Construction is more innovative and technically advanced than ever before. Today, with over 10 million employees in the US alone, the construction industry is a growing industry with a vibrant workforce. Nonetheless, the labor shortage remains a massive problem for those hiring, with over 89% of contractors reporting they can't find the skilled workers they need. Yesterday's manual construction tools and processes are very different from the highly-technical applications and devices emerging on job sites today. As construction projects get more advanced and more stakeholders are involved, technology has become a necessity on job sites and gives workers the opportunity to learn and apply new skills. Students in our Building Construction class will be introduced to a wide range of skills and career opportunities that will allow them to apply technical knowledge and skills in building, inspecting, and maintaining structures and properties.
Building Construction is part of the South Carolina Architecture & Construction Career Cluster. Students enrolled in this program earn two high school credits each semester and can earn a combined total of eight credits upon completing the two-year program. Credits earned will count as electives needed for the SC high school graduation requirements. One of the credits earned may fulfill the CATE/Foreign Language requirement for SC high school graduation.
The information below presets potential career opportunities, outlines our program's progression, highlights career certification opportunities, and showcases the experiences available to Enoree students. If you are interested in meeting Mr. Pearson and taking a tour of our Building Construction lab, we invite you to request a program tour. After-school program tours are available to prospective students and their parents in December, January, and February. We would welcome a chance to give you a tour of our programs.
The Building Construction one program is designed to prepare students to perform entry-level building construction tasks under the supervision of a supervisor or an experienced craftsperson. The course of study includes instructions related to cabinetmaking, carpentry, heating and air-conditioning system installation, masonry, plumbing, residential electricity, and safety practices. This program of study is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of occupational opportunities.
This course teaches students about residential and commercial Carpentry, Electrical, Masonry, and Plumbing. Carpentry Skills include blueprints, site layout, floor framing, wall framing, roof framing, exterior and interior finishes, employability, and communications skills. Masonry Skills include facing concrete and laying masonry units. Electrical Skills include basic wiring and understanding electrical codes. Plumbing Skills include working with copper and PVC pipe and understanding the installation process.
The year two building construction program prepares students to apply technical knowledge and skills in the building, inspecting, and maintaining of structures and related properties. Includes instruction in masonry, carpentry, electrical and power transmission installation, building/construction finishing, management, inspection, and other construction-related applications.
This course serves as the capstone for the Building Construction program. Students are expected to be able to apply each of the skills learned over the last three semesters across a variety of scenarios and situations. Students who excel in their program may participate in work-based learning. The WBL experience combines classroom-based education with on-the-job training experiences to help students prepare for and explore career objectives. A work-based experience must be planned and supervised by the school and employers so that it contributes to a student’s education and employability. Students must have access to reliable transportation.
In this role, you can expect to drive, maneuver, and control the heavy equipment and machinery used in a variety of construction environments. Successful traits include hand-eye coordination, physical stamina, and mechanical skills.
Salary - $49,100 per year on average, or $23.61 per hour
If you love the concepts of construction but don’t love being out on the job site, civil engineering is a great career path to explore, as people in this role spend a lot of time inside a trailer or office. Civil engineers design and supervise the construction of our world’s infrastructure which includes roads, tunnels, bridges, sewage systems, and more.
Salary- $88,570 per year on average, or $42.58 per hour
Project managers are responsible for overseeing various aspects of a project from startup to closeout, including planning, coordination, and budgets. In order to succeed in this role, PMs need excellent problem-solving skills, the ability to handle high-pressure situations, solid organizational and budgeting skills, and strong leadership qualities.
Salary - $97,177 per year on average, or $46.72 per hour
Each skill and trade requires a specific set of skills needed to master the content and job tasks. Below are a few critical skills and requirements needed to succeed in the program and throughout a career in this field.
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NOTE: Credits earned will count as electives needed for the SC high school graduation requirements. One of the credits earned may fulfill the CATE/Foreign Language requirement for SC high school graduation. Most 4-year colleges will NOT accept career center courses as a substitute for the foreign language college admissions requirement.