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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) and Facility Management Professional (FMP) examinations

UCI DCE’s Facilities Management Certificate Program recognized for meeting the global demand of skilled labor in the field.

IFMA Registered Facility Management Program

The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education Facilities Management Program is the first certificate program accredited by the Facility Management Accreditation Commission (FMAC) of the IFMA Foundation under their category, Facility Management Registered Degree Program (RDP). The IFMA Foundation accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter the facility management (FM) field leading the way in innovation, emerging building technologies, and anticipating the safety, health, and well-being of facility occupants.

“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

Career Insight

Occupational summary for Administrative Services and Facilities Managers in the U.S. Source: Lightcast™ 2022

348,100
Annual Job Openings
(2021)
7%
Projected Growth
(2021-2031)
$100k
Median Salary
(2021)

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 IFMA’s Certified Facility Manager (CFM) and Facility Management Professional (FMP) exams
  • Program curriculum focuses on the core competencies recognized by the International Facility Management Association

Professional Benefits

Individuals with job titles and responsibilities such as facility managers, building supervisors, facilities planners, architects, designers, engineers, and building owners will benefit from these courses. A certificate in facilities management is not just 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 organization’s mission and vision. 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.

Erin Fitts
Alumni Spotlight: Erin Fitts is using her education to become a leader in the facilities field.
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
   Online   to be scheduled
SOCECOL X499.1
Facilities Design and Space Planning (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X499.1
 to be scheduled   Online  
MGMT X442.7
Leadership for Facilities Professionals (3.00 Units)
MGMT X442.7
   Online   to be scheduled

Elective Courses

TitleWinterSpringSummerFall
Facilities Management
ENGRMAE X429.1
Principles of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) (3.00 Units)
ENGRMAE X429.1
 to be scheduled      
MGMT X494.8
Financial Analysis for Facility Professionals (3.00 Units)
MGMT X494.8
 to be scheduled      
SOCECOL X497.1
Project Management Essentials for Facilities Professionals (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X497.1
       to be scheduled
SOCECOL X498.38
Managing Indoor Air Quality (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X498.38
 to be scheduled   Online  
SOCECOL X497.5
Energy Management for Facility Managers (3.00 Units)
SOCECOL X497.5
   Online    

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

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Academic Calendar

Event Spring 2023 Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Winter 2024
Registration Begins (after 2pm PT) Jan 19 Apr 20 Jul 13 Oct 19
Courses Begin* (week of) Mar 27 Jun 20 Sep 25 Jan 8
Courses End* (week of) Jun 5 Sep 5 Dec 11 Mar 18
Administrative Holidays Mar 31, May 29 Jun 19, Jul 4, Sep 4 Nov 10, Nov 23-24, Dec 25-26, Jan 1-2 Jan 15, Feb 19

*Actual dates may vary by program.

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Learn How To Earn Your Certificate

Earn a Certificate

Apply to become a candidate for the program: A Declaration of Candidacy is required to establish candidacy in this program. Complete the application and pay the application and candidacy fee of $125 (non-refundable). Learn more about the benefits of becoming a candidate. Candidacy is not required to enroll into individual course in a program.

A candidate in the program is awarded a certificate upon the successful completion of three (3) required courses and three (3) elective courses totaling 18 units, each with a letter grade of “C” or better. All requirements must be completed within five (5) years after the student enrolls in their first course. To receive the Certified Digital Certificate after the completing all the program requirements, students must submit the Request for Certificate to initiate the certificate audit process. Students not pursuing the certificate are welcome to take as many individual courses as they wish.

Continuing Education credit

  • Earn CEUs towards IFMA recertification
IFMA

IFMA members receive a 10% tuition discount*

Prepare yourself for Industry Certification
Accredited as a Facility Management Registered Degree Program (RDP), the Facilities Management certificate program is based on the IFMA eleven core competencies which make up the preeminent certifications for IFMA, including the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) and Facility Management Professional (FMP) designations.

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

Advisory Committee

  • Bill Conley, CFM, SFP, ProFM, IFMA Fellow, National Manager-Facility Services, Yamaha Motor Corporation
  • Jennifer A. Corbett-Shramo, CEO, Innovative Cleaning Services, LLC
  • Paul Howland, MBA, Principal, Steam Plant Training & Consulting
  • Diane Levine, IFMA Fellow, MCR, Executive Director, IFMA Foundation
  • 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

Career Advancement Network (CAN)

We are proud to provide our certificate students and alumni with newly enhanced career services that include one-on-one coaching, technology tools, webinars and workshops, networking events, mentorship/internship opportunities, and a rich collection of free online career resources. Learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does the program cost?
  • Fees for each course vary from $525-$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 $4,975. 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 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 EngineeringSciences@ce.uci.edu.

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.

Facilities Management Career and Program Information Session
Recorded 9/8/22
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