South Carolina's Architecture and Construction pathway prepares students for careers in the state's thriving construction industry. This comprehensive program covers residential and commercial construction, carpentry, masonry, electrical systems, plumbing, and construction management. With South Carolina experiencing significant population growth and ongoing infrastructure development, the construction industry provides abundant career opportunities throughout the state.
The pathway emphasizes both traditional construction crafts and modern building technologies including green building practices, building information modeling (BIM), and sustainable construction methods. Students gain hands-on experience through construction laboratory projects, actual building construction, and partnerships with local construction companies and contractors. The curriculum integrates safety training, blueprint reading, building codes, and construction mathematics essential for success in the trades.
South Carolina's Construction Technology programs often involve students in community service projects, building real structures such as sheds, playhouses, or tiny homes that demonstrate mastery of construction skills while serving community needs. Graduates are prepared for immediate employment as apprentice tradespeople, continuation to construction management programs, or establishment of their own contracting businesses.
Architecture and Construction at a Glance
4
Courses
8
Credentials
5
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
South Carolina's Construction Technology standards align with National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) standards and emphasize safety, building codes, construction methods, and professional practices. State standards cover carpentry, masonry, electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC fundamentals, and construction management concepts. The framework prepares students for industry credentials and structured apprenticeship programs.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course | Code |
|---|---|
| Construction Technology 1: Fundamentals and Safety | CONST-101 |
| Construction Technology 2: Carpentry and Framing | CONST-201 |
| Construction Technology 3: Building Systems | CONST-301 |
| Construction Technology 4: Advanced Construction and Project Management | CONST-401 |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
Career Opportunities
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections (2023-2033). Cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (2023). Entry-level salaries reflect the 25th percentile; experienced salaries reflect the median.
Carpenter
Entry LevelSalary range: $39,620 - $59,780
Adjusted for cost of living: $42,520
Construction Project Manager
ExperiencedSalary range: $84,390 - $133,200
Adjusted for cost of living: $111,655
Electrician
ExperiencedSalary range: $47,200 - $65,010
Adjusted for cost of living: $62,524
Construction Equipment Operator
Entry LevelSalary range: $40,600 - $53,520
Adjusted for cost of living: $43,572
Construction Supervisor
ExperiencedSalary range: $59,060 - $90,000
Adjusted for cost of living: $79,674
Recent News
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Students participate in apprenticeships with construction companies, work on actual building projects for community organizations, and gain experience through cooperative education placements with contractors. Work-based learning includes job shadowing master tradespeople, participation in habitat construction projects, and summer employment with residential and commercial builders.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in SkillsUSA, gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps South Carolina CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
South Carolina Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with South Carolina's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as South Carolina standards and industry needs evolve
Related Pathways in South Carolina
Related Glossary Terms
CTE Pathways
CTE Pathways are structured sequences of courses within a Career Cluster that prepare students for a specific group of related occupations. Pathways combine academic and technical instruction, providing a clear roadmap from introductory courses through advanced, specialized training aligned with industry standards and postsecondary opportunities.
ProgrammaticWork-Based Learning
Work-Based Learning (WBL) encompasses a range of educational strategies that connect classroom instruction with real workplace experiences. Activities include internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, clinical rotations, and cooperative education, all designed to help CTE students apply technical skills in authentic industry settings.
ProgrammaticIndustry Certifications in CTE
Industry certifications in CTE are credentials issued by industry organizations or third-party bodies that validate a student's mastery of specific technical skills and knowledge. Examples include CompTIA A+, AWS Certified Welder, and ServSafe, which demonstrate career readiness to employers in ways that transcend state and district boundaries.
AssessmentCompetency-Based Education
Competency-Based Education (CBE) is an instructional approach where students advance by demonstrating mastery of specific knowledge and skills rather than by accumulating seat time. In CTE, CBE aligns naturally with industry expectations, as employers value demonstrated competency over time spent in training.
AssessmentReady to Build Architecture and Construction Programs at Scale?
See how Sage can help you create standards-aligned curriculum for Architecture and Construction in South Carolina.