Course Syllabus
Course Syllabus
Overview
The purpose of this course is to help students prepare to gain knowledge and skills required to estimate in construction. An in depth analysis of estimating methods, fundamental skills, the estimator's responsibilities, and computer software applications for construction cost estimates, are covered. Evolving estimating methods will also be introduced.
This is a 3 credit course, meaning that students are expected to dedicate 4 hours per credit to their coursework each week. Some weeks may require more, particularly if there is a looming deadline. Please plan accordingly by looking ahead.
Requirements
This section includes information related to required resources, course format and expectations, etc.
Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete CONST 285 prior to enrolling in this course.
Required Resources
This course uses free resources available through the BYU-Idaho McKay Library and downloadable content in the course files. These include:
| Resource Title and Description | Author or Provider | Edition and Volume | 13-Digit ISBN (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimating Building Costs for the Residential & Light Commercial Construction Professional | Del Pico, Wayne J. | 2nd | 978-1118099414 |
Proctored Exams and Assessments
This course is project-based and does not include proctored exams or assessments.
Structure
This section includes important information related to how this course is organized.
Course Outcomes
- Quantify overall costs associated with commercial, heavy civil, and residential projects.
- Learn to use the tools of the discipline (i.e., Spreadsheet design, Digital plan reading, and Digital Takeoff Software).
- Understand the different processes of creating estimates for different contract delivery methods (i.e., Design-Bid-Build, CMGC, and Design Build)
- Compare subcontractor bids and learn how to level differing bids.
Course Projects
This course is divided into three major projects. Each project has its own assignment category under which the estimating assignments for those projects reside. These assignment categories are assigned a specific percentage of your final grade for this course. An overview of each project is included below.
Project 1: Tiny House on Wheels (Residential)
- Students will work though several project estimate iterations, working up to a Guaranteed Maximum Price bid on a tiny home project.
- This project includes both individual and group assignments.
- Group assignments are scored as a group (i.e. all group members receive the same score).
Project 2: Provo Fire Station (Civil)
- Students reference the plans and project manual for a civil project for the City of Provo, working up to compiling a Final Lump Sum Estimate categorized according to MasterFormat.
- This project only includes individual assignments.
Project 3: Residential Custom Home
- Students will work though several project estimate iterations, working up to a Guaranteed Maximum Price bid on a custom home project.
- This project includes both individual and group assignments.
- Group assignments are scored as a group (i.e. all group members receive the same score).
Major Assignments
The table below is meant to help you see the relevance of each major assignment as it pertains to the course outcomes.
| Major Assignment | Description | Course Outcome # |
|---|---|---|
| W03 THOWs GMP Estimate | A Guaranteed Maximum Price estimate for a Tiny Home project. Completed and submitted as a group. | 1, 2, 3 |
| W04 THOWs Estimate Presentation | A recorded video presentation where student groups "pitch" their bids for the Tiny Home project to the owner. Completed and submitted as a group. | 1, 2, 3 |
| W10 PFS Final Lump Sum Estimate | A civil project estimate that follows the required procedures for accurately bidding on a project within the scope of the project manual. | 1, 2, 4 |
| W13 RCH GMP Estimate | A Guaranteed Maximum Price estimate for a Residential Custom Home project. Completed and submitted as a group. | 1, 2, 3 |
| W13 RCH Estimate Presentation | A recorded video presentation where student groups "pitch" their bids for the Residential Custom Home project to the owner. Completed and submitted as a group. | 1, 2, 3 |
Assignment Types
There are several recurring assignment types used throughout the course. They are outlined below:
| Assignment Type | Description | Learning Model |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Processes Quizzes | These quizzes are used to assess your comprehension of general construction, estimating processes, etc. They are based on assigned readings. They are open-book, open-note, and allow multiple attempts. | Prepare, Ponder & Prove |
| MasterFormat & UniFormat Quizzes | These quizzes are used as a recurring memorization tool to help you remember and internalize the various MasterFormat Sections and UniFormat Categories. They are open-book, open-note, and allow multiple attempts. | Prepare, Ponder & Prove |
| Whole-class Discussions | These discussions are used as an open forum to evaluate the final bids and presentation videos from each group for the Tiny Home and Residential Custom Home projects. | Teach One Another |
| Estimate Deliverables | These assignments vary by project, estimate type, and scope of work. They may require the submission of written summaries, Excel spreadsheets, On Screen Take-off print pages, video presentation links, etc. They may be individual or group assignments. See the specific assignments for more details. | Prepare, Teach One Another, Prove |
| Estimate Submissions | These quizzes are used during the Provo Fire Station project to submit your final number for each deliverable. As a civil project, the numbers and quantities will be more rigid than a traditional estimate, which is why this submission format is used for these assignments. | Prove |
Weekly Patterns
The table below displays typical weekly activities, due dates, and activity descriptions.
| Assignment Type | Notes | Due Date * |
|---|---|---|
| Discussion Posts | There are few discussion boards in this course. In weeks they are present, the initial post is always due at the Midweek Due Date. | Midweek |
| Estimate Deliverables | There will typically be two estimating assignments that require the submission of a file each week. | Midweek/End of Week |
| Additional Estimating Activities | Depending on the project and week, these may include estimating group discussions, estimate submissions, etc. | Midweek/End of Week |
| Construction Process Quizzes | See above | End of Week |
| Master/UniFormat Quizzes | See above | End of Week |
*Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone. See specific assignments for due dates.
Group Work
This course involves heavy group work. The deliverables are such that working as a team makes sense. It also simulates the collaborative nature of real world construction work. Group assignments will be labeled as such, and provisions are taken to ensure pre-assigned groups have ample time to plan their deliverables schedule and submit their work on time. Group projects will include a team member survey at the end where each group member will evaluate the effort and contribution of each of their team members. Your instructor will use this information to potentially withdraw points from non-performing students.
Learning Model
This course incorporates all components of the BYU-Idaho Learning Model, namely Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder & Prove, through a variety of learning activities and assignments.
Expectations
Feedback
You can expect to receive grades and feedback within 7 days of the due date for all assignments.
Late Work
As a sign of professionalism and respect, you should complete your work on time. This course utilizes the following late work policy:
All missing assignments receive a "0" once the due date passes.
This does not mean students cannot still submit their work for credit.
-
- This does not mean students cannot submit their work and replace the "0".
- This is an intentional mechanism to inform the instructor that an assignment has not been submitted and to motivate the student to turn it in as soon as possible.
All assignments have a grace period of one module week where late submissions will be accepted.
-
- Assignments will lock on Saturday at 11:59 pm (MST/MDT, Rexburg local time) of the following week after they are due.
- After assignments are locked they can no longer be submitted.
Assignments will receive an automatic deduction of 3% per day late.
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- The gradebook will prorate the penalty depending on what time of day the assignment is submitted late.
Please note that your instructor has the discretion to accept late work beyond the lock date or extend due dates as appropriate.
Extra Credit
This course does not include extra credit. Extra credit may be allotted by your instructor, at their discretion.
Grading Scale
| Letter Grade | Percent |
|---|---|
| A | 100%–93% |
| A- | 92%–90% |
| B+ | 89%–87% |
| B | 86%–83% |
| B- | 82%–80% |
| C+ | 79%–77% |
| C | 76%–73% |
| C- | 72%–70% |
| D+ | 69%–67% |
| D | 66%–63% |
| D- | 62%–60% |
| F | 59% and lower |
University Policies
Students with Disabilities
Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.
[This course may require synchronous meetings. OR This course includes required synchronous meetings.] If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.
Other University Policies
Student Honor and Other Policies
Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:
- Student Honor
- Academic Honesty
- Student Conduct
- Sexual Harassment
- Student with Disabilities
- Complaints and Grievances
- Copyright Notice
Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|