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Facilities Management

Overview

Facility management is a wide-ranging industry that is always in demand, offering competitive wages. It is the practice of coordinating the physical work environment with the people and work of an organization. This discipline integrates the principles of business administration, architecture, and the behavioral and engineering sciences. This certificate program furthers your understanding of this diverse field with an innovative series of courses focusing on design and management of facilities, from concept to installation, to long-term efficient use. You will learn from industry professionals on topics such as space planning, leadership, construction management and project management.

Who Should Enroll

  • Individuals who desire to enter the facilities management profession or other facilities fields
  • Professionals who are involved in the design or management of facilities, building operations, maintenance operations, construction, or occupational safety
  • Facilities professionals who wish to increase their knowledge in specific areas in preparation for the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Certified Facility Manager (CFM) examination

Career Insight

Occupational summary for property, real estate, and community association managers in the US. Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Intl.

207,643
Annual Job Openings
(2019)
11.3%
Projected Growth
(2019-2029)
$58k
Median Salary
(Highly experienced workers can earn up to $126k)

“I think online classes are so valuable. You can feed off of each other’s information to get the correct solution. When I was in school, we never had this opportunity and were not able to feed off of people who “got it” for help. I have obtained so much more out of these classes than I did the first time through college work.” Tim Meyer, Facilities Management
Certificate Program Student

Program Benefits

  • Broaden skills and knowledge of all areas relating to facilities management and other areas dealing with facilities
  • Obtain valuable insight about the impact of technology on the design and management of efficient facilities
  • Gain knowledge to help prepare for credential exams such as IFMA's Certified Facility Manager (CFM)

Professional Benefits

Individuals with job titles and responsibilities such as facility managers, building supervisors, facilities planners, architects, and designers, engineers, and building owners will benefit from these courses. A certificate in facilities management is not just an essential for working in the facilities department; it is also an asset to the organization. Today, customers demand that facility manager providers have intimate knowledge of all aspects of a facility while keeping within the mission and vision of the organization. There are two major types of facilities management. Hard FM and Soft FM. Hard FM refers to services relating to the actual structure and systems that make a facility work. This includes fire safety, plumbing, structural and elevator maintenance. Soft FM refers to services that overlap with property management such as pest control, cleaning, grounds maintenance and security.

Sign-in to LinkedIn to see what students are saying about their experience.

Course Schedule

Required Courses

TitleWinterSpringSummerFall
SOCECOL X499
Fundamentals of Facilities Management (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X499
   to be scheduled   Online
SOCECOL X499.1
Facilities Design and Space Planning (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X499.1
 Online   to be scheduled  
MGMT X442.7
Leadership for Facilities Professionals (3.00 Units)
MGMT X442.7
   to be scheduled    

Elective Courses

TitleWinterSpringSummerFall
Facilities Management
ENGRMAE X429.1
Principles of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) (3.00 Units)
ENGRMAE X429.1
       Online
MGMT X494.8
Financial Analysis for Facility Professionals (3.00 Units)
MGMT X494.8
 Online      
ENGR X441.1
Construction Contract Documents for Facilities Management (1.50 Units)
ENGR X441.1
   to be scheduled    
SOCECOL X497.1
Project Management Essentials for Facilities Professionals (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X497.1
       Online
SOCECOL X498.38
Managing Indoor Air Quality (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X498.38
 Online   to be scheduled  

Course schedules are subject to change. Individual courses may be taken without enrolling in the full program.

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Academic Calendar

Event Fall 2020 Winter 2021 Spring 2021 Summer 2021
Registration Begins (after 2pm PT) Jul 16 Oct 22 Jan 21 Apr 22
Courses Begin* (week of) Sep 21 Jan 4 Mar 29 Jun 21
Courses End* (week of) Dec 14 Mar 15 Jun 7 Sep 7
Parking Permits Expire Dec 31 Mar 31 Jun 30 Sep 30
Administrative Holidays Nov 11, Nov 26-27, Dec 24-25, Dec 31 Jan 1, Jan 18, Feb 15 Mar 26, May 31 Jul 5, Sep 6

*Actual dates may vary by program.

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Certificate Eligibility and Requirements

Learn How To Earn Your Certificate A certificate is awarded upon completion of 18 credit units (9 required and 9 elective credit units) with a grade of “C” or better in each course. It is recommended that candidates complete the required courses prior to the elective courses.

To become an official candidate in the program, students pursuing the certificate must submit a Declaration of Candidacy with a non-refundable $125 application fee. Students are encouraged to declare candidacy as soon as possible, but no later than after the third course in the program. To receive the digital certificate after completing all program requirements, students must submit a Request for Certificate. All requirements must be completed within five (5) years after the student enrolls in his/her first course. Students not pursuing a certificate are welcome to take as many individual courses as they wish.

International Facility Management Association (IFMA)

IFMA members receive a 10% discount!*

Prepare yourself for Industry Certification
UCI Division of Continuing Education's Facilities Management Certificate program has been designed and approved based on the body of knowledge consistent with IFMA's underlying principles on facility management. After completing this program you will be prepared to sit for the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designation available directly through IFMA, which recognizes competency-based certification in all areas of FM.

Please visit the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) at www.IFMA.org and the IFMA Orange County Chapter at www.IFMAOC.org for more information.

*Please call (949) 824-5414 for details.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does the program cost?
  • Fees for each course vary from $425 - $725 based on unit value. There is also a one-time candidacy declaration fee of $125, to be paid after your second class. Therefore, the entire program costs $5,236. Note that you pay for each class as you enroll, as opposed to the entire tuition sum at once. Please keep in mind that this cost does not include textbooks, which some of our instructors do require. Textbook information for specific courses can be found on our website on the enrollment page. Students may purchase textbooks from the vendor of their choice. Prices are subject to change without notice.
  • How long will it take me to complete the entire program?
  • It depends on how many classes you can take at once. A certificate is awarded upon completion of 18 total units, the 9 required courses and minimum of 9 elective credit units. On average you can complete the program in 12-18 months. Most students who work full time take one or two classes per quarter, depending on their work schedules and other obligations. You can take as many courses as you wish simultaneously, but we strongly recommend starting with one or two to ensure you have the necessary time to devote to the course(s).
  • Do I have to apply and be accepted before I start?
  • No. This is an open-enrollment program, and you will not have to provide transcripts or prove prerequisites before you begin.
  • Where can I find the course schedule? Do I have to take the classes in order?
  • The course schedule can be found here. You may take the classes in any order that you like. However, we strongly recommend that you start with Fundamentals of Facilities Management, offered in the spring and fall quarters.
  • Can I complete the entire program online?
  • Yes, this is a fully online program.
  • I've never taken an online class. How does it work? Is it self-paced?
  • No, the classes are not self-paced. Our online classes take place in an asynchronous online environment, meaning there will not be a day of the week or time of day that you will need to be online. You can log in when you have time to do so. However, the courses are structured week-to-week, from Monday to Sunday, and you are expected to log in multiple times during the week to keep up with class discussions and assignments. Some instructors may hold optional synchronous sessions which happen in real time. These sessions will be recorded and posted in the course for all students to access.
  • I am an international student / I am located overseas – am I able to enroll?
  • o Yes. As an open-enrollment program, international students are welcome in the program. Please note that if English is not your native language, enrollment in this program assumes that you have a working proficiency in English to allow you to engage in high-level academic discourse without any additional language coaching. If you are interested in taking the program fully online, you may enroll in courses via the Continuing Education website at your convenience and on a quarter by quarter basis. You are not required to have a student visa while taking online courses from your home county.

    If you wish to apply for an F-1 student visa to study in person at UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education (DCE), you must formally apply to UC Irvine DCE's International Programs and request an I-20. Please keep in mind that not all evening certificate programs are available to F-1 student visa holders based on the availability of classes that meet on campus. We cannot issue an I-20 for fully online programs. Please visit International Programs or email uciesl@uci.edu for more information.
  • Do you offer job placement at the end of the program?
  • No. While UCI DCE does not offer placement services, our certificate certainly puts you in a good position to find employment. Additionally, the networking to be done in the class can also be invaluable. Our advisors, instructors, and a good number of our students, are current professionals in the industry, and are an excellent resource for hiring trends and opportunities.
  • Is UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education an accredited institution?
  • Yes. We are affiliated with the University of California system of schools, and are accredited through WASC. DCE programs are all approved by the respective school within UCI. For more information, please visit UCI Accreditation.
  • What is the “declaration of candidacy”? When do I have to complete it?
  • The declaration of candidacy can be thought of as declaring your major for the certificate program. This lets our student services know that you intend to complete the entire program, and puts you on track for the certificate when you have completed all requirements. We strongly recommend that you complete the declaration of candidacy and pay the applicable fee before enrolling into your third class.
  • Are there scholarships or financial aid available for this program?
  • Since UCI DCE is the continuing education unit of the university, we do not offer/accept any federal financial aid or scholarships. If you take courses through us, you may apply directly to private lenders like Wells Fargo for funding. It is recommended that you begin the loan application process early as UCI DCE does not enroll students in courses until payment is received, and applying for a loan does not reserve a space in the course. For more information, please visit Student Loan Programs. If you have any questions regarding student loans, please contact Student Services at 949-824-5414. For more financial information, please go to Financial Information.
  • I can't find the answer to my question.
  • If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Kadie Heck at kadie.heck@uci.edu or (949) 824-7648.

Advisory Committee

  • Paul Howland, MBA, Principal, Steam Plant Training & Consulting
  • Phyllis Meng, CFM, SFP, IFMA Fellow, Principal, Meng Associates
  • Jerry Nearhoof, Assistant Director, Utilities Operations Facilities Management, University of California, Irvine
  • John D. Secor, Principal Architect, Archetype International

On-site Training Available

Our Corporate Training specialists can deliver this program or customize one that fits your organization’s specific needs. Visit Corporate Training or call (949) 824-1847 for information.

English Proficiency Requirement
All certificate programs at UCI Division of Continuing Education (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.

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