Building Sciences Bachelor of Science

Leading to a Bachelor of Science in Building Sciences 

The Bachelor of Science in Building Sciences program equips students with the skills to tackle the built environment's present and future challenges, including those related to energy performance, adapting to a changing climate, material efficiency, material life-cycle analysis, and creating healthy and resilient communities. The program is a gateway to leading companies within industries such as architecture, construction management, environmental consulting, materials manufacturing, building forensics, and more.

Program Educational Objectives

  • Successfully prepares students for positions appropriate for co-op and entry-level positions in building sciences.
  • Provides students with the knowledge to pursue an graduate degrees in architecture or in a field such as business, construction, or project management.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Building Sciences program will attain, by the time of graduation, the ability to:

  • Develop design concepts through critical, rational, and intuitive thinking and articulate those concepts in written, verbal, and graphic forms, using appropriate media;
  • Analyze and resolve complex design challenges based on knowledge of construction principles, regulations, site logistics, and quality control;
  • Interpret building codes and apply principles of life safety and accessibility;
  • Employ knowledge of basic structural behavior and apply appropriate structural systems to design proposals;
  • Select and integrate climate control and other building systems appropriate to a chosen site and program, prioritizing sustainability and minimizing negative impacts on the environment;
  • Propose sustainable solutions to specific construction challenges based on research and exploration of alternatives.
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterCredits
ARCH1000 STUDIO 01 6
ARCH1200 ARCHITECTURAL REPRESENTATION 4
English Sequence 4
FYS1000 FIRST YEAR SEMINAR 1
MATH1000 COLLEGE MATHEMATICS 4
MATH1500, MATH1700, MATH1750, MATH1800 or MATH1850 will satisfy the MATH Requirement
 
 Credits19
Spring Semester
ARCH1500 STUDIO 02 6
ARCH1700 ARCHITECTURAL MEDIA 4
English Sequence 4
PHYS1000 COLLEGE PHYSICS I 4
PHYS1250 will also satisfy the PHYS requirement
 
 Credits18
Second Year
Fall Semester
ARCH2000 STUDIO 03 6
CHEM1000 CHEMISTRY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (or CHEM1100) 4
CONM1200 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 4
CONM2100 STATICS & STRENGTH OF MATERIALS 4
COOP2500 INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATIVE EDUCATION 0
 Credits18
Spring Semester
ARCH2500 STUDIO 04 6
ARCH2700 ENERGY & RESOURCES IN ARCHITECTURE 4
HSS 01 Elective 4
CONM1525 INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) 2
CONM1550 INTRODUCTION TO PLAN READING & SPECIFICATIONS 2
 Credits18
Summer Semester
Co-op Semester C  
Prerequisite(s): COOP2500 and ARCH2500
 
 Credits0
Third Year
Fall Semester
MATH1030 STATISTICS & APPLICATIONS 4
HSS 02 Elective 4
CONM2200 ESTIMATING (or Building Sciences Elective) 4
BSCI4000 BUILDING PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS 4
 Credits16
Spring Semester
CONM2500 BUILDING SYSTEMS 4
CONM2600 WOOD & STEEL ANALYSIS & DESIGN 3
HSS 03 Elective (PSYC4552) 4
ARCH3600 Sustainable Design: From Concept to Implementation 4
 Credits15
Summer Semester
Co-op Semester C  
Prerequisite(s): COOP2500 and ARCH2500
 
 Credits0
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
CONM3600 CONCRETE ANALYSIS & DESIGN 4
BSCI5000 BUILDING SCIENCES RESEARCH 2
BSCI Elective 4
Free Elective 3
 Credits13
Spring Semester
Co-op Semester C  
Prerequisite(s): COOP2500 and ARCH2500
 
 Credits0
Summer Semester
Building Sciences Elective 4
BSCI5500 BUILDING SCIENCES CAPSTONE 4
HSS 04 Elective 4
 Credits12
 Total Credits129

Building Sciences Electives:

Course Title Credits
ARCH3200PASSIVE & ACTIVE SYSTEMS4
ARCH3800SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE *4
ARCH7675THE CLIMATE - RESPONSIVE BUILDING3
ARCH7800GRADUATE SPECIAL TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE *4
ARCH7910PRINCIPLES OF PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN4
CONM3100CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT4
CONM3201CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SCHEDULING4
CONM3500ADVANCED ESTIMATING & BID ANALYSIS4
CONM3800SPECIAL TOPICS IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT *4
CONM4650BUSINESS, CONSTRUCTION LAW & GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS3
CRES3000TOPICS IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBAN RESILIENCE4
ENVM2000ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM2
FMGT7200ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY3
HSSI1050URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AT HOME AND BEYOND4

*Special Topics electives may be approved by petition to the Program Director. Additional courses in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management (or related fields) may be approved by petition to the Program Director.

CA minimum of two required co-op education courses (COOP3500 and COOP4500) must be completed. COOP5000 can also be taken as an additional optional co-op experience.