UL Lafayette’s newest engineering concentration is already its fastest growing

Construction management, the newest concentration in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s College of Engineering, is already its fastest growing. Now, students are gaining hands-on experience with industry-leading surveying technology that mirrors the equipment they’ll use in their careers.

Launched in the Fall 2025 semester with an inaugural class of 50 students, the construction management concentration has grown to more than 110 students, making it the fastest-growing concentration in the College of Engineering, said Dr. Ahmed Khattab, the college’s dean. He expects enrollment to continue increasing as the Fall 2026 semester nears. 

To support that growth — and prepare students for Louisiana’s evolving construction workforce — the College of Engineering recently added advanced Trimble surveying technology through the generosity of alumni, supporters and an industry partnership with Navigation Electronics Inc., a leader in surveying and geospatial technologies.

“Construction is being transformed by technology,” Khattab said. “Our responsibility is to ensure our students graduate ready to lead that transformation. This investment allows them to learn with the same technologies they will use throughout their careers while reinforcing our commitment to producing workforce-ready graduates for Louisiana and beyond.”

The new technology gives students hands-on experience with site layout, mapping, data collection and project management. 

Construction management is offered as a concentration within UL Lafayette’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Technology Management program, the only bachelor’s degree of its kind in Louisiana. Students combine classroom instruction with practical experience in estimating, scheduling, project management, surveying and construction operations.

Learn more here.