAR 141 - Construction Surveying and Foundation Systems-Lab (can be taken 1st or 3rd semester) |
2 |
| Total | 12-17 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 196 Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs | 3 |
| CAR 197 - Light Frame Construction II - Ceiling and Roofs Lab | 2 |
| CAR 200 - Light Frame Construction III - Exterior and Interior Finish | 3 |
| CAR 201 - Light Frame Construction III - Exterior and Interior Finish Lab | 2 |
| ISX 100 - Industrial Safety | 3 |
| Transitional Class(es) or | |
| General Education from Area 1 (Written Communication, Oral Communications, or Humanities/Heritage) |
3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| CAR 140 - Surveying & Foundations (if not taken 1st semester) | 3 |
| CAR 141 - Surveying & Foundations Lab (if not taken 1st semester) OR |
2 |
| Technical Electives (approved by instructor) | (0-5) |
| CAR 298 - Practicum in Construction OR | 2 |
| CAR 299 - Co-op in Construction | (2) |
| General Education from Area 2 Social/Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences or Quantitative Reasoning |
3 |
| Computer/Digital Literacy course OR demonstrated competency | 0-3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Class | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Technical Electives (This list is not all inclusive. Other courses may be taken as approved by the Carpentry instructor.) | 5-10 |
| CAR 150 - Construction Formwork | (3) |
| CAR 151 - Construction Formwork Lab | (2) |
| CAR 240 - Light Frame Construction IV | (3) |
| CAR 241 - Light Frame Construction IV | (2) |
| CAR 198 - Special Topics in Construction | (1-6) |
| Total | 5-10 |
Total credits for diploma: 48-51
Length of Program
You can earn an associate in applied science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
