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Building Materials and Wood Technology

Building Materials & Wood Technology | Courses | Natural Resources Conservation Faculty


225 Holdsworth Natural Resources Center

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Contact: Paul R. Fisette

Office: 126 Holdsworth

Phone: 545-1771

E-mail: pfisette@forwild.umass.edu

Web site: www.umass.edu/bmatwt

The Field

Professional building materials management and distribution is perhaps the most critical requirement for developing the technologically advanced and affordable housing stock needed in the 21st century. A dynamic network of manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers coordinates the development and delivery of high-technology materials and products to end-users in the construction industry. Building Materials and Wood Technology prepares students to be leaders in this professional field.

Students in the Building Materials and Wood Technology program explore the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of building materials and wood products used in light-frame construction. The combination of technical understanding with a general business education makes graduates extremely desirable to potential employers. The majority secure positions as managers, sales professionals, marketing specialists, supervisors, and resource specialists in the manufacturing, wholesale, and retail sectors of the building materials industry.

Building Materials and Wood Technology is a broad field which includes the study of wood as an engineering material and the technology involved in converting timber to useful products. In the face of diminishing supplies of non-renewable resources such as oil and minerals, wood will remain as the principal engineering material for necessities such as housing, furnishings, paper, fiber products, and chemicals.

The Major

In addition to University General Education requirements, the curriculum in the Building Materials and Wood Technology major builds upon a foundation of introductory mathematics, chemistry, physics, and computer literacy. Department courses cover a background in natural resources plus fundamental courses in building materials technology, wood science, building materials management, and wood-based product technology. The remainder of each student's program includes electives in areas such as engineering or business according to the individual's career objectives and chosen curriculum option. Students may prepare for continuation to advanced study at the Master's or doctoral level, but most graduates accept employment immediately.

The functioning student organization is the University of Massachusetts Student Chapter of the Forest Products Society. Close ties with industry are provided through an 18-member Industry Advisory Committee.

The Building Materials and Wood Technology major offers two program options:

ó The Building Materials Technology and Management Option is recommended for students interested in business, marketing, sales, and distribution, building materials technology and construction.

ó The Wood Technology Option is recommended for students interested in product and process development, manufacturing, engineering, and technical services in the wood products industry.

Requirements

In addition to University General Education requirements, the Building Materials and Wood Technology major requires completion of the following:

CHEM 111, 112 General Chemistry

MATH courses with R2 designation

NRC 100 Environment and Society

NRC 150 Applied Ecology I

NRC 191 Introduction to Natural Resource Professions

PHYSIC 139 Introduction to Physics or 131, 132 Physics for Life Science Majors

RES EC 102 Introduction to Resource Economics or ECON 103 Introduction to Micro-economics

ECON 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics

NAREST 397A Professional Writing in Natural Resources

FOREST 492 Verbal Communication Skills

BMATWT 201 Introduction to Wood Science

BMATWT 211 Energy Efficient Housing

BMATWT 290A Building Materials Computing and Telecommunications

BMATWT 304 Properties of Wood

BMATWT 313 Light-Frame Structure Technology

BMATWT 314 Architectural Blueprint Reading and Estimating

BMATWT 352 Building Materials and Forest Products Marketing

BMATWT 492 Building Materials Seminar

BMATWT 511 Wood Adhesives Technology

BMATWT 512 Wood Protection

BMATWT 552 Building Materials Distribution and Sales Management

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Building Materials and Wood Technology Program (BMATWT) have risen to the highest professional levels in the building materials industry. Specific occupations cover a broad range of professional careers. They work as retail and wholesale managers, sales associates, researchers, construction managers, marketing professionals, technical representatives, and purchasing agents for the most successful corporations in the nation. Salaries compare favorably with other scientific and business professions. Opportunities for advancement are excellent. The employment demand for women and men in this rapidly expanding field far exceeds the number of graduates.

Building Materials & Wood Technology | Courses | Natural Resources Conservation Faculty