FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2005

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - With an abundance of new building projects taking place throughout San Diego County, the construction industry is vital to our region.

San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies offers numerous classes for the construction-related certificate programs, including Professional Certificates in Construction Supervisory Series, Construction Practices, and Construction Inspection Technology.

The College of Extended Studies has long been a leader in the construction education field with its certificate programs under Bob George, CPE.

"The courses are widely popular," George said. "Students give us a lot of feedback saying the courses made a difference in their careers."

Each professional certificate construction program is taught exclusively online. Students are from virtually all 50 of the United States of America, plus such faraway places as Iceland, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Granada.

"The online courses are a lot nicer for the students and instructor," George said. "The bottom line is that students get an equally high-quality education with all the conveniences of an online class."

In the Professional Certificate in Construction Supervisory Series program, students may take three classes and earn a certificate in either On-Site Supervision, Project Management, or Supervisory Technologies. Participants may also take all nine classes and earn the Certificate in Construction Supervision.

The certificate program is based in part on, and includes, the very popular Associated General Contractors Supervisory Training Program (STP) series. Students will be issued an AGC certificate of completion for each course successfully completed.

Students who successfully complete the Certificate in Construction Supervisory Series will also receive a certificate of recognition from the AGC. Each course represents 45 hours of instruction.

The Professional Certificate in Construction Practices includes discussions bringing together those who share similar problem-solving and decision-making challenges.

To earn the certificate, students must complete eight of the following 10 classes: Estimating and Bidding I, Estimating and Bidding II, Construction Project Operations, Construction Cost Control (or Cost Awareness and Production Control Online), Construction Planning and Scheduling (or Construction Planning and Scheduling Online), Construction Supervision, Construction Materials and Processes, Legal Aspects of Construction (or Contract Documents and Construction Law Online), Introduction to Construction Estimating (Online), or Construction Blueprint Reading (Online).

This program is authorized by SDSU's Colleges of Business Administration and Engineering, and is offered in cooperation with the San Diego Chapters of the Associated General Contractors of America, the International Conference of Building Officials, and the San Diego Council of Engineering Laboratories.

The Professional Certificate in Construction Inspection Technology program has been redesigned to provide the student with a variety of inspection skills. Students will become familiar with the specific or recognized code sections that apply to each discipline. Additionally, the student will learn the basics of laboratory and field testing, underground utilities, building rough-in and top-out inspections, report writing, and an overall understanding of the roles of the building inspector and special inspector.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies offers a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 30 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. For more information on the cutting-edge opportunities offered in the trades, or other programs, visit the College's web site at www.NeverStopLearning.net.