Program Description

The Master of Science in Architecture: Facilities Management MScFM) is a collaborative professional degree program between the School of Architecture & Engineering Technology and the School of Business & Industry. Additional courses are provided by the School of the Environment, College of Education, and College of Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities. The MScFM is for students who have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning and wish to acquire an industry driven professional degree that enables the graduate to perform facility management services. Facility management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process, and technology. This MScFM require independent thinking skills and the ability to solve challenging problems through research, investigation, analysis, and development of sound and learned solutions as well as include a presentation and defense. Graduates are eligible to work in private practice, government, or industry and to be licensed as a certified facility manager (CFM), facility management professional (FMP), and sustainability facility professional.

Professional Responsibilities

The course requirements meet the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Foundation standards. Managing these areas of responsibility requires the merging of critical thinking, business skills, technical expertise, and research. Graduates will be highly skilled professionals (http://www.ifma.org/images/education/fm_career-map_02b.jpg?sfvrsn=2). The Florida A&M University model prepares future facilities managers with the knowledge and skills to:

1. Plan and organize facility function:
   1. Interface with professionals and clients in the design and construction of facilities.
   2. Perceive design requirements, their impact on quality of life and environmental issues, and their value in the engineering of facilities
   3. Prepare candidates to work at the local, state, national and international level.
2. Manage personnel assigned to the facility function:
   1. Coordinate efforts of in-house staff and consultants to perform specific aspects of the facilities management function.
   2. Evaluate performance and support personnel development 3. Provide leadership
3. Administer the facility function:
   1. Synthesize interdisciplinary efforts and act across traditional administrative, planning, and operational boundaries to organize, coordinate, and control diverse facilities and management activities.
   2. Analyze facilities needs and develop planning initiatives and effective implementation strategies that are responsive to specific current and projected facilities issues.
4. Manage the Delivery of Facility Services:
   1. Manage the process of facility development to complete projects on schedule and within budget, to a specified standard of quality
   2. Coordinate development activities with ongoing operations to minimize disruptions and maintain the continuity of facilities functions and economic viability.

Admissions

Students with any undergraduate degree may apply for admission. A typical candidate must be self-motivated, goal-oriented, and able to work in a context that is often individualized in nature. Due to the short duration of the curriculum path, students should have a well-formulated and faculty-approved educational agenda before entering the MScFM program.

General Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• Foreign students may also need a TOEFL score of 550
• A GRE score and a GPA of 3.0 and higher in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
• Professional Resume
• Professional Intent Statement
• Three references (SOA reference form)

Apply online through FAMU’s graduate school, where you also will find specific information about applying.