Kiewit Corp. leads $6.6M investment to create new CSU construction engineering program
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A $6.6 million investment led by construction and engineering giant Kiewit Corp. will enable Colorado State University to launch a new construction engineering degree program starting in fall 2025.
In this new interdisciplinary program, students will learn to design, manage, and build significant construction projects from start to finish. The new program was developed in partnership with industry and will be taught by top faculty in two highly recognized departments: the Department of Construction Management, in the College of Health and Human Sciences, and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering.
CSU construction management alumnus Doug Patterson (’76), a retired Kiewit executive, helped lead a $3 million gift from Kiewit and $1 million from the Patterson Family Group to start the program.
The legacy of late CSU civil engineering alumnus Walter Scott, Jr. (’53) also led to a $2.6 million gift from the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation to fund scholarships for high achieving CSU Construction Engineering majors.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to give back to the school that prepared me so well for my career, “said Patterson. “Through this gift, I hope to bolster CSU’s ability to create and offer the most sought after, top degree program in the country.”
“We are immensely grateful for this investment from our industry-leading partners at Kiewit and from the Patterson Family Group,” said CSU President Amy Parsons. “Their visionary gifts will build on CSU’s historic strengths in construction management and civil engineering to establish the nation’s premiere Construction Engineering program. The new program will prepare generations of students for leadership in this high-growth industry. Students will benefit from close industry collaboration and advanced curriculum, and will have opportunities to receive scholarships funded by the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation. Our sincerest appreciation goes to the Scott Foundation, to Kiewit and to CSU alumnus Doug Patterson, who championed support for this new program. Together, these generous gifts will transform our capacity to prepare a highly skilled workforce that will power the industry.”
The new construction engineering program will meet emerging industry demands by developing the next generation of experts to design and build for tomorrow. Students will obtain a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering, and focus their courses in one of three areas:
- Heavy civil infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, highways and large-scale projects
- Structures and buildings
- Water and environmental systems that reduce environmental impacts
Incoming first-year students can apply now to start their degree in fall 2025.
“The College of Health and Human Sciences has a strategic priority to build programs of excellence in interdisciplinary areas with meaningful impact, including workforce development to address shortages in critical areas including infrastructure systems,” said Dean Lise Youngblade. “The construction engineering program makes CSU an attractive choice for students drawn to the dynamic industry of construction and broadens their opportunities to find their perfect educational fit for a rewarding career.”
The program will be administratively housed in the engineering college and guided by faculty in both colleges along with an industrial advisory board.
“Our expectation is that this degree will meet the increased demand for infrastructure renewal in our country. This also supports the industry’s move to integration of design and construction as well as leveraging AI and other advanced digital technologies to transform project development and delivery,” added Allen Robinson, dean of the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. “We look forward to working with construction management colleagues and our industry partners to help solve the many engineering grand challenges facing our nation.”
Construction engineering has a unique interdisciplinary curriculum in which students will learn to address contemporary industry issues, including how engineering and construction impact every project. They will learn to apply fundamentals in engineering, management, business, public policy, and leadership to work with new and emerging practices (e.g., design-build).
Instruction will also include:
- Industry-collaborative academic excellence, including professors with expertise in the construction field
- Enrichment programming with industry and peer mentorship
- Experiential learning activities in and outside of the classroom to help students understand and develop the skills needed for a successful career in the construction industry
- Innovative learning spaces
About the College of Health and Human Sciences
Through innovative academic, research and outreach programs, CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences is ensuring that people don’t just survive, but thrive. The College offers evidence- and science-based programs where students learn to directly improve the health, education and well-being of people and communities. Its students develop as leaders and innovators in the disciplines of apparel design, merchandising, interior architecture and design, construction management, nutrition, fermentation and food science, hospitality, health and exercise science, human development, education, social work and occupational therapy. students develop as leaders and innovators in the disciplines of apparel design, merchandising, interior architecture and design, construction management, nutrition, fermentation and food science, hospitality, health and exercise science, human development, education, social work and occupational therapy.
About the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
Experience academic and research excellence at the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, with $100 million in annual research funding producing more than one-third of CSU’s patents. Its state-of-the-art facilities, including the Powerhouse Energy Campus, provide collaborative spaces for students, faculty and industry partnerships. The College excels in climate and sustainability research in all programs, with top Atmospheric Science and Systems Engineering graduate-only departments. Undergraduate programs offer experiential learning and mentorship from pioneering faculty, empowering students to drive innovation in their fields.