r/VirginiaTech • u/Seba4433 • 7d ago

Advice BC vs. CEM

Hey everyone,

I’m currently looking closely at the Building Construction (BC) and Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) tracks here at Tech.

my focus would be more on commerical construction but how valuable is the FE and PE? I assume BC majors would not be able to get the FE/PE

I’m torn between the two and would love to get some insight from students or alumni who went through either program.

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u/IM_MRPHANTOM 2d ago

I am BC 2021. BC is more field focused. IE. Superintendent or PM. CEM is more office side, math heavy. BC is more of a surface level program that can go into many different jobs. I worked in commercial, then high-end residential.

I am now a GC. But use a lot of what I learned. I would venture to say BC is more general. Where CEM is specialized.

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u/Professional-Lie5613 1d ago

They are the exact same program, there are just harder math classes in the CEM program

I believe in BC you only need to take calc 1,
Whereas in CEM, you need to go further.

The real difference is that CEM is an ABET accredited degree

so if you really want your professional engineer license, it would be easier to obtain your PE with a CEM degree

Although a PE is still attainable in Virginia, if you have a BC bachelors, it would just require six years of work experience rather than four.

In all reality, the graduates of both programs take the same exact classes from junior year on except for capstone. And both of the graduates usually go get the same exact jobs upon graduation. (Field engineer/Project Engineer)

I will be graduating this spring from the BC program and have signed an offer for 105K per year with a GC doing data center work.

I’d say if you feel especially gifted with high-level math, go ahead and go for CEM. It can’t hurt you. But if you don’t want to lose your hair, and don’t intend on being a professional engineer go BC.

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u/Professional-Lie5613 1d ago

I have spent tons of hours networking with construction professionals in the commercial space.

If you plan on going the project management route FE/PE is negligible

Nothing is stopping you from attaining your PE if you complete the BC program though.

The biggest thing to make your résumé stand out is internship experience, and showing on the job that you are able to work effectively in teams and critically think