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Daniel E. Cutimanco grew up surrounded by construction and inspired by an architect grandfather. This early exposure sparked his passion for design, construction, and real estate, leading him to pursue an architecture degree in his home country Peru.
After graduating, he saw the need to get a bigger picture of construction projects. That’s when he came across University of Miami‘s Murphy Construction Programme. Seeing the chance to merge his unique interests and realising a “lifelong dream” to study at a top US university, he knew he’d found the ideal programme in the Master of Science in Construction Management.
“The University of Miami provided everything I was looking for — a strong culture, a close-knit community, and a shared commitment to building a better future through high-quality education,” Cutimanco says.
The University of Miami’s Murphy Construction Programme develops future leaders through an innovative, hands-on curriculum focused on sustainability. Source: University of Miami
Building future construction management leaders
Nestled in the vibrant Sunshine State of Florida, the University of Miami is one of America’s top research universities. It holds the highest and most coveted “Research 1: Very High Spending and Doctorate Production” status for spending at least US$50 million annually for research and awarding 70 or more research doctorates each year. Only 187 institutions hold this “R1” designation in 2025.
The university’s location fits its prestige: a city known for its diversity, innovation, and rapid growth. As Miami’s skyline continues to evolve, so does the university’s commitment to shaping the future of construction.
To meet the industry’s growing demands, the Murphy Construction Programme provides multiple pathways, including a Master of Science in Construction Management, a Master of Science in Executive Construction Management, and certificates in Construction Management and Sustainable Construction.
Each programme is all about shaping future leaders in the construction industry. Key topics like sustainability, resiliency, project management, and building information modelling give you a headstart in helping solve the industry’s top challenges. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to take on complex building and infrastructure projects and help create the cities of tomorrow.
Preparing students for the next era of global construction
The Murphy Construction Programme stands out for its STEM-focused, interdisciplinary approach. Offered jointly by the College of Engineering and the School of Architecture, it brings together expertise from multiple fields.
Collaboration and innovation are the norm here, not exceptions. This integrated perspective ensures you’re not only technically proficient but also strategic thinkers capable of bridging gaps across disciplines.
“There was a lot of benefit to the variety and structure of the classes,” says master’s student Christian Lausell from Puerto Rico. “A lot of them focused on people and leadership. The others focused on logistics and efficiency which helps you consider constraints, limits, and prioritisation. This accompanied with some design and architecture classes helped us all develop well rounded skills.”
For Cutimanco, diving into different disciplines is helping him realise one of his goals: becoming a connector between different stakeholders. “Collaboration is essential in this industry, and the multidisciplinary training I received during my master’s, combined with the application of STEM tools, has empowered me to pursue this mission of creatively building bridges of communication and creating opportunities, incorporating data, methods, processes, and standards,” says Cutimanco.
It’s a high-impact approach, loved by graduates not just for making coursework interesting but setting them apart as job candidates.
“The construction management programme was far more practical and developmental compared to my intense undergraduate degree, my UM MBA in finance, and my UM MSAE in structures and systems,” says Jason Houston, Class of 2024, who now works as a junior structural engineer. “It taught me how the industry truly works — who the key stakeholders are, how they interact and sometimes conflict, and what motivates each one.”
Through hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and leadership development, the programme prepares graduates to tackle challenges and make a lasting impact in construction. Source: University of Miami
Learning from the best, within and beyond campus
Based in a bustling city, the University of Miami offers a front-row seat to a booming construction scene. With commercial and residential projects shaping the skyline, students gain hands-on learning experiences in what feels like a living laboratory.
“We have done two different site visits to a Coastal Construction project,” says
Patrick Balters, Class of 2025. “I thought it was really interesting to see these sites up close and how what we learn in class is being applied in the field.”
Industry connections are another key strength of the programme. The Industry Advisory Board — composed of leaders from top construction firms such as AECOM, Kast Construction and Coastal Construction — actively mentors students, helps shape the curriculum and provides internship opportunities. ”
Meeting people in the industry first gave me perspective on what the industry had to offer and the different job opportunities available in various sectors,” Houston says. “More importantly, whenever we looked at case studies in my classes, I knew the experts who had worked on each problem — I could pick up the phone, call them, and ask how they solved the problem in real life.”
Insights and immediate impact
Designed for working professionals, most classes are held in the evenings and on weekends, allowing you to apply what you learn almost immediately to your job. As the programme includes an internship, you’ll get to further test and refine your newly acquired skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.
Cutimanco completed his internship at the University of Miami’s Facilities – Design & Construction Office, where he analysed scopes, developed conceptual schedules, reviewed construction documents, and assessed the constructability of designs. “It was a great experience for me, especially being involved in some landmark projects for UM’s 100th anniversary under the guidance of incredible mentors who introduced me to the diverse career paths within the construction industry,” he says.
Today, Lausell, an assistant project manager at a healthcare construction company, leans a lot of what he mastered from his Miami internship. He calls it one of the programme’s three features that has made the most lasting impact on his career. “Having the internship programme which gets people to apply what they know early and allows for quick learning once you actually start working,” he says.
Learn more about the Murphy Construction Programme at the University of Miami.
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