Construction Management PhD


The pinnacle of construction education

The M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management offers a concentration in Construction Management within the College of Design, Construction, and Planning’s Doctor of Philosophy degree program. The Rinker School is the longest running construction program in the United States. The Ph.D. Program is offered on the University of Florida’s main campus in subtropical Gainesville, Florida. For instructions on how and when to apply, see the Design, Construction and Planning website.

College of Design, Construction, and Planning's Doctor of Philosophy degree program Students


Areas of specialization within the Ph.D. program include:

Student and Ravi

Safety and Health

  • Unmanned aerial vehicles
  • Human-computer and robotic interactions
  • Jobsite safety and regulation compliance

Virtual Design and Construction

  • Building Information Modeling (BIM)
  • Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) visualization
  • Digital twinning
  • Data usage in facility management, maintenance, and operation
  • Lidar modeling

Construction Automation

  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • Real-time monitoring and sensor technology (e.g., RFID, GIS)
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Industrialized, off-site, and modular construction
  • Robotic systems
Aladdin Robots


Sustainability in the Built Environment

  • Building energy modeling and usage
  • Life cycle analysis
  • Smart buildings and cities
  • Resilience and disaster recovery
  • Affordable and sustainable housing
  • Innovative cement and concrete technologies

Project Delivery and Management

  • Lean construction
  • Alternate delivery methods and contracting strategies
  • Team collaboration
  • Effective training and leadership
  • Construction economics and finance
Students and professor at event


This major is for everyone passionate about construction

  • Those who want to give back to the construction industry and teach the next generation of constructors benefit from PhD degrees.
  • Those who want to work for technology companies who have construction-related divisions benefit from PhD degrees.
  • Those who want to become researchers in either academia or industry benefit from PhD degrees.
  • Those who want to become expert witnesses or consultants on construction related topics benefit from PhD degrees.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply to our Construction Management graduate programs, and we have a very active student chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

Students and professor at event


A master’s degree in construction management or related field is required to apply to the Rinker School PhD Program. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Graduate Programs and Research.

For a detailed description of the program, covering matters from application through to graduation, please consult our Ph.D. Program Handbook (PDF).

For a list of Rinker School faculty who direct doctoral students and their research interests, please visit the Research Faculty page.

Students and professor at graduation


UF Graduate School’s Helpful Resources

https://grad.ufl.edu/academics/editorial/tools/help

For additional information regarding the Ph.D. degree with a concentration in Construction Management, please contact:

Masoud Gheisari, Ph.D.

Dr. Masoud Gheisari

Director of Graduate Programs and Research

Rinker School of Construction Management
University of Florida
RNK 316/PO Box 115703
Gainesville, FL 32611-5703
Phone: (352) 273-1166
Email: masoud@ufl.edu

Joseph Carroll  e

Mr. Joseph Carroll

Construction Management Graduate Admissions Officer

Rinker School of Construction Management
University of Florida
RNK 304/PO Box 115703
Gainesville, FL 32611-5703
Phone: (352) 273-1181
Email: josephcarroll@ufl.edu

Students and professor at graduation
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