Columbia University Announces New Graduate Programs in Construction and Sports Management.

NEW YORK -- In fall 2006, Columbia University's School of Continuing Education will launch a Master of Science in Construction Administration and a Master of Science in Sports Management. Like the school's six current graduate programs, these applied master's programs train students in the practical, real-world demands of solving today's business challenges in specific industries. These are part-time programs designed to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. These are the first graduate-level programs in sports management and construction administration mounted by an Ivy League university.

"The mission of Columbia's School of Continuing Education is to mount innovative programs that meet Columbia's standard of excellence and take the best advantage of University resources," said Dean Frank Wolf. "In the case of these two programs, the Sports Management program was developed with our NCAA Division I Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education, and the Construction Administration program was developed in concert with the University's Civil Engineering Department, along with outside experts."

The curriculum of the Construction Administration program is focused exclusively on the commercial and residential buildings sectors of the industry. It encompasses the increasingly complex process of construction administration, from design through build, essential for those charged with bringing projects to completion safely and within budget. Courses include in-depth coverage of key topics such as cost estimating and project financing, construction techniques, human and material resources, construction law, conflict resolution, and environmental safety and conservation. A number of the courses in the program will be offered by the Department of Civil Engineering in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Columbia's M.S. in Construction Administration is appropriate for individuals who have completed their undergraduate degrees and have some experience in the construction industry or related fields.

Columbia's Master of Science in Sports Management is a rigorous, industry-specific program designed to train students for management positions in all sectors of the sports industry. The curriculum is designed to broadly educate sports managers about the industry while providing industry-specific training in finance, personnel management, law, marketing, and facility/event superintendence. This combination of broad-based and industry-specific skill training is a hallmark of the program, and is evident in both the content of individual courses and the sequence in which degree candidates take the courses. The program is designed to meet the needs of a range of individuals, including: those working in the industry who would like to advance their; students with undergraduate degrees in sports or recreation management who are looking to complete a graduate degree in the field; retired athletes or those seeking to turn their passion for sports into a new career; and those with advanced degrees in business, law, or journalism seeking to expand their credentials in the sports world.

These two degrees join the School of Continuing Education's six current Master of Science programs in Strategic Communications, Technology Management, Fundraising Management, Landscape Design, Information and Archive Management, and Actuarial Science.

An information session for the Construction Administration program will be held on Tuesday May 23 at 6:30 pm in 602 Lewisohn Hall on the Columbia campus. An information session for the Sports Management program will be held on Tuesday, June 6 at 6:30 pm in 602 Lewisohn Hall. To attend an information session or for more information, go to www.ce.columbia.edu, call 212 854-9699 or email [e-mail].