Below are the requirements for the BCT Bachelor of Science. Note that the BCT major includes several classes from other departments (economics, marketing, physics, math, communications, etc.). You will take the majority of your BCT-numbered classes in your junior & senior years.  (See sample schedules here.)

Create your plan and track your progress using the BCT Curriculum Plan. You can download the BCT Curriculum Plan Excel template here: Template-November-2023

University Credit Requirements:

___ 120 total credits  

___ 45 credits in residence
___ 60 credits in CNS

University & General Education Requirements:

(see also Gen-Ed requirements) NOTE: Only one Gen-Ed course can be within a student’s major department (BCT 150 here)

Social World (4 courses):

___ AL / AT
___ I / SI (covered by: BCT 150)
___ HS
___ SB (covered by: ECON 103 or 104)

Diversity (2 courses – combine with social world HS or AL/AT, e.g. HSDU):

___ Any DU
___ Any DG

Biological & Physical World (2 courses):

___ BS
___ PS (covered by: PHYS 131)

Math & Analytic Reasoning:

___ R1 (Tier 1 waiver or course, also covered by MATH 121)
___ R2 (covered by: MATH 121 or higher)

Writing:

___ College Writing (ENGLWRIT 112)
___ Junior Year Writing (covered by: NATSCI 387)

Integrative Experience:

___ IE (covered by: BCT 494BI)

BCT Major Core Requirements:

(Courses are 3 credits and both fall/spring unless otherwise mentioned; see here for BCT course details)

___ BCT 150 The Built Environment (I – 4 cr.)
          OR ___ NRC 100 Society and Environment (I – 4 cr.) (fall)
___ ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics (SB – 4 cr.)
OR ___ RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB – 4 cr.)
___ ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics (SB – 4 cr.)

___ COMPSCI 105 is no longer offered. Check with your Advisor for a replacement course or to waive.

___ BCT 204 Construction Materials & Methods (spring)
___ BCT 211 Energy Efficient Housing (fall)
___ BCT 220 Communicating Building Science and Sustainability
          OR ___ NRC 492A Verbal Communication
          OR ___ COMM _________ (any COMM course)
___ ACCTG 221 Introduction to Accounting (I)
          OR ___ MARKETNG 301 Fundamentals of Marketing
___ MATH 121 (or higher) (R2)
___ PHYSICS 131 (or higher) (PS – 4 cr.)
___ Any two PS courses (3 or 4 cr.), preferably from this list:
ASTRON 105, CHEM 101, CHEM 110, CHEM 111, GEOGRAPH 110, GEOLOGY 101, PHYSICS 100, PHYSICS 118, PHYSICS 132, PHYSICS 152, PUBHLTH 397BH

___ BCT 304 Properties of Wood (fall)
___ BCT 311 Sustainable Indoor Environmental Systems (spring)
___ BCT 313 Light-Frame Structure Technology (fall)
___ BCT 314 Construction Estimating
___ BCT 320 Intro to CAD & BIM in Construction & Architecture (also in summer, winter)
___ BCT 330 Mechanics of Building Materials for Construction (spring – 4 cr.)
___ BCT 353 Construction Project Management (fall)
___ NATSCI 387 Junior Year Writing

___ BCT 420 Designing with 3D CAD & BIM
          OR ___ BCT 520 Energy & Buildings (fall)
          OR ___ BCT 540 Design of Wood Structures (spring – not offered Spring 2025)
          OR ___ BCT 550 Construction Scheduling and Project Control
___ BCT 494BI BCT Senior Seminar (spring) (IE)

BCT Curriculum Areas:  Sustainable Built Environment    Materials, Methods, and Structures
 Building Energy & Systems    Construction Management & Business 
 Information Technology    Math & Science    Communications 

BCT Major Professional Elective Requirement:

In coordination with your advisor, plan on any 12 credits of professional electives throughout the course of your studies. We suggest these courses here by interest, but you can arrange them or other UMass courses (e.g. from a Minor) any way you like.

(Courses are 3 credits and both fall/spring unless otherwise mentioned; see here for BCT course details)

All BCT students should take:

  • ___ BCT 192A Careers in BCT (fall -1 cr.)
  • ___ BCT 492A Jobs and Professional Life in BCT (spring – 1 cr.)
  • ___ BCT 492C Sust. Building Systems Seminar (1 cr.) – can be taken twice

If you are seeking a job in construction management:

  • ___ BCT 392C ASC Competition Region 1 (fall) – can be taken twice
  • ___ BCT 550 Construction Scheduling and Project Control
  • ___ BCT 501 Safety in Construction (spring – 1 cr.)
  • ___ BCT 592N Residential Construction Management Competition (fall) – can be taken twice

If you are seeking a job in the building energy field:

  • ___ BCT 520 Energy & Buildings (fall)
  • ___ BCT 521 Environmental Control Systems (spring – 4 cr.)
  • ___ BCT 511 Clean Energy Corps (spring)
  • ___ BCT 525 Solar Energy Systems and Building Design (offered alternating years)

If you are seeking a job in engineered wood structural design:

  • ___ BCT 540 Design of Wood Structures (fall)
  • ___ BCT 597F Wood Design Studio (not currently offered)
  • ___ BCT 560 Alternative Material Construction Systems for Sustainability (spring)

Other BCT electives:

  • ___ BCT 414 Sustainable Building & LEED Certification (spring, summer, winter – 4 cr.)
  • ___ BCT 420 Designing with 3D CAD & BIM
  • ___ BCT 565 Advance Technology Trends and Material Testing (fall)
  • ___ ECO 614 Sustainable Building and Smart Growth Systems (spring, summer, winter)
  • Independent Study: BCT 396 / 496 / 596 (1-6 cr.)
  • Practicum: BCT 398 / 498 / 498Y (1-15 cr., mandatory pass/fail grading)

(or pick from non-BCT courses listed below)

Suggested other UMass elective courses:

  • ARCH 211 The City (Spring)
  • ART-HIST 343 20th Century Architecture: Modernism, Capitalism and Globalism (Spring)
  • ART-HIST 342 19th Century Architecture: Reform, History and Technology (Fall)
  • CE-ENGIN 240 Statics
  • CE-ENGIN 241 Strength of Materials
  • CE-ENGIN 211 Perspectives on the Evolution of Structures (Spring)
  • COMPSCI 119 Introduction to Programming (Python)
  • COMPSCI 120 Problem Solving w/Internet
  • COMPSCI 121 Intro. to Problem Solving with Computers (Java)
  • ECON 330 Labor in the American Economy
  • ENVIRSCI 213 Introduction to Environmental Policy (Fall)
  • LANDARCH 294A Seminar – Construction Materials
  • MANAGMNT 260 Introduction to Law
  • MANAGMNT 301 Principles of Management
  • MANAGMNT 314 Human Resources Management (requires 301)
  • NRC 185 Sustainable Living: Solutions for the 21st Century (I)
  • NRC 585 Introduction to GIS
  • RESEC 112 Computing: Foundations to Frontiers
  • RESEC 162 The Consumer in Our Society (Fall)
  • STATISTIC 111 Elementary Statistics (R-2)
  • SUSTCOMM 205 Dynamics of Human Habitation
  • TH 365 Technical Direction
  • Any other relevant course (with advisor approval)

You may also consider courses from the minors mentioned below (get approval from your advisor).

If you decide to add a Minor to the BCT Major:

Here are some tips and recommendations:

  • Business Minor (view official requirements):
    • Note that you need to apply for admission to this minor.
    • BCT requirements that count towards minor: ACCOUNTNG/MARGETNG course.
    • Other Business Minor requirements will cover the BCT professional elective requirements.
  • Economics Minor (view official requirements):
    • BCT requirements that count towards minor: ECON 103 and ECON 104, take MATH 127 instead of MATH 121.
    • Other Econ Minor requirements will cover the BCT professional elective requirements.
  • Resource Economics Minor (view official requirements):
    • BCT requirements that count towards minor: RES-ECON 102 or ECON 103, take MATH 127 instead of MATH 121.
    • Other Res-Econ Minor requirements will cover the BCT professional elective requirements.
  • IT Minor (view official requirements):
    • BCT requirements that count towards minor: COMPSCI 105, BCT 320 and BCT 420.
    • Other IT Minor requirements will cover the BCT professional elective requirements.
  • Sustainable Community Development
  • Architecture Minor / Yestermorrow Program
  • Natural Resources Conservation
  • Environmental Science Minor
  • Other Minors

Any questions?

  • Check out the Advising FAQ page first and ask your academic advisor if you can’t find an answer there.