Concrete Industry Management (CIM)

DEGREE PROGRAM FOR CAREERS IN CONCRETE

The need for people with enhanced technical, communication and management skills to meet the growing demands of the progressively changing concrete industry of the 21st Century prompted the development of the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. The goal of the CIM program is to produce broadly educated, articulate graduates grounded in basic construction management, who are knowledgeable of concrete technology and techniques and who are able to manage people and systems and to promote products or services related to the concrete industry. The CIM Program is a joint initiative between member institutions and leaders from the concrete industry. It provides students the opportunity to enter a field that has an urgent need for professionals with the skills to meet the growing demands of a progressive, changing concrete industry.This broad education provides CIM graduates a broad career field…sales, operations, project and production management, tech services…within the concrete industry… concrete producers; cement, admix, or equipment manufacturing; concrete or general contracting; developers.

The CIM curriculum was developed using input from leaders of both the concrete and construction industries. The curriculum includes general studies requirements, business and engineering classes, construction management coursework, concrete industry-related courses and internships that provide practical experience and many times result in a permanent position upon graduation.

CIM has tremendous support from the concrete industry. The need for such a program was recognized in 1994 and was put into action by the concrete industry. What resulted was a partnership between the concrete industry and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) to develop the CIM program. The result has been a successful program for both the industry and the graduates. This success coupled with the continued need for industry-educated graduates, has brought about the expansion of the CIM program to Arizona State University; California State University, Chico; and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.