Clifton B. Farnsworth, Ph.D., P.E.
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
Risk is an inherent part of the construction industry. As such, it is essential to prepare graduates of construction management programs to recognize and deal with uncertainty appropriately. One way to help meet this demand is by incorporating risk principles throughout the curriculum. Dedicating an entire course to teaching risk management is also highly valuable, especially within the graduate curriculum. As the tools, methods, and processes for managing construction risk continue to evolve within the industry, academic institutions will similarly need to adjust their teaching strategies to help meet the need for their graduates to deal with risk appropriately. The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study for the design and layout of a graduate level course on managing risk in construction, and briefly identifies the key content covered and the techniques used to teach these principles. This paper further provides student perceptions regarding their experience, and serves as a valuable example of a construction risk management course.
Key Words: Construction Risk, Risk Management, Construction Education, Graduate Curriculum