Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – South Texas College’s Construction Management program has signed its first-ever articulation agreement with National American University (NAU) that creates a pathway for students seeking to earn a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.
The partnership between STC and NAU now allows students to complete the college’s Construction Management associate degree, formerly Construction Supervision, to transfer directly into NAU’s fully online bachelor’s program as a college junior.
Signed in January, leadership in the Construction Management program at STC expects the articulation agreement to strengthen workforce development efforts across the Rio Grande Valley by providing students with a seamless bridge from technical training to bachelor’s level credentials.
Samuel Saldana, department chair of STC’s Construction Management program, said the agreement reflects the college’s commitment to expanding opportunities for students in high-demand fields.
“This partnership gives our students a clear and affordable pathway to continue their education without leaving the workforce,” Saldana said. “Construction Management is growing across Texas, and our students are already gaining hands-on technical skills here at STC. Now they can build on that foundation and step into leadership roles.”
NAU representatives said the bachelor’s degree prepares students for a wide range of careers in Texas’ booming infrastructure and commercial development sectors.
Graduates from this bachelor’s program can find careers as infrastructure program managers, transportation and roadway project coordinators, port infrastructure project managers, industrial construction coordinators and power and utilities operations managers.
NAU Chief Operating and Marketing Officer Brent Passey said students in the program range from younger professionals seeking to transition into management roles to “yellow hat” trade professionals with several years of field experience and finally “white hat” leaders such as a foremen or construction superintendents.
“This partnership with STC highlights the commitment of both institutions towards serving the community,” said Passey, who visited STC recently to present the new pathway to students. “STC is long established in the Rio Grande Valley. For me as a resident of Harlingen and a member of the NAU team, I look forward to helping bring positive impact to south Texas. There is a lot of potential for these students, and this partnership helps set clear pathways for them to advance their personal and professional lives.”
Under the agreement, students from STC’s Construction Management associate degree can transfer up to 75 credits into NAU’s bachelor’s program, which is comprised of 23 courses, equivalent to two and a half years, required to graduate.
Courses with NAU are delivered fully online in 11-week terms with 12 start dates annually, offering flexibility for working professionals.
NAU’s program includes core coursework in construction estimating, safety planning and scheduling, mechanical and electrical systems, project management and a capstone course.
Students can also complete business-focused support courses such as financial accounting, principles of management and human resource management.
With major infrastructure investments and industrial expansion underway on a statewide level, Saldana said the timing of the articulation agreement couldn’t be better.
“Our region is seeing growth in transportation, ports, utilities and industrial development,” he said. “We want our students to be positioned not only to participate in that growth, but to lead it.”
For more information on STC’s Construction Management program visit southtexascollege.edu/academics/construction/.
Information Source: STC
