Building and Construction Technology

Building and Construction Technology graduates combine a passion for sustainable and resource-efficient building with a solid background in construction, building science and technology, business and project management. During their studies at UMass, BCT students enjoy an applied, project-based learning environment while receiving the required technical and scientific foundation for their future career. This major combines courses centered around sustainable building in the areas of construction technology, materials performance and engineering, building systems and energy, estimating, business and project management, marketing, digital tools, as well as written and oral communications.

We are offering a Professional Master’s program (M.S.) in the Building Systems concentration as part of the graduate program in Environmental Conservation. This one-year program is an individualized, self-funded course of study that provides graduate students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of sustainability topics as they relate to the built environment.
Topics that can be pursued are: sustainable building materials and structural systems, building performance and energy conservation, energy modeling, digital design and fabrication, green development and planning, and sustainability certification (e.g. USGBC LEED).

This concentration leads to both Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in the Building Systems concentration in Environmental Conservation (ECo) and is designed for students who want scientific training in the multi-disciplinary field of building systems. The focus of this concentration is broadly on building systems but encompasses specialized training in fields such as green building, structural timber design, energy systems, material strength modeling and management/marketing of building materials. The diverse nature of the concentration is intended to allow students from different backgrounds to shape their own education.

Interested in taking our courses or working with our faculty without being a full-time UMass student? This is possible through a per-credit fee-based process through UMass’ University Without Walls (UWW) system. Anyone not enrolled at UMass or the Five Colleges can sign up for one of our Professional Education courses as a non-degree undergraduate or graduate student. We are also working on offering five-course certificates in the near future.

BCT is offering a graduate certificate in sustainable building construction to professionals seeking an opportunity to pursue in-depth studies in sustainability in building design and construction without needing to complete a full degree program. This certificate’s topics are comprised of sustainable (green) building systems and materials, energy and conservation, building technologies, and construction management. 16 credits of coursework can be completed through a combination of in-person and online courses, with in-person courses offered in Amherst, Newton (on our Mount Ida campus) or both.