Study construction management, sustainable building, construction materials, and building engineering technology with this interdisciplinary major.
The Field
Educating leaders in the field of sustainable building 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 commercial building sectors. Graduates of the BCT program take on leadership roles with their understanding of this technically complex field.
Why Enroll in this Major?
Learn About Construction
Receive a well-rounded education that prepares you for jobs in construction management and building systems. Work on real-world projects in hands-on classes.
Understand Sustainability
Prepare yourself for current and future challenges by developing an integrated understanding of sustainability in the built environment.
Get an Exciting and Well-Paying Job
Have a job at graduation with a starting salary that is typically on average $10-20k higher than the overall UMass Amherst average.
The following statistics are from our current student surveys. You can learn more about career opportunities, too.
90%
Completed Internships
85%
Had Job at Graduation
$75k
Avg. Starting Salary
Points of Pride: Hands-On Classes • Study in and Learn from the Olver Design Building • Accessible Faculty • Career Counseling • Job Fairs • Internships
The Major
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 instructions to cover the necessary elements.
Graduates are involved in virtually every area of building technology including construction project management, sustainable design, green building, and energy conservation, wood design and building, and sales and marketing of building materials. Career paths span from 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.
NEW!!! – Students starting in the BCT Major in Fall 2025 can now choose from two concentrations:
- Sustainable Construction Management, which focuses on construction management topics (management, estimating, scheduling, etc.). This concentration is for jobs as Construction Managers, Field Engineers, Superintendents, Cost Estimators, Schedulers, Safety Managers, Construction and Building Inspectors, Quality Control Managers.
- Sustainable Building Science & Technology, which focuses on the technical aspects of buildings and construction (materials, systems, energy, structures, etc.). This concentration is for jobs as Mechanical Systems or Engineered Wood Products Designers, Civil Engineering Technicians, Energy Auditors, Energy Engineers, Sustainability Consultants, Architectural and Engineering Managers, Sales Engineers and Managers (Building Materials and Systems), Industrial Production Managers, Construction and Building Inspectors.
Current students can continue with the pre-Fall-2025 requirements or they can switch into one of these concentrations.
You can learn more about our program on these pages:
How to declare BCT as your major
Any undergraduate student interested in joining the BCT major should complete the CNS Change of Major Form. If you’re not yet a UMass student, visit the admissions page for application details. We also provide information about financial aid on this site. Additionally, you can find answers to many major-related questions on our Advising FAQ page.
The Minor
We also offer a 15-credit minor in BCT. You can find more information on that course of study here.
Questions?
We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us anytime using our contact form.