The demand for middle level construction professionals is fast outpacing supply, even though a lot of institutions are churning out graduates on yearly basis. This stems from the fact that Ghana currently faces a huge infrastructure deficit and the Government through various initiatives is investing in infrastructure across various sectors of the economy.

These initiatives, such as the One District One Factory, One Village One Dam, Health Infrastructure Expansion projects, Free Senior High School classrooms and dormitories, have led to high demand of construction professionals. However, with the conversion of all public Polytechnics to Technical Universities, there is a paradigm shift from the training of middle level manpower as most TUs focus on running  Bachelor programmes. This programme is developed to provide that critical middle level manpower required to deliver construction projects.  

The purpose of the Diploma in Construction Technology programme is to provide the needed platform for the training of highly skilled middle level manpower with requisite knowledge, skill and technology to function effectively and efficiently in providing the vital link in the chain of operation in the building construction industry. This programme seeks to draw on the competencybased training (CBT) mode to train its students. This will guarantee the churning out of graduates with the prerequisite skills required to fit into the job market with little or no further training. The programme will employ both face-to-face and online platforms such as the Vclass, Zoom and Google meet to deliver lectures to students to protect its students and staff from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Aim of the Programme

To train students for middle-level manpower capacity so that they can support the country’s industrialization programmes.

The objectives:

The objectives of the 2-year programme in Construction Technology are to: 

  1. Equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge needed to undertake professional tasks in the construction industry;
  2. Enable students acquire and develop transferable hands-on skills demanded by employers.  
  3. Train students to acquire critical entrepreneurial skills needed to identify business opportunities and establish businesses to create employment for the youth;
  4. Train students to develop and apply the highest professional ethics needed to function effectively in the construction industry.  

 

Intended Outcome:

It is expected that at the end of the programme graduates should be able to:

  1. Apply the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the programme to undertake professional tasks such as drawing of architectural plans, design of structural building elements, estimating and supervision of construction works;
  2. Develop transferable skills such as setting out, concrete production, tiling, and the fixing of modern ceiling and cladding materials among others;
  3. Identify and establish businesses to create employment within the construction industry and beyond;
  4. Apply the highest ethical standards in their line of busness.

 

Students' Admission Requirements:

The duration of the Diploma program is two (2) years, and to gain admission to the program, an applicant must satisfy the following minimum entry requirements: 

  1. SSSCE Candidates: Six (6) Passes (A-D) in six (6) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, plus three (3) relevant elective subjects from the following: Physics, Elective Mathematics, Chemistry, Building Construction, Wood/Metal work, Technical Drawing/Engineering Science, Economics and Geography. 
  2. WASSCE Candidates: Six (6) Passes (A1-D7) in six (6) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, plus three (3) relevant elective subjects from the following: Physics, Elective Mathematics, Chemistry, Building Construction, Wood/Metal work, Technical Drawing/Engineering Science, Economics and Geography. 
  3. GCE: Passes in three (3) subjects (at least, one of the passes should be Grade E or better) at GCE ‘A’ Level including Mathematics and any two from the following: Physics, Elective Mathematics, Chemistry, Economics and Geography. In addition, the applicant must have credit passes (Grade 6) in five GCE Ordinary Level subjects including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject (for non-science students) and an Arts subject (for Science students).
  4. Mature Students: The applicant must be at least 25 years old, and show proof of age with a birth certificate or any legitimate documentary proof of date of birth, which is at least 5 years old at the time of application, with English and mathematics or SSSCE passes in Core English and Core Mathematics. 
  5. Construction Technician Course Part I (CTC 1) graduates can apply. 
  6. SSSCE/WASSCE holders who could not obtain the required grades (E8/F in English or Mathematics) required for direct entry into the programme shall undergo access course, to forster their enrollment. 
  7. Intermediate Certificate  Two holders must obtain a minimum of a Pass in Three (2) Electives including: Blocklaying and Concreting, Carpentry and Joinery and Plumbing and Gas fitting, and Pass in Practicals including a Pass in Three (3) Core subjects including: Core Mathematics and English

 

Employment Prospects / Job Opportunities

Areas of employment include:

  • Construction firms e.g. Building, Road, Railways and other infrastructure contractors (as Clerk of Works, Quantity Surveyor Assistants and Safety Officers)
  • District/Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies (such as Engineers, Building Inspectors). Specifically, graduates can be employed in institutions such as AESL, CSIR-BRRI, PWD, DUR, HIGHWAYS, FEEDER ROADS and other Tertiary institutions/educational sectors
  • All corporate institutions/organisations
  • Estate Developers (as Site Engineers/Supervisors) 
  • Entrepreneurs (self-employed as contractors, building materials merchants, building materials manufacturers and consultants)  Consultancy firms

 

Course Structure

FIRST YEAR 

LEVEL 100      SEMESTER ONE     (BLOCK ONE)

No.

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 101

Building Drawing & History of Architecture

2

2

3

2

DCT 103

Building Structures and Materials 1

1

2

2

3

DCT 105

Building Mathematics 

1

1

1

4

DCT 107

Integrated Project Work I

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

4

9

8

 

LEVEL 100      SEMESTER ONE     (BLOCK TWO)

No.

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 109

Sketch designs and Introduction to Specification

1

1

1

2

DCT 111

Building Structures and Materials 1I

2

2

3

3

DCT 113

Statistics for Builders

1

1

1

4

CLT 101  

Computer Literacy 

1

2

2

5

COS 101

Communication Skills I

2

0

 2

6

DCT 115 

Site Surveying I (Linear surveying and levelling)

1

1

1

7

DCT 117

Integrated Project Work II

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

8

11

12

 

LEVEL 100        SEMESTER TWO (BLOCK ONE)

No.

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 102    

Theory and Design of Structures 

2

1

2

2

DCT 104   

Building Structures and Materials III

2

2

3

3

DCT 106   

Building Science

1

1

1

4

DCT 108

Integrated Project Work III

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

5

8

8 

 

LEVEL 100        SEMESTER TWO (BLOCK TWO)

No.

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 112 

Construction Technology I (Substructure)

1

2

2

2

DCT 114 

Construction     Health,     Safety     &      Site

Oganisation  

1

1

1

3

DCT 116 

Sustainable Construction (Substructure)

2

1

2

4

AFS 100   

African Studies 

2

0

2

5

COS 102

Communication Skills II

2

0

2

6

DCT 118

Integrated Project Work IV

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

  8

8

11

         

SECOND YEAR

LEVEL 200          SEMESTER ONE     (BLOCK ONE)

No.

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 201 

Site Surveying II (Contouring and setting out)

1

1

1

2

DCT 203 

Construction Technology II (Superstucture)

3

2

4

3

DCT 205 

Sustainable Construction (Superstructure)

1

2

2

4

DCT 207 

Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction  

1

1

1

5

DCT 209

Laboratory and Workshop Practice I

0

2

1

6

DCT 211  

Integrated Project Work V

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

6

12

11

 

 LEVEL 200      SEMESTER ONE     (BLOCK TWO)

No.

COURSE

CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 213

Site Surveying II (Horizontal, Vertical And

Angular Surveying)

1

1

1

2

DCT 215

Civil Engineering Construction 

3

2

4

3

DCT 217

Industrial Attachment

0

4

2

4

DCT 219

Laboratory and Workshop Practice II

0

2

1

5

DCT 221

Integrated Project Work VI

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

4

13

10

     

LEVEL 200        SEMESTER TWO (BLOCK ONE) 

No.

COURSE

CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 200

Maintenance of Construction Works

2

2

3

2

DCT 202

Laboratory and Workshop Practice III

0

2

1

3

DCT 204

Sustainable Construction III (Civil Engineering

Construction)

1

2

2

4

DCT 206

Integrated Project Work VII

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

3

10

8

 

LEVEL 200        SEMESTER TWO (BLOCK TWO)

No.

COURSE CODE

COURSE TITLE

T

P

C

1

DCT 208

Measurement of Building Works

4

4

6

2

DCT 210

Estimating of Construction Works

3

2

4

3

DCT 212

Computer Applications

1

1

1

4

DCT 214

Integrated Project Work VIII

0

4

2

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS

8

11

13

Programme Duration
Programme Session
Programme Category