Bachelor of Science in Building Construction
The School of Building Construction reactivated the Bachelor of Science in Building Construction program in 2020. As the construction industry evolved into a diversified and technology-adopting sector, we saw the need for an undergraduate program that captured progressive hands-on technology with an integrated and entrepreneurial approach. This STEM-designated program is the perfect major for students who prefer the practical and tangible aspects of the built environment.
It's About UAVs and Point Clouds
The Bachelor of Science in Building Construction teaches students a complete understanding of built environment design and construction processes from the construction contractors, owners, and facility managers' perspective.
We use technology to teach students about virtual design and construction, lean project delivery, sustainability and resistance, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/drone assisted project monitoring. These are skills our students will use in new demanding careers that did not exist a decade ago.
Students study how building projects address the needs of communities, the environment, and the economy through collaborating with other Georgia Tech students. They work with students from architecture, civil and environmental engineering, urban design, and city and regional planning to learn how decisions impact the social environment and sustainable communities. Such opportunities allow graduates like Sean Warner (BC '15), CEO and co-founder of Grubbly Farms, to excel.
Technology, a Formula for Evolving the Construction Industry
We designed our undergraduate program to give students a complete view of the building life cycle. They learn technology-driven methods of construction management and critical leadership skills. The curriculum shows students how prefabrication, 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, drones, and robotics can impact safety, profitability, and sustainability.
Our new integrated approach to building construction prepares students more holistically. Rather than focus primarily on construction and the housing sector, students learn from day one a technology-driven approach to design management processes of the building life cycle.
They study how to use point clouds to render quality inspections of structures and make construction safer with fewer errors—for example, using drones to save the lives of roofers. With technology, they also learn how to improve building processes and energy performance, and how to implement cost-efficient building practices.
Collaboration at Georgia Tech Makes Our Program Unique
We have fascinating and smart friends here at Georgia Tech, which provide opportunities for students to collaborate with many other disciplines on campus. Like our incredibly strong ties to the Bachelor of Science in Architecture program - where they think critically about technology and apply new tools to design a better world. And our friends in civil engineering – where they create systems, technology, and structures that ready our modern world for a growing and aging population. And our friends in aeronautical engineering – where they develop fundamental disciplines necessary to understand the design and performance of aerospace vehicles. This are just a few examples of how the School of Building works with others to make a difference.
The bachelor program also offers students a front-row seat to our signature graduate programs. The second you become an undergraduate student in building construction, you learn about professional leadership roles. These roles consist of construction and facility managers, occupational health and safety managers, and real estate developers.
Our graduate programs merge creative and practical approaches to building projects. We teach students to lead every step of a building's existence: from site selection through architectural design, then from engineering through financing, and from planning sustainable footprints to eventual renovation or demolition. We shape the future of construction.