Building & Construction Technology: Now What?
Quick Facts: Construction Managers
Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 2021 Median Pay: $98,890 per year
- Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's degree
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Number of Jobs, 2020: 448,000
- Job Outlook, 2020-30: 11% (Faster than average)
- Employment Change, 2020-30: 51,400
What is BCT?
Building and Construction Technology (BCT) professionals are multifaceted. Through the study of science, technology, business, management, and design, and guided by the principles of resource efficiency and environmental sensitivity. BCT professionals ensure that the materials and systems used in our buildings are best suited to the needs of each project in terms of safety, efficiency, sustainability, and cost effectiveness.
Graduates of the BCT program at UMass Amherst enjoy an applied, project-based learning environment, while receiving a strong technical and scientific foundation for future careers in construction management, sustainable building design, and materials technology. BCT students are involved in virtually every aspect of the built environment: construction management, sustainable building planning, engineered wood design, building energy performance evaluation, building products distribution, and research and development. It is the integration of technical understanding with general business acumen that makes BCT graduates uniquely desirable to employers.
What Can I Do With A Bachelor’s Degree In BCT?
Materials Specialist
Sustainable Planner
Builder
Construction Manager/ Supervisor
Project Overseer
Building Inspector
Contractor
Cost Estimator
Supply Sales
Building Services Engineer
Facilities Manager
Consultant
Town Planner
Materials Research
Technical Report Writer
Building Planner
Environmental Assessor
Site Surveyor
Drafter/Architect’s Assistant
Environmental Engineer’s Assistant
Blueprint Production
Site Design
GIS Mapping
CAD (Computer-Aided Drafting) Technician
Assistant to Civil Engineer
Safety Inspector
Permit Provider
Solar Installer
Design Assistant
Real Estate Associate
Who Could I Work For?
Self-Employed Solar Energy companies OSHA
Construction companies Alternative energy/energy efficiency services
Design and build companies Schools, businesses
Civil engineering contractors Water district
Project management consultancies Highway department
Housing associations Zoning board
Health authorities Farms
University construction Materials suppliers
Towns and States Logistics and distribution
Selection of Employers for recent (Class of 2023 & 2024) UMass Amherst BCT alumni:
• Axis Construction Corp
• Brasfield & Gorrie
• Champman Construction
• CM&B - Construction Management & Builders
• Colliers Engineering & Design Inc.
• Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
• Daniel O'Connell's Sons
• Dimeo Construction Company
• DPS Group Global
• E.T.& L. Corp.
• Elaine Construction
• F.W. Madigan Company, Inc.
• Fontaine Bros., Inc.
• Gilbane Building Company
• Gilbane Building Company
• Habitat for Humanity
• Integrated at Work
• J.C. Cannistraro, LLC
• J.C. Cannistraro, LLC
• Keiter Corporation
• Keith Construction
• Knollmeyer Building Corp
• Manafort Precision
• Massachusetts Department of Transportation
• Massachusetts National Guard
• NEI General Contracting
• NEI General Contracting
• Northeast Solar
• Outside Magazine
• Perini Management Services, Inc.
• Plumb House Inc.
• Quarterra Group Inc
• Quest Energy Group
• R.H. White Companies
• Reece Electric Corp.
• RH White
• Rubicon Builders
• Schneider Electric
• Shawmut Design and Construction
• Skanska
• SPS New England, Inc.
• Suffolk Construction
• TG Gallagher
• The Associated Construction Company
• The Cardinal Group USA, LLC
• Toll Brothers
• Turner Construction
• US Army
• Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
• Windmill Builders
Where might I do an internship?
UMass Amherst BCT majors have done internships at the following sites:
• Amherst (Town of)
• AMS Showcase
• Axis Builders
• Barr & Barr, Inc.
• Bayshore Demolition
• Blanchard Contracting
• CampusLIVE Inc
• Columbia Construction
• Consigli Construction
• CM&B
• CRB Builders, LLC
• CSG Systems
• Daniel O’Connell’S Sons
• F R Wilson Construction
• Forest Moon
• Gilbane Building Company
• Integrity Development and Construction Inc
• Interstate & Lakeland Lumber
• JK Scanlan Company, LLC
• John Moriarty and Associates
• Kenney Masonry, LLC
• Kohl Construction
• Lampasona Concrete Corp.
• Liquid Landscape Designs
• Macomber Builders
• Marlborough Department of Public Works
• Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst
• Mullaney Corporation
• Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems (NRES)
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
• New England Construction
• Office Max
• Pulte Homes
• Shawmut Design & Construction
• Sustainability Initiative
• Sullivan & McLaughlin
• Turner Construction
• UMass Amherst Campus
• United Civil
• Weitz Company
• White Oak Timber Frames
• William A. Berry & Son, Inc.
• Work of Art Builders
Career Planning Resources & Websites
BCT Job Board, Employers, Career Paths http://bct.eco.umass.edu/for-students
(Under Students tab see several student chapters of professional organizations)
UMass Amherst CNS Career Center www.cns.umass.edu/careers
UMass Handshake Database of Internships & Jobs https://umass.joinhandshake.com/
What Can I Do With This Major? https://www.umass.edu/careers/planning (Click on "What Can I do with this Major" icon on the right-hand column.)
FOCUS2 Career and Education Planning www.umass.edu/careers/planning for sign-in button
CNS Completed Research/Internships: https://secure.cns.umass.edu/webforms/internships
UMass Amherst Career Services Events Calendar www.umass.edu/careers
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/ooh/construction
O-Net: “Building” www.onetonline.org/find/quick?s=building
Massachusetts Career Information System http://masscis.intocareers.org
(Click Mass Resident to login with “Amherst/01003” Then click “Occupations” or “Assessments”)
Finding Independent Lab Research On Campus www.umass.edu/biochem/undergraduate/lab
BCT Mailing List https://bct.eco.umass.edu/about-us/bct-email-list/
BCT Facebook (news) www.facebook.com/UMassBCT
BCT Twitter (news) https://twitter.com/umassbct?lang=en
BCT LinkedIn Group (networking) (Must log in to LI) https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6591054
Industry Certifications and Licenses http://bct.eco.umass.edu/for-students/cert
AGC of America on Building Contractors www.agc.org/node/24371
BCT Job Search Resources
UMass Handshake Database of Internships & Jobs https://umass.joinhandshake.com/
Mass Clean Energy Center Jobs Board http://www.masscec.com/work-clean-energy/jobs
Building Performance Institute (Industry Certifications) www.bpi.org/greencollar.aspx
Construction Management Association of America http://cmaanet.org/career-hq
Forest Products Society http://jobs.forestprod.org
Local Job Search Resources
Center for Ecological Technology www.cetonline.org
Local BCT Internships www.gcc.mass.edu/internships/list
General Job Search Engines
One-Stop Career Centers (search by zip code) www.careeronestop.org/jobsearch/findjobs
Indeed www.indeed.com
SimplyHired www.simplyhired.com
Finding Internships
MassCEC Paid Internships Program https://www.masscec.com/clean-energy-internship-program
BCT Professional Organizations
Local Organizations
Building Energy Conference (NYC & Boston) https://nesea.org/conference/buildingenergy-boston-2025
Green Drinks Northampton (Local networking!) www.meetup.com/Western-Mass-Green
GCC Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Program www.gcc.mass.edu/renewable-energy
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (Greenfield) www.nesea.org
Western Mass Green Consortium https://www.facebook.com/WesternMassGreenConsortium
National Organizations
Assoc of Construction Industry Certified Professionals www.acicp.org
Associated General Contractors of America www.agc.org
Building Performance Institute www.bpi.org/home_pros.aspx
Construction Management Association of America http://cmaanet.org/career-hq
Forest Products Society www.forestprod.org
International Renewable Energy Council (IREC) www.irecusa.org
National Association of Home Builders www.nahb.org
N. American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners www.nabcep.org
National Renewable Energy Lab www.nrel.gov
US Green Building Council www.usgbc.org
BCT List of Professional Associations https://bct.eco.umass.edu/for-students/careers-employers/industry-associations/
List of Additional Professional Organizations http://construction.calpoly.edu
BCT Professional Journals and Resources
Builder Online www.builderonline.com
Building Green www2.buildinggreen.com/campus
Green Building Advisor www.greenbuildingadvisor.com
Materials Safety Data Sheets www.ilpi.com/msds/#What
MatWeb Material Property Data www.matweb.com
NESEA Sustainable Green Pages (for Northeast) nesea.org/greenpages
Tiny House Blog tinyhouseblog.com
What Do Employers Look For? (Source: NACE 2024 Job Outlook for Students)
Top 10 Skills Employers Seek on Candidate Resumes
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Communication skills (written)
- Strong work ethic
- Flexibility/adaptability
- Communication (verbal)
- Technical Skills
- Analytical/Quantitative Skills
- Initiative
- Detail-oriented
Top 7 Attributes that can positively influence employers the most
- Internship with the organization
- Internship within the industry
- Major
- General work experience
- Leadership experience
- Extracurricular activities
- High GPA (3.0 or above)