Program Description

The McWhorter School of Building Science's Master of Building Construction program provides its students with an unparalleled educational experience, from conceptual idea to post-occupancy - a practical and industry-oriented study of the interdisciplinary and collaborative processes involved in the design, construction, financing, and management of the built environment. Please click on the link to view a brochure for the Master of Building Construction Program.

Message from the School Head

The McWhorter School of Building Science at Auburn University is one of the premier construction education institutions in the United States.  The Master of Building Construction degree is a fairly recent addition to the school’s storied history which began in 1947.  Since its initial offering in 1994, the graduate program has evolved to reflect the nature of the ever-changing construction industry.  Students from a variety of backgrounds and education come to Auburn to study for a career that the Bureau of Labor Statistics states, has “excellent employment opportunities” and whose job growth is “faster than average”.  Students with undergraduate degrees in construction or related disciplines, such as civil engineering or architecture, will commence their studies in the Fall semester.  Students with undergraduate degrees in areas other than construction will embark on their graduate careers at Auburn with a series of five foundation courses that begin in the Summer semester.

The McWhorter School of Building Science is proud to have a strong relationship with its industry partners.  As graduate students, you will have the chance to interact with industry leaders in the classroom, and an internal job placement program will assist you in finding employment to initiate or continue your construction career.  Students in the graduate program will take classes and have their own dedicated study space in the M. Miller Gorrie Center.  Built with substantial industry support, the Gorrie Center is the first public Gold LEED certified building in Alabama.  This state-of-the-art “green” building is equipped with unmatched information technology, and students will be exposed to the most current computer software and hardware.  Students may take advantage of the school’s various study abroad opportunities to learn about construction in other parts of the world, and experience foreign cultures.  In recent years, students have had the opportunity to study in a number of European countries as well as China, and these opportunities will increase in the future.

Students pursuing a graduate degree in Building Construction can expect to:

• Be exposed to all construction processes that constitute a project, from development conception, through project financing and design, into the on-site construction phase and management of the facility
• Solve and present solutions to complex industry problems
• Continuously practice and improve oral and written communication skills
• Develop an ability to communicate using digital forms
• Work with industry to identify specific construction problems
• Interact with a wide variety of industry professionals in and out of the classroom
• Develop an appreciation and understanding of the collaborative nature of the construction industry

If you choose to study at the McWhorter School of Building Science, you will receive a first class graduate education that will prepare you for an outstanding career in the construction industry.  In recent years the placement rate for our graduate students has been exceptional, and there are opportunities in all sectors of the industry.  If you are interested in obtaining more information, contact Anoop Sattineni or Ramona Thaxton.  Their contact details are below.

Yours truly,

Richard A. Burt
Professor & School Head