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.)

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.

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 127/121)
___ R2 (covered by: MATH 127/121 or higher)

Writing:

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

Integrative Experience:

___ IE (covered by: BCT 494CI/492A + 494BI or 540)

BCT Major Requirements:

Courses are 3 credits and both fall/spring unless otherwise mentioned; see here for BCT course details. Some courses can also be taken through University+ during winter or summer semesters (look for the [U+] mark below).

Starting with Fall 2025, BCT majors can choose between our two concentrations and tailor their degree based on their interests. Current BCT students enrolled prior to Fall 2025 can complete their degree subject to the curriculum labeled “Major Curriculum Prior to Fall 2025”.

Sustainable Construction Management Concentration

Foundations:

___ BCT 192A Careers in BCT (fall -1 cr.)
___ BCT 150 The Built Environment (I – 4 cr.) [U+]
___ ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics (SB – 4 cr.) [U+]
          OR ___ RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB – 4 cr.)
___ ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics (SB – 4 cr.) [U+]
___ LEGAL 101 Introduction to Legal Studies (SB-DU – 4 cr.) [U+]
___ MATH 127 (or higher) (R2) – Take before Junior year
___ PHYSICS 131 (or higher) (PS – 4 cr.) – Take before Junior year [U+]
___ One PS course (3 or 4 cr.), from this list: [U+]
ASTRON  100, ASTRON  101, ASTRON  105, CHEM  103, CHEM  111, CHEM  112, GEOGRAPH  100, GEOGRAPH  110, GEOLOGY  101, GEOLOGY  103, GEOLOGY  105, PHYSICS  100, PHYSICS 118, PHYSICS  132, PHYSICS  151, PHYSICS  152
___ INFO 101 or COMPSCI 119

Core:

___ BCT 204 Construction Materials & Methods (spring)
___ BCT 211 Energy Efficient Housing (fall)
___ BCT 220 Communicating Building Science and Sustainability
___ ACCOUNTG 221 Introduction to Accounting (I)
          OR ___ MARKETNG 301 Fundamentals of Marketing
___ BCT 311 Sustainable Indoor Environmental Systems (spring)
          OR ___ BCT 521 Environmental Control Systems (spring – 4 cr.)
___ BCT 313 Light-Frame Structure Technology (fall)
___ BCT 314 Construction Estimating [U+]
___ BCT 320 Intro to CAD & BIM in Construction & Architecture [U+]
___ BCT 330 Mechanics of Building Materials for Construction (4 cr.) (fall)
___ BCT 353 Construction Project Management (fall) [U+]
___ NATSCI 387 Junior Year Writing
___ BCT 501 Safety in Construction (spring – 1 cr.)
___ BCT 550 Construction Scheduling and Project Control

Specialization / Electives:

___ BCT Elective courses (6 cr.): Any 300+ level BCT courses not counted elsewhere, see list below.
___ Professional Elective courses (6 cr.): Any related 300+ level courses, see list below.

Capstone / Integrative Experience (IE):

___ BCT 494CI/492A Jobs and Professional Life in BCT (spring – 1 cr.) (IE criterion 1)
          AND
___ BCT 494BI BCT Senior Seminar (spring) (IE criteria 2&3)

Sustainable Building Science & Technology Concentration

Foundations:

___ BCT 192A Careers in BCT (fall -1 cr.)
___ BCT 150 The Built Environment (I – 4 cr.) [U+]
___ ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics (SB – 4 cr.) [U+]
          OR ___ RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB – 4 cr.)
___ ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics (SB – 4 cr.) [U+]
___ MATH 127 (or higher) (R2) – Take before Junior year
___ PHYSICS 131 (or higher) (PS – 4 cr.) – Take before Junior year [U+]
___ One PS course (3 or 4 cr.), from this list: [U+]
ASTRON  100, ASTRON  101, ASTRON  105, CHEM  103, CHEM  111, CHEM  112, GEOGRAPH  100, GEOGRAPH  110, GEOLOGY  101, GEOLOGY  103, GEOLOGY  105, PHYSICS  100, PHYSICS 118, PHYSICS  132, PHYSICS  151, PHYSICS  152
___ INFO 101 or COMPSCI 119

Core:

___ BCT 204 Construction Materials & Methods (spring)
___ BCT 211 Energy Efficient Housing (fall)
___ BCT 220 Communicating Building Science and Sustainability
___ ACCOUNTG 221 Introduction to Accounting (I)
          OR ___ MARKETNG 301 Fundamentals of Marketing
___ BCT 304 Properties of Wood (fall)
___ BCT 311 Sustainable Indoor Environmental Systems (spring)
          OR ___ BCT 521 Environmental Control Systems (spring – 4 cr.)
___ BCT 313 Light-Frame Structure Technology (fall)
___ BCT 320 Intro to CAD & BIM in Construction & Architecture [U+]
___ BCT 330 Mechanics of Building Materials for Construction (4 cr.) (fall)
___ NATSCI 387 Junior Year Writing
___ BCT 501 Safety in Construction (spring – 1 cr.)

Specialization / Electives:

___ BCT 492C Sust. Building Systems Seminar (1 cr.)
___ BCT Technology Elective courses (9 cr.): Any 300+ level BCT courses not counted elsewhere, see list below.
___ BCT Management Elective courses (6 cr.): Any 300+ level BCT courses not counted elsewhere, see list below.
___ Professional Elective courses (6 cr.): Any related 300+ level courses, see list below.

Capstone / Integrative Experience (IE):

___ BCT 494CI/492A Jobs and Professional Life in BCT (spring – 1 cr.) (IE criterion 1)
          AND
___ BCT 494BI BCT Senior Seminar (spring) (IE criteria 2&3)
          OR ___ BCT 540 Design of Wood Structures (spring) (IE criteria 2&3)

Major Curriculum Prior to Fall 2025

Foundations:

___ BCT 150 The Built Environment (I – 4 cr.) [U+]
          OR ___ NRC 100 Society and Environment (I – 4 cr.) (fall)
___ ECON 103 Introduction to Microeconomics (SB – 4 cr.) [U+]
          OR ___ RES-ECON 102 Introduction to Resource Economics (SB – 4 cr.)
___ ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics (SB – 4 cr.) [U+]
___ MATH 121 (or higher) (R2) – Take before Junior year
___ PHYSICS 131 (or higher) (PS – 4 cr.) – Take before Junior year [U+]
___ Any two PS courses (3 or 4 cr.), preferably from this list: [U+]
ASTRON  100, ASTRON  101, ASTRON  105, CHEM  103, CHEM  111, CHEM  112, GEOGRAPH  100, GEOGRAPH  110, GEOLOGY  101, GEOLOGY  103, GEOLOGY  105, PHYSICS  100, PHYSICS 118, PHYSICS  132
___ INFO 101 or COMPSCI 105/119/120/121 is waived for current students (some courses are no longer offered)

Core:

___ 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) [U+]
___ ACCOUNTG 221 Introduction to Accounting (I)
          OR ___ MARKETNG 301 Fundamentals of Marketing
___ BCT 304 Properties of Wood (fall)
___ BCT 311 Sustainable Indoor Environmental Systems (spring)
          OR ___ BCT 521 Environmental Control Systems (spring – 4 cr.)
___ BCT 313 Light-Frame Structure Technology (fall)
___ BCT 314 Construction Estimating [U+]
___ BCT 320 Intro to CAD & BIM in Construction & Architecture [U+]
___ BCT 330 Mechanics of Building Materials for Construction (4 cr.) (fall)
___ BCT 353 Construction Project Management (fall) [U+]
___ NATSCI 387 Junior Year Writing

Specialization / Electives:

___ 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
___ Professional Elective courses (12 credits, see list below for options)

Capstone / Integrative Experience (IE):

___ BCT 494CI/492A Jobs and Professional Life in BCT (spring – 1 cr.) Recommended during Junior year
___ BCT 494BI BCT Senior Seminar (spring)
          OR ___ BCT 540 Design of Wood Structures (spring)

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 Courses:

Based on your interests and in coordination with your advisor, plan on taking professional electives throughout the course of your studies. Courses listed below are 3 credits and both fall/spring unless otherwise mentioned; see here for BCT course details.

BCT Technology Electives:

  • ___ BCT 420 Designing with 3D CAD & BIM
  • ___ BCT 511 Clean Energy Corps (spring)
  • ___ BCT 520 Energy & Buildings (fall)
  • ___ BCT 521 Environmental Control Systems (spring – 4 cr.)
  • ___ BCT 525 Solar Energy Systems and Building Design (offered alternating years)
  • ___ BCT 540 Design of Wood Structures (fall)
  • ___ BCT 560 Alternative Material Construction Systems for Sustainability (spring)
  • ___ BCT 565 Advance Technology Trends and Material Testing (fall)
  • ___ BCT 590STC Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Buildings (fall)

BCT Management Electives:

  • ___ BCT 314 Construction Estimating [U+]
  • ___ BCT 353 Construction Project Management (fall) [U+]
  • ___ BCT 390A Construction Logistics (spring)
  • ___ BCT 392C ASC Competition Region 1 (fall) – can be taken twice
  • ___ BCT 414 Sustainable Building & LEED Certification (spring) [U+]
  • ___ BCT 492C Sust. Building Systems Seminar (1 cr.) – can be taken twice
  • ___ BCT 494BI BCT Senior Seminar (spring)
  • ___ BCT 550 Construction Scheduling and Project Control
  • ___ BCT 592N Residential Construction Management Competition (fall) – can be taken twice

Other BCT electives:

  • Independent Study: BCT 396 / 496 / 596 (1-6 cr.)
  • Practicum: BCT 398 / 498 / 498Y (1-15 cr., mandatory pass/fail grading)

Related UMass electives:

  • 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 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
  • 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?