Building & Construction Technology: Now What?

Quick Facts: Construction Managers

Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook 

  • 2024 Median Pay: $106,980 per year/$51.43 per hour
  • 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, 2024: 550,300
  • Job Outlook, 2024-34: 9% (Much Faster than average)
  • Employment Change, 2024-34: 48,100

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

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 

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 2025 & 2026) UMass Amherst BCT alumni:

ARCO
BOND Construction
Bozzuto
Callahan Construction Managers
Chapman Construction/Design
CM&B - Construction Management & Builders
Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
Dellbrook | JKS
Dennis Group
DN
DOC
F.W. Madigan Company, Inc.
Gilbane Building Company
Harry Grodsky & Co, Inc
J.F. Brennan Company
Keiter Corporation
Knollmeyer Building Corp
Manafort Brothers Incorporated
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
Menemsha
NEI General Contracting
NYS Department of Transportation
Perini Management Services, Inc.
PROCON
Richard Group
Salas O'Brien
Schernecker Property Services
Shawmut Design and Construction
Skanska
STO Building Group
Structural Group, Inc.
Suffolk Construction
TG Gallagher
Turner Construction Company
Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Where might I do an internship?

UMass Amherst BCT majors have done internships at the following sites:

Amherst (Town)

ARCO

Axis Builders

Barr & Barr, Inc.

Bayshore Demolition

Blanchard Contracting

Columbia Construction

Consigli Construction

CM&B

Daniel O’Connell’S Sons

Gilbane Building Company

JK Scanlan Company, LLC

John Moriarty and Associates

Kenney Masonry, LLC

Lampasona Concrete Corp.

Macomber Builders

Marlborough Department of Public Works

Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst

Mullaney Corporation

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association

New England Construction

Office Max 

Pulte Homes

Shawmut Design & Construction

Sullivan & McLaughlin

Turner Construction

UMass Amherst Campus 

Weitz Company

White Oak Timber Frames

William A. Berry & Son, Inc.

Career Planning Resources & Websites

BCT Job Board, Employers, Career Paths                             http://bct.eco.umass.edu/for-students

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

Construction Management Association of America               http://cmaanet.org/career-hq

Center for Ecological Technology                                          www.cetonline.org

MassCEC Paid Internships Program  https://www.masscec.com/clean-energy-internship-program  

BCT Professional Organizations

Building Energy Conference (NYC & Boston)                      http://nesea.org/buildingenergy-conference

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (Greenfield)   www.nesea.org

Assoc of Construction Industry Certified Professionals    www.acicp.org

Associated General Contractors of America                        www.agc.org

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

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

MatWeb Material Property Data                                           www.matweb.com

NESEA Sustainable Green Pages (for Northeast)                nesea.org/greenpages

What Do Employers Look For? (Source: NACE 2026 Job Outlook for Students)

Top 10 Skills Employers Seek on a Candidate’s Resume:

  1. Teamwork
  2. Problem-Solving
  3. Communication (verbal)
  4. Technical Skills
  5. Communication (written)
  6. Work Ethic
  7. Analytical/Quantitative Skills
  8. Initiative
  9. Leadership Potential
  10. Detail-Oriented