Online Construction Course Curriculum

In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. Starting Your Program is designed to help you make a smooth transition to Penn Foster, including how to use all the tools and resources that are available to you, get help when you need it, understand the Code of Conduct, and improve your study skills and time management. The goal is to help you become a confident, independent learner.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner

This course introduces you to the various domains of the construction industry: carpentry, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, drywall work, general maintenance, and so on. You’ll learn the differences between construction and building trades and residential and commercial construction. The duties and tasks of the construction and building trades professional are also explained in this course. Finally, you’ll learn about the proper safety measures required in various areas of the construction industry. Securing a safe environment is crucial to ensuring individual workers’ safety.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Analyze the structure of work, safety measures, and fundamentals of the construction industry and building trades.

In this course, you’ll get a general overview of the math skills required for a career in Construction Trades.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify parts of a fraction and the conversion process
• Solve fraction operations and problems with ratios and proportions
• Change numbers to represent decimals, fractions, and percentages
• Produce calculations with different tools for linear and angular measurements
• Consider common formulas and their purposes

This course will introduce you to the ability to read and interpret construction drawings. When you understand how to read construction plans, you’ll be able to visualize the completed project and plan what materials and techniques will be required to get the job done.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Categorize codes and the various types of construction plans and the tools involved in them
• Analyze the various steps to a building’s layout
• Consider the importance and utility of the types of lumber and fasteners used in construction and complete building plans

In this course, you’ll be introduced to common hand tools and power tools used in construction trades, the proper method of caring for tools, and tool safety procedures. You’ll also cover concrete mixing, pouring, and finishing, as well as foundation building.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Explain the various uses of power tools and the safety procedures used with them
• Explain the various characteristics and components of concrete

In this course, you’ll learn about framing in construction work and several basic methods of framing and structural design used to create home frames. You’ll examine the major components to assemble in a building project, including floor, wall, and roof framing systems. This course will also focus on residential construction of wooden stairs and roofs and the reading of blueprint plans. You’ll also have an opportunity to apply carpentry skills to practice situations you may face in the field someday.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify the various intricacies of the floor framing system.
• Recognize the elements and methods used for framing walls and stairways.
• Explain the types of styles, assembly, and processes in roofing.

In this course, you’ll explore the installation of windows and insulation and the construction of porches, decks, and fences. You’ll learn about the six major types of windows and how to make windows energy efficient. This course also examines the window schedule, older installation practices versus current ones, and the dangers of improper building ventilation. You’ll focus on weather barriers and insulation and the basic of deck design and construction. Additionally, you’ll have an opportunity to apply carpentry skills to practice situations you may face in the field someday.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify the types of windows and the methods of selecting and installing them
• Recognize the various types of insulation materials and importance of adequate ventilation
• Describe the importance of siding and the methods used to install it
• Summarize the steps of designing and constructing decks and porches

This course will examine finishing the interior of a construction project. You’ll learn to identify types of drywall panels, classify different types of residential doors and frames, and define finish floor and ceiling installation methods. The course will also explain drywall installation, repairs, and remodels, and aspects of interior finish carpentry. While completing your final project, you’ll apply these new skills to real-world residential interior framing and insulation situations.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify the various types of drywall panels and the methods used to apply them
• Classify the various types of residential doors and frames
• Define the methods and plans used to install floors and ceilings