Building Science, Master of Engineering

Program Overview

The Master of Engineering in Building Science program provides advanced knowledge and skills in building performance through core and elective courses. Students can choose between a course-based option or an industry/research project option. The program prepares graduates for careers in the construction industry, including research, consulting, and government agencies.

Program Outline

Outline:

Program Content:

The Master of Engineering in Building Science degree is designed to provide students from various engineering disciplines with advanced knowledge and skills to achieve a holistic understanding of building performance through a core course component, which is composed of a fundamental technical cluster, and an applied technical cluster. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of a specialty area through focused elective technical courses or a supervised research project.

Program Structure:

Students are required to select one of two pathways for the completion of the program.

Path 1: Course Option

Students take 10 courses: 4 core courses and 6 elective courses. For this path the Research Methods course is optional. Except for the core fundamental courses, all other courses include a research component.

Path 2: Industry/Research Project Option

Students take 7 courses plus Research Methods, and a comprehensive industry/research project. Students engage in applied research on a relevant industry problem under the supervision of a faculty member.

Course Schedule:

• Year 1
• Core Courses:
Building Science 1, Building Materials, Building Envelope 1, Building Energy Performance
• Elective Courses:
TBD
• Year 2
• Core Courses:
Research Methods (Path 2 only)
• Elective Courses:
TBD
• Industry/Research Project (Path 2 only)

Individual Modules:

Module 1: Core Technical Courses

• Building Science 1: This course introduces the basic and advanced building science principles with a focus on heat, air, and moisture transfer in buildings.
• Building Materials: This course provides advanced understanding of major building materials used in the construction industry.
• Building Envelope 1: This course addresses the design and performance of building envelope assemblies with a focus on above grade assemblies including walls, roofs, doors and fenestration assemblies.
• Building Energy Performance: The course is presented as lectures and assignments, with a term project to be conducted in parallel with lectures.

Module 2: Applied Technical Courses

• Technical Electives: (6 courses for Path 1, 3 courses for Path 2) Students complete either six (Path 1) or three (Path 2) courses from the following list of technical electives.
• Research Methods: This course introduces the principles, procedures, and ethics that are fundamental to scientific research.
• Building Science Acoustics: The field of acoustics as a building science includes the application of theoretical principles, the use of standardized professional measurement and execution of numerical and software modelling of sound in indoor and outdoor building environments.
• Directed Studies: The Directed Study course aims to provide students the opportunity to undertake supervised elements of study that are not offered elsewhere across the Institute, UBC, SFU or another post-secondary institute.
• Building Environment and Climate: The course provides advanced understanding of the physical and environmental interconnections between the building and the local urban environment in the context of the local climate, while considering humans as integral receivers and enablers of the built environment.
• Mechanical Systems and Control: This elective course will benefit students who want to develop knowledge, and the principles of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems and their roles in building applications.
• Noise Control: Building upon the fundamental principles of plane sound waves covered in BSCI 9060 – Building Science Acoustics, the course provides the advanced theory of 3-D nonplanar waves and its applications to noise control in the built environment including but not limited to buildings, roads, airports, and communities.
• Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality: This course introduces students to the most important indoor air contaminants and their respective emission sources, including building materials, occupants and their activities, and outdoor air pollution.
• Principles of Building Circularity and Life Cycle Assessment: The primary objective of incorporating building circularity and life cycle assessment (LCA) among professionals in the built environment is to mitigate the impact on the natural environment.
• Building Envelope 2: In the Building Envelope 1 course, the design and performance of above grade envelope assemblies were covered.
In the Building Envelope 2 course, below grade assemblies including basements, crawlspaces, parkades, podium waterproofing, foundation walls, and slabs on grade and slabs below grade, will be addressed.
• Measurement and Verification: The purpose of measurement and verification (M&V) of buildings is to provide feedback to building owners, managers and design teams on the effectiveness of measures incorporated into the design and retrofit on the building annual energy use and cost.
• Modelling of Heat and Mass Transfer in Buildings: Correct design of healthy and comfortable indoor environments, and of durable and sustainable building envelopes requires reliable assessments of the heat and mass transfer in buildings, building zones and/or building components: ventilation flows, thermal stratification, interior moisture buffering, interstitial condensation, driving rain absorption, etc.
• Advanced Energy Simulation: The elective course is presented as lectures and assignments, with a term project to be conducted in parallel with lectures.
It will benefit students who want to gain more in-depth knowledge of building energy performance simulation as well as the skills to use sophisticated simulation tools.

Module 3: Industry/Research Project (Path 2 Only)

• Industry/Research Project: Students are required to submit their research project as partial fulfillment of the Master of Engineering degree program requirements.
Their research projects must demonstrate application of existing knowledge to solve new industry problems or advancement of knowledge in the chosen topic, as well as familiarity with methods of research and relevant literature in the chosen building science topic.

Assessment:

Minimum passing grade for each course is 60%; however, each student is required to maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 75% and pass all core courses with a minimum of 60%.

Teaching:

The program is delivered in a face-to-face format in classroom and research laboratories, seminars and supervisor/student meetings.

Careers:

Career opportunities for Building Science Master’s graduates are available in the construction industry including research institutes, engineering and architectural consulting firms, universities and colleges, government agencies and cities, warranty providers, manufacturers, and testing agencies.