Masters Program Statement of Purpose

¶ … Master's program in Building Construction at ____University is the logical next step in my career for a number of reasons. I own a small construction business, and the degree will enhance both my abilities and my credibility within the industry. I am an African-American female, in a business where people like me are relatively uncommon, much less as owners of a business.

There are a lot of barriers that I have had to overcome to get to this position, but there are many more barriers that need to be overcome still in order for me to achieve my goals in life, and with this business. I am well aware of the reality that many minorities fail in business not for lack of talent but for lack of business knowledge, in addition to the challenges faced in an industry where diversity and inclusion at the leadership level remain lagging.

I see this degree as an opportunity for me to overcome some of the barriers that remain. I will gain credibility, so that people I am dealing with can trust in my abilities and knowledge. I, too, will gain greater confidence in my abilities because the Master's program in Building Construction will allow me to build my body of knowledge, both about construction and about the construction business.

When I look around this industry, I see something like estimating, which is the first step in the bidding process, as a major challenge, because many times minorities lack the knowledge about bidding processes. Not only will this degree give me the opportunity to formalize my knowledge in specific functional areas such as this, but I will also be able to pass that knowledge along.

I had no mentors when I started -- there was nobody like me out there to help me with the unique challenges that an African-American woman faces in the construction business. If I succeed, I will be able to help others as well. This is good for diversity in the industry, for minorities who wish to make a mark in construction, and for the American economy as a whole. The Master's degree in Building Construction will allow me to build on the experience I have already gained.

I have a B.S. In Human Resources, and I run my own company in the construction industry. There is little doubt, however, that the added credentials will lend weight to my name. Having a degree like this, from a high quality school, will help my business immensely. This educational backing will make me and my business more attractive to prime contractors in particular, which will allow for my business to grow.

My experience in the construction industry makes me a great candidate for this program, as I will be able to make an immediate contribution to class discussion and be able to lend my knowledge and experiences to help everybody else in the program as well. I have a lot to offer, but I also.