
Maintain the financial health of your construction company
From residential and nonresidential properties to infrastructure, the global construction industry is booming, with continued fast-paced growth expected. Thriving in this expanding ecosystem will require professionals who speak the financial language of construction management fluently, from development projects and investments to predicting and mitigating risks. Whether you’re managing a large development or smaller scale remodel, this course will help you learn to control costs, monitor project cash flow, and mitigate risk to ensure you are able to stay within your project budget and meet delivery timelines.
The Construction Finance Management course is designed to provide industry professionals with the two most essential skills in construction and development: finishing a project on time and on budget. Participants will learn how to control costs and monitor project cash flow and will get hands-on experience working on a breakeven analysis of construction tasks. The course is ideal for:
Finance professionals in construction/real estate/civil engineering looking to learn about the different aspects of financing and estimation specific to construction or infrastructure projects and grow their understanding of real estate finance for development projects and investments
Construction project managers seeking to understand the different aspects of financing a project and are interested in learning to predict and mitigate financial risks to ensure projects are completed on time and on budget
Construction engineers/managers looking to progress in their career by developing a better understanding of construction finance management and learning the fundamentals of budgeting and cost estimation for construction projects
Founders/senior executives of construction and real estate firms who want to understand finance and cost estimation for small- and large-scale projects, how to calculate the profitability of projects before they begin, and the profitability and risks involved in their current as well as future undertakings
Investors in construction/real-estate/private equity looking to gain a deeper understanding of financing in this sector, identifying the financial viability of the project, and making calculated investments that yield profits
200+ Video Lectures
10 Discussions
14 Assignments
3 Live Webinars
5 Real-World Examples
This 12-week course provides a deeper understanding of real estate finance for development projects and investments, including budgeting, cost estimating, and predicting and mitigating risks.
Learn about the stages in construction design, measurements, cut and fill, concrete curing and takeoff, and quantifying the rebar with regard to cost estimation.
Learn how to calculate steel and formwork costs and delve into how to price the material, labor, and equipment costs of a construction project.
Master the mechanics behind creating a construction estimate and understanding the final stages of the construction phase, including procurement, postcontract, punch lists, and turnover.
Explore the various cost control methods, learn the concept of and calculations behind the Earned Value Method (EVM) and master project punch lists and project closeouts.
Understand how to manage cash flow using two different accounting methods and how payment cycles and retainage impact cash flow in a construction project.
Learn how to control costs for large programs and explore how technology impacts cost estimation and management in construction projects.
Discover how to calculate the different types of interest rates and create cash flow diagrams while understanding the concepts behind calculating uniform series, Net Present Value (NPV), and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR).
Gain an introduction to the feasibility study and how it can be used to evaluate development projects while learning three ways to compare the sales price, gain, and return on a real estate investment.
Understand different construction loans, the development cost worksheet, and how Net Present Value (NPV) is applicable for the lender or sponsor of a development project.
Learn about decision tree analysis, how to make decisions based on the results, and how to calculate terminal branch probabilities to leverage them in your decision-making process.
Learn about the various stakeholders in construction project finance, what financial risks they are exposed to, and how borrowing or partnerships play a role in that risk.
Learn the Lean Theory, how it can be applied to cost estimating and construction finance, and how lean methods can play a role in identifying as well as mitigating financial risk in any construction project.

Senior Lecturer of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia Engineering; Founding Director, Global Leaders in Construction Management
Dr. Ibrahim Odeh is the founding director of the Global Leaders in Construction Management (GLCM) research initiative at Columbia University. Here he teaches courses in the ar...

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a verified digital certificate from Emeritus in collaboration with Columbia Engineering Executive Education.
How do I know if this program is right for me?
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
Are there any prerequisites for this program?
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
What is the typical class profile?
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
What other dates will this program be offered in the future?
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
How much time is required each week?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
How will my time be spent?
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
Completing your final project, if required
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
How do I interact with other program participants?
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
How long will I have access to the learning materials?
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Do I need to be online to access the program content?
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.
What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
How can I obtain an invoice for payment?
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
How can I obtain a W9 form?
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Who will be collecting the payment for the program?
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Columbia Engineering Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.
What is the program refund and deferral policy?
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
We offer financing options with our partner, Climb Credit*. Click here to learn more.
*Applicable for US Residents
Flexible payment options allow you to pay the program fee in installments. Click here to see payment schedule.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Program Advisors or call us at +1 315 840 3227 (US) / +44 203 838 0797 (UK) / +65 3129 4176 (SG)
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