In the United States, concrete is a $100 billion industry with 600,000 people employed ina variety of careers. According to a recent report, there are 263,000 construction jobswaiting to be filled: the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a faster-than-averageemployment growth in the construction industry through 2026. Construction companiesare facing workforce shortages at all levels of their organizations. These are the peoplewho build the roads, bridges, dams and public works that keep America’s infrastructurestrong. Concrete is the foundation that keeps our nation’s office buildings, retail storesand parking structures standing strong. Further, concrete is also used to create some ofthe safest and most energy-efficient homes. Whenever concrete is required, there must be professionals trained in concretetechnology and management.   The concrete industry has invested more than $3 million in CIM. To meet the growingneed for concrete professionals, the CIM program is offered at four leading universitiesaround the country — Middle Tennessee State University, the New Jersey Institute ofTechnology, Texas State University and California State University, Chico. The concreteindustry has provided the resources to hire and support more than 500 CIM graduatesper year. To increase enrollment, the concrete industry offers scholarships to studentseach year. The CIM Patrons continue to play a major role in advancing the CIM programby supplying concrete professionals, association leaders and industry consultants whowork with administrators to interact with CIM graduates and make sure they are fullyprepared for a career in the concrete industry.

Frequently Asked Questions“ A d v a n c i n g t h e c o n c r e t e i n d u s t r y b y d e g r e e s ”

What is CIM?The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program is a four-year, business-intensiveundergraduate degree program that provides solid management skills, developedspecifically for the concrete industry, which can also be used in any industry. The vision ofthe program is to supply the concrete industry with future leaders while providinggraduates with the education and training needed to enter a broad array of career pathswithin the industry. The program gives students entering the concrete workforce anadvantage by gaining valuable industry experience early in their careers, relevant industrycertifications and awareness of the skills needed to succeed.

Why is the CIM program needed?

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EducationWhat degree is offered through theCIM program?Bachelor of Science in Concrete IndustryManagement. (Also see, “Does CIM offer anMBA program?”)

Which universities offer this degreeprogram?California State University, Chico; MiddleTennessee State University; New JerseyInstitute of Technology; and Texas StateUniversity. (We often refer to them as programuniversities.)

What is included in the CIMundergrad curriculum? The program includes a broad range ofcourses, from English and history to scienceand mathematics. A series of requiredbusiness courses, such as finance, marketing,management and business law are also takenthroughout the duration of the program.Concrete-specific courses teach thefundamentals of concrete properties andtesting, concrete construction and more.These courses emphasize problem-solving,quality assurance and customer satisfaction;they utilize practical case studies andinternships to help students obtain real-worldexperience essential to starting a successfulcareer. In addition, on-campus socials, travel toindustry meetings and conferences,networking and professional developmentopportunities and more are also available.

Are internships available to CIMstudents?

work at an internship, typically at an hourlyrate and for academic credit toward thedegree. CIM’s network of industry-leadingPatrons and associations provides studentswith quality internship opportunities,mentoring and more.

Can I transfer into the CIM programfrom another degree program?Yes! Since the program is built on a stronggeneral education foundation rooted inpractical math and science, with an emphasisin general business, transferring into CIM withprior coursework or even a prior degree iseasy. Transfer students can expect to take asfew as three semesters of concrete-specificcoursework, depending on transfer credits andsemester class loads.

Can I transfer into the CIM programfrom community college?Yes! Students can take two years of coursesnear home and transfer to one of the fourregional CIM schools to complete a bachelor’sdegree in just two additional years. If yourcommunity college does not offer an official“2+2” program in which all credits transfer, theCIM staff will assist you to avoid takingunnecessary courses and ensure a seamlesscredit-transfer process. Often, students whochoose this approach earn an associate'sdegree along the way with few to no extraclasses.

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Yes. In fact, all CIM students are required to

Construction Technology (research &development, technology development,building information modeling, virtualdesign).Entrepreneurship Owners & Association Management (atport authorities, transportationdepartments, facility owners,manufacturers, government agencies).Production Management (at ready mixedconcrete plants, concrete pipe plants,concrete block plants, precast/prestressedplants and quarry operations).Product Distribution (quality control,inventory control manager, cement terminalmanager).Sales and Marketing (for concrete &concrete products, cement & admixtures,equipment, contracting services).

CareersWhat types of jobs are available toCIM graduates?Graduates of the CIM Program are hiredthroughout the concrete industry formanagement positions including production,material supply, contracting andmanufacturing. Examples include:

Does CIM offer an MBA program?Yes! Middle Tennessee State University offersthe CIM Executive MBA degree program forprofessionals in the industry. It is a rigorousand highly-interactive program with a focusedcurriculum on the concrete production andconstruction industries, as well as majorthemes of globalization, leadership, strategyand execution. The 15-month program isadministered in 7-week blocks and includesdistance learning, webinars and on-campusvisits. For more information, visithttp://concretedegree.com/about/executive-cim-in-mba/.

Construction and Decorative ConcreteManagement (project engineer,project/construction/safety/operationsmanager, estimator, developer ofcommercial real estate).

What is the job-placement rate ofCIM graduates?Nearly 100 percent.

What is the industry-retention rateof CIM graduates?80 percent after five years.

What starting salaries can CIMgraduates expect?Starting salaries are competitive with otherhigh-tech industries.

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The Patrons group provides scholarships andin-kind support, guest lecturers and speakers,onsite field trips, internships and recruitingservices, and mentorship to students.

CIM LeadershipWhat does the CIM NationalSteering Committee do?The National Steering Committee (NSC)provides funding, oversight and direction foreach program university and for the overallCIM program. One key aspect of the NSC'smission is fundraising to grow, evolve andadvance the program nationally. There are fivecommittees under the NSC umbrella:Education, Marketing, Research, Long-RangePlanning and auction. (See also, "What is theCIM Auction?")

What is a Patrons group?A Patrons group provides a direct link betweenthe program university and the concreteindustry. CIM Patrons, many of which are CIMalumni, are concrete professionals, associationleaders and industry consultants who workwith CIM program directors and schooladministrators to ensure graduates are fullyprepared for a career in the concrete industry. 

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Industry SupportDoes the concrete industry supportCIM?Absolutely! CIM is a joint initiative betweenacademia and the concrete industry. Manyindustry leaders serve on the program’sNational Steering Committee, which providesfunding, oversight and direction to theprogram. Industry organizations also providefunding and support for the program.Additionally, each university’s CIM program issupported by a Patrons network of local, stateand regional concrete industry organizations.

Does the CIM program have a Boardof Directors?Yes. The National Steering Committee has aBoard of Directors that comprises a widerange of companies and organizations,including ready-mix suppliers, admixturesuppliers, concrete contractors, engineeringfirms, research organizations and tradeassociations.

How can my company get involved?Companies from industry play a critical role inour programs. Companies can becomeinvolved with the National Steering Committee(NSC) or the local Patrons groups. Companiescan be involved as a guest speaker, offeringinternships, job site tours, recruiting oncampus and by providing financial support.

History

How long has the CIM program beenin existence?Recognizing the need for people withenhanced technical, communication andmanagement skills, the CIM program wasdeveloped in 1996 and enrolled its first twostudents at Middle Tennessee State University(MTSU). The program has grown rapidly, withmore than 1,300 graduates and approximately470 students currently pursuing CIM degrees.

ContactTo learn more about the CIM program, visit ourwebsite www.concretedegree.com.

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A major source of funding for the CIM programis the annual auction at World of Concrete.Each year, the concrete industry generouslydonates hundreds of items to be sold throughboth silent and live auctions, with proceedsbenefitting CIM National Steering Committeeefforts to support CIM programs at the fourprogram universities. Over the past 12 years,the auction has raised more than $8 million—atestament to the high value the concreteindustry places on the CIM program.

What is the CIM Auction?

Why was the CIM program created?

To supply the concrete industry with futuremanagers and leaders while providinggraduates with the education and training theyneed to enter a broad array of career pathswithin the industry.