Undergraduate Program (B.S.)
Program Description
The Field
Educating leaders in the field of sustainable design and construction of the built environment is the core mission of the Building and Construction Technology (BCT) program. Green building is a rapidly emerging field that will remain an essential piece in the changes that need to occur to combat global warming. Despite the cyclical nature of the construction industry, demand for graduates of the BCT Bachelor of Science degree program remains strong, in both the residential housing and the commercial building sectors. Graduates of the BCT program take on leadership roles with their understanding of this technically complex field.
Students participate in coursework covering science, technology, business, and design to support the basis for advancing their careers. The design, construction, and in-service use of residential and commercial buildings are complex and BCT students are offered a wide array of instruction to cover the necessary elements.
Graduates are involved in virtually every area of building technology including sustainable design practices, energy conservation, wood science, construction and project management, and sales and marketing of building materials. Career paths span technical and research disciplines through sales and construction management. It is the experience of integrating scientific and technical understanding with general business acumen that makes graduates of the program especially desirable to many hiring firms.
Declaring BCT as your major
To declare BCT as your major, simply bring a “Change of Major” form to any BCT faculty member and ask us to sign it.
For general UMass admissions procedures, follow the links on this page.
If you have any questions, contact Dave Damery (information is in the page sidebar), Program Director of BCT.
Sample Schedule
Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior
Freshman Year:
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| Math 104 | Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry3 Credits | Math 121 | Linear Methods andProbability for Business3 Credits |
| BCT 150 (BCT 191A) | The Built Environment3 Credits | RESEC 102 | Microeconomics 3 Credits |
| Gen Ed | Elective3 Credits | CHEM 110 | Chemistry 4 Credits |
| NRC 100 | Society andthe Environment3 Credits | GEN ED | Elective 3 Credits |
| ENGLWP 112 | Freshman Writing 3 Credits | GEN ED | Elective 3 Credits |
| Total Credits: 15 | Total Credits: 16 | ||
Sophmore Year:
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| BCT 304 | Propteries of Wood 3 Credits | BCT 204 | Construction Materialsand Methods3 Credits |
| BCT 211 | Energy Efficient Housing3 Credits | Gen Ed | Elective3 Credits |
| Gen Ed | Elective 3 Credits | BCT 314 (not currently offered) | Architectural BlueprintReading2 Credits |
| Physics 131/133 | Phyics I 4 Credits | Physics 132/134 | Physics II 4 Credits |
| BCT 313 | Light-frameStructures3 Credits | Econ 104 | Macroeconomics 3 Credits |
| Total Credits: 16 | Total Credits: 15 | ||
Junior Year:
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| NatRes&E 397A | Professional Writing 3 Credits | BCT 353 | Business ofBuilding3 Credits |
| BCT 220 | Intro to CAD 3 Credits | BCT 492B | Professional Seminar 1 Credit |
| Elective | Professional Elective 3 Credits | BCT 530 | Mechanics of Building Materials 3 Credits |
| Elective | Professional Elective 3 Credits | BCT 411 | Indoor Environmental Systems 2 Credits |
| Gen Ed | Elective 3 Credits | Elective | MGT 260 or MGT 301 or ACCTG 2213 Credits |
| Gen Ed | Junior Year Writing NATSCI 397A3 Credits | ||
| Total Credits: 15 | Total Credits: 15 | ||
Senior Year:
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| BCT 540 | Design of Wood Structures 3 Credit | BCT 420 | Advanced Topicsin CAD3 Credits |
| Elective | Oral Communication/Public Speaking 3 Credit | BCT 597P | Project Mgmt. forDesign and Const.3 Credits |
| Elective | Professional Elective 3 Credits | BCT 597E (BCT 515) | Building Energy Systems 3 Credits |
| BCT 496 | Independent Study for Seniors3 Credits | BCT 496 | Independent SeniorProject3 Credit |
| BCT 597B (BCT 514) | Energy and Buildings 3 Credit | Gen Ed | Integrative Experience BCT 494 4 Credits |
| Total Credit: 15 | Total Credit: 16 | ||
You can view a complete list of the graduation requirements here.
Last updated: April 5, 2012 by simih
