Building Construction Science
Department Head: Dr. Syed M. Ahmed
Office 132 Howell Building
The Building Construction Science degree program is a four year Bachelor of Science degree designed to prepare graduates for careers in construction or construction-related fields. The 124 credit hour program is an interdisciplinary curriculum that builds upon expertise existing within the School of Architecture and the College of Engineering and the College of Business as well as the building construction industry to provide a knowledge base in business, engineering, and construction sciences. The curriculum’s foundational areas are based on a problem-and inquiry-based learning. Through the four year studio curriculum, students learn by applying skills and knowledge to complex construction problems that integrate multiple subject areas. The studio-based teaching focuses on the use of case studies and integration of multiple subject areas. This integration of a broader scope of architectural, engineering, construction, and business practices is a different approach than a traditional construction technology curriculum that separates subject areas into distinct courses.
The Building Construction Science curriculum includes a general education foundation of mathematics, science, business, and construction specific courses: construction systems, building technology, structures, and materials and methods of construction and incorporates these and other areas such as estimating, scheduling, safety, project management, and construction law into the studio curriculum. Course development is built upon the strengths of the three colleges that are collaborating in the effort. Building Construction Science students collaborate with architecture, engineering, and interior design students as a regular part of their course work. The Building Construction Science program is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).
Admissions
Admission to the Building Construction Science degree program is limited and competitive. Prospective students are encouraged to tour the program's facilities to be introduced to the program and talk with students and faculty. Instructions and contact information can be found at www.caad.msstate.edu/bcs/scheduleavisit.php.
Application Process:
1. Apply to Mississippi State University.
2. Submit all required materials including high school and/or college/university transcripts and ACT and/or SAT scores (see note below regarding admission requirement of MA 1313 College Algebra and MA 1323 Trigonometry or equivalent).
3. Indicate your choice of major as "Building Construction Science."
Grades
A minimum 2.0 MSU GPA is required to be eligible to enroll in BCS studio courses (BCS 1116, BCS 1126, BCS 2116, BCS 2226, BCS 3116, BCS 3126, BCS 4116, BCS 4126). Only courses taken at MSU will raise or lower the cumulative MSU GPA.
Student Fees
Additional course fees are charged for BCS construction studios and other major core courses and are collected with the MSU tuition. Fees are also charged for field trip expenses that occur in specific construction studio courses. Field trip fees are non-refundable after the 6th day of classes.
Computer Requirement
The BCS program requires all students to purchase a laptop computer with related software and peripherals when they enter the studio course sequence. Computer hardware and software specifications are available on the BCS program web site.
Degree Requirements
| English Composition | ||
| EN 1103 | English Composition I | 3 |
| or EN 1104 | Expanded English Composition I | |
| EN 1113 | English Composition II | 3 |
| or EN 1173 | Accelerated Composition II | |
| Mathematics | ||
| MA 1613 | Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I 1 | 3 |
| ST 2113 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Science | ||
| PH 1113 | General Physics I 1 | 3 |
| PH 1123 | General Physics II | 3 |
| BCS 2713 | Environmental Building Systems I | 3 |
| Humanities | ||
| See General Education courses | 6 | |
| Fine Arts | ||
| ARC 1013 | Architectural Appreciation | 3 |
| Social Sciences | ||
| EC 2113 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC 2123 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Major Core | ||
| CE 2213 | Surveying | 3 |
| BCS 2313 | Virtual Design and Construction | 3 |
| BCS 3904 | Structures I | 4 |
| BCS 3914 | Structures II | 4 |
| BCS 1116 | Building Construction Studio A 1 | 6 |
| BCS 1126 | Building Construction Studio B | 6 |
| BCS 2116 | Building Construction Studio 1 2 | 6 |
| or BCS 3006 | Construction Internship/Co-Op | |
| BCS 2226 | Building Construction Studio 2 | 6 |
| BCS 3116 | Building Construction Studio 3 | 6 |
| BCS 3126 | Building Construction Studio 4 2 | 6 |
| or BCS 3006 | Construction Internship/Co-Op | |
| BCS 4116 | Building Construction Studio 5 | 6 |
| BCS 4126 | Building Construction Studio 6 | 6 |
| BCS 3213 | Mechanical and Electrical Systems | 3 |
| BCS 3323 | High Performance Construction | 3 |
| BCS 4222 | Professional Communication and Practice | 2 |
| ACC 2013 | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 2023 | Principles of Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BL 2413 | The Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| MGT 3113 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Computer Literacy Requirement | ||
| Satisfied by successful completion of the BCS studio courses | ||
| Oral Communication Requirement | ||
| Satisfied by successful completion of the BCS studio courses | ||
| Writing Requirement | ||
| Satisfied by successful completion of the BCS studio courses | ||
| Total Hours | 124 | |
- 1
Following are prerequisites for courses that students are recommended to take during the first semester of the BCS program. Please note that BCS 1116, MA 1613, and PH 1113 are prerequisites for other courses in the BCS program.
BCS 1116 Building Construction Studio A - Prerequisites: MA 1323 or an ACT Math subscore of at least 24
MA 1613 Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I - Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in MA 1313 or an ACT Math subscore of at least 24
PH 1113 General Physics I - Prerequisite: MA 1323 or an ACT Math subscore of at least 26Students may receive credit for MA 1313 College Algebra by completing the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test.
Students may also receive credit for MA 1313 College Algebra and/or MA 1323 Trigonometry by completing the course at another university or community college. Students are responsible for confirming transfer course equivalents in advance using the MSU Transfer Course Equivalent webpage https://www.registrar.msstate.edu/students/transfer-course-information/ or by contacting the MSU Registrar directly transferarticulation@registrar.msstate.edu.
Students should refer to the Undergraduate Student Catalog for prerequisites for other courses.
- 2
BCS 3006 can only be taken once.
Courses
BCS 1001 First Year Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. First-year seminars explore a diverse array of topics that provide students with an opportunity to learn about a specific discipline from skilled faculty members
BCS 1013 Architecture Appreciation: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Illustrated study of architecture's role in shaping the quality of man's environment. Architectural history, design theory, and process as it affects daily life. Intended for non-majors. (Same as ARC 1013)
BCS 1116 Building Construction Studio A: 6 hours.
(Prerequisites: MA 1323 or ACT Math sub-score 24). Twelve hours laboratory. Introduction to construction materials and methods, construction drawing and modeling, building systems, project life cycles and management, and professional thinking and action
BCS 1126 Building Construction Studio B: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite:BCS 1116 ). Twelve hours laboratory. Development of building assemblies and construction sequencing, drawings and computer applications, project management skills, and professional thinking and action
BCS 2013 Construction and Culture: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. A study of the development construction throughout history. The purpose of this course is to broaden the students’ awareness of the global significance of construction
BCS 2116 Building Construction Studio 1: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 1126). Twelve hours laboratory. In depth examination of building construction materials and methods, systems, construction drawing and details, and construction finishes
BCS 2226 Building Construction Studio 2: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 2116). Three hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory. In-depth study of estimating, cost control, financial management, and equipment management in construction projects
BCS 2313 Virtual Design and Construction: 3 hours.
Prerequisites: BCS 1116). Three hours lecture. Use of digital tools to create virtual models of buildings for improving the construction process throughout the lifespan of the project
BCS 2713 Environmental Building Systems I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Architecture majors-ARC 1546 and PH 1123; BCS majors-PH 1123; others-instructor consent). Three hours lecture. Investigation of the morphological impacts of various environmental energies on building forms/systems. Includes light, climatic, and ecological factors. Same as ARC 2713
BCS 3006 Construction Internship/Co-Op: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 1126 and consent of instructor). Supervised professional work experience of 480 hours with a professional construction firm in which the student obtains on-the-job experience in aspects of construction management. This course can substitute BCS 2116 or BCS 3126
BCS 3116 Building Construction Studio 3: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 2226). Three hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory. In-depth study of health and safety, project management, construction management, plant and equipment management, logistics and operations management, and building pathology
BCS 3126 Building Construction Studio 4: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3116). Twelve hours laboratory. In-depth evaluation of the principles and applications of construction productivity, estimating and bidding procedures, cost alternatives, scheduling, sequencing, budgeting and project cashflow management
BCS 3213 Mechanical and Electrical Systems: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3723). Three hours lecture. A detailed examination of the design and construction of building electrical systems
BCS 3323 High Performance Construction: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3116). Three hours lecture. Advanced building fabrication and construction systems are explored including high-performance construction materials such as fiber-reinforced cement, fiber-reinforced plastics, polymeric materials, geosynthetics, masonry materials and coatings
BCS 3413 Graphic Construction Communication: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Introduction to graphic communication used in the construction field and how to read construction documents
BCS 3423 Materials and Methods: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Introduction to construction materials and methods
BCS 3433 Introduction to Estimating: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: BCS 3413, BCS 3423). Three hours lecture. Introduction to quantity take-offs, pricing, estimating, and cost management in the construction discipline
BCS 3443 Construction Safety and Health: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. This course will present and discuss fundamental topics related to construction site safety including Introduction to OSHA, Personal Protective Equipment, Tools, Health Hazards in Construction, Construction Stairways and Ladders, Material Handling, Fall Protection, Cranes and Scaffolds, Excavation, Confined Space, and Fire Protection
BCS 3453 Construction Technology: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Use of a collection of innovative tools and software to improve the construction process throughout the lifespan of the project
BCS 3723 Environmental Building Systems II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: ARC majors-ARC 2546 and ARC 2713; BCS majors-BCS 2713 and BCS 2116; others-consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Concentrates on defining the mechanical and electrical (active) techniques available to architects for integrating thermal comfort and life safety into the built form. (Same as ARC 3723)
BCS 3904 Structures I: 4 hours.
(Prerequisite: MA 1613 and either ARC 2546 or BCS 1126). Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Application of the principles of statics and the strength of materials on structural elements. Construction material. (Same as ARC 3904)
BCS 3914 Structures II: 4 hours.
(Prerequisite: ARC 3904 or BCS 3904). Three hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Design and analysis of structural elements as part of frames and other structural systems. (Same as ARC 3914)
BCS 4000 Directed Individual Study in Building Construction Science: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
BCS 4116 Building Construction Studio 5: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3126). Three hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory. In-depth evaluation of the legal and contractual environment for construction activities/projects. Emphasis on specifications; dispute resolution; construction contracts and procurement systems; and project delivery modeling
BCS 4126 Building Construction Studio 6: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 4116). Three hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory. In-depth study of project controls, risk management, strategic management, construction accounting, facilities and maintenance management, and international construction and contracting
BCS 4222 Professional Communication and Practice: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3126). Two hour lecture. Construction practice is reviewed in the broader context of ethics and the built environment. Emphasis on developing professional communication
BCS 4223 Professional Practice: 3 hours.
(Prerequisistes:BCS 3126) Three hours lecture. Construction ethics are reviewed in the broader context of architecture relative to social responsibility. Additional exploration includes professional ethics and emerging best practices
BCS 4413 Introduction to Construction Scheduling: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3433). Three hours lecture. In-depth study of project time management, construction management, plant and equipment management, logistics and operations management, and scheduling tools and methods
BCS 4423 Building Utility Systems: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3453). Three hours lecture. A detailed review of common utility systems in construction projects and examination of the design and construction processes of these systems along with their applicable standards and guidelines
BCS 4433 Building Structural Systems: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. The evaluation of structures, the properties of materials and the structural behavior of load-resisting members as it relates to buildings
BCS 4443 Project Management: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BCS 3443). Three hours lecture. In-depth study of project management and its components, construction management, and various project management knowledge areas
BCS 4453 Construction Legalities: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. An introduction to the parties, procedures, and legal aspects of a construction project and dispute
BCS 4990 Special Topics in Building Construction Science: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
BCS 7000 Directed Individual Study in Building Construction Science: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged