Master of Science in Sustainable Building Technology
About This Program
The Master of Science in Sustainable Building Technology is a post-professional degree that answers a need for practitioners in diverse fields to have a comprehensive understanding of sustainable building technology. The program provides a curriculum for the strategic intersection of energy efficient building design and sustainable building technologies. Students in this program will gain expertise in three primary areas:
- Advanced design of building system integration
- Advanced environmental system design
- Advanced performance-based design
Additional courses are available to support areas of advanced study and research.
The program is intended for graduates and practicing professionals with professional degrees in the following fields:
- Architecture
- Landscape architecture
- Interior Design
- Historic preservation
- Urban design
- Environmental planning
- Industrial design
- Civil engineering
- Architectural engineering
- Environmental engineering
- Construction management
The MS in Sustainable Building Technology does not lead to architecture licensure. Students seeking professional licensure should pursue the School of Architecture’s accredited Master of Architecture degree.
Competencies
- Upon completion, students will be capable of advanced design of building system integration.
- Upon completion, students will be capable of advanced environmental system design.
- Upon completion, students will be capable of advanced performance-based design.
Admissions Criteria
- Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate School and the College of Architecture Planning and Public Affairs.
- Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited institution in one of the professions or fields of study listed below:
- A five-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BArch)*
- A five- or six-year National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)-accredited professional degree in architecture (BArch or MArch)
- A four- or five-year Council for Interior Design Accrediting Board (CIDA)-accredited professional degree in interior Design
- A four- or five-year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture or Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture degree; or a master's degree in Landscape Architecture. All degrees must be from programs accredited by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board.
- A Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design
- A Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning
- A Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
- A Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering
- A Bachelor of Science Construction Management
- A personal interview with the Director, Graduate Advisor or members of the landscape architecture faculty is strongly recommended.
- Three letters of recommendation are required, and it is suggested that at least two of the letters come from former educators or academic contact. Letters of recommendation should be sent directly via email to cappa.advising@uta.edu or by postal service, to: CAPPA Program – Master of Sustainable Building Technology (MSBT), Box 19108, Arlington TX 76019.
- Applicants also are required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Average GRE scores of successful applicants since 1998 have been approximately 550 Verbal and 550 Quantitative.
- Also required is a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 as calculated by graduate admissions.
- Applicants holding first professional degrees in landscape architecture, or in some cases degrees related to landscape architecture (such as architecture, engineering, environmental design, horticulture, interior design, planning, and the like) are required to submit portfolios reflecting the applicants' professional and/or academic experiences and interests. Portfolios are assessed according to proficiency in design, presentation and layout, technical skills, and content, similar to criteria used in design studios.
- Applicants who have a weakness in one of the criteria for admission can enhance their credentials with strengths in the remaining criteria.
Applicants whose native language is not English who do not meet the program's minimum TOEFL score, may be asked to complete extramural training in English through the Pathways Admission Program described in the Admission section of this Catalog.
Unconditional Admission
Applicants meeting all the above mentioned criteria are eligible for unconditional admission.
Provisional Admission
An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the submission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission. All missing documentation must be received before the end of the first semester of study.
Probationary Admission
Those who have weaknesses with respect to letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and GPA can be admitted on probation, with the condition that they make no less than a B in the first 12 hours of coursework in landscape architecture. Such students must complete no fewer than 9 credits during the semester in which they are on probation.
Deferred Admission
Those who have weaknesses with respect to letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and GPA and/or who have not submitted all of the materials required for unconditional admission, may have their applications deferred for one semester, until outstanding requirements and criteria are met. A deferred admission may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.
Denial of Admission
Candidates who do not satisfy the requirements for probationary admission will not be admitted.
International Student Admission
In addition the above-listed requirement, applicants whose native language is not English must have a demonstrated speaking ability in English. They also present a minimum required score of 575 on the paper exam, or an equivalent score on the computer based- or internet-based tests, on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International applicants who do not meet the Program's minimum TOEFL score, must complete extramural training in English, as approved by the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies.
Waiver of Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
A waiver of the Graduate Record Exam may be considered for a UT Arlington undergraduate who has completed an undergraduate degree in Architecture or Interior Design; the student's GPA must equal or exceed 3.50 in all undergraduate coursework completed at UT Arlington. The GRE waiver may also be extended to other UT Arlington undergraduates who have completed an undergraduate degree at UT Arlington; the student's GPA must equal or exceed a 3.50 in all undergraduate coursework completed at UT Arlington. The final decision to waive the GRE also requires a positive review of completed coursework by the graduate advisor to determine the applicant's readiness to study Architecture.
Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships
To be considered for a Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship, the candidate must be admitted unconditionally. In order to be eligible for teaching assistantships, students whose native language is not English, must complete extramural training in English as approved by the Program and the Office of Graduate Studies, score of 23 on the TOEFL-iBT Speaking subtest or score a 7.0 on the Speaking portion of the IELTS.
Fellowships and Scholarships
To be considered for fellowships or scholarship the candidate must admitted without provisional conditions and have a favorable review in most of the evaluation criteria. Fellowships and scholarships in architecture are limited and very competitive. Generally, candidates must be new students coming to UT Arlington, must have a GPA of 3.0 in their last 60 undergraduate credit hours and any graduate hours, and must be enrolled in a minimum of 9 hours in both long semesters to retain their fellowships or scholarships.
Curriculum
| Foundations | ||
| ARCH 5320 | PERFORMANCE-BASED DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE | 3 |
| ARCH 5326 | ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS II | 3 |
| ARCH 5332 | ENERGY USE AND CONSERVATION IN ARCHITECTURE | 3 |
| ARCH 5357 | BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING & VISUALIZATION | 3 |
| ARCH 5368 | GREEN DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION | 3 |
| ARCH 5695 | TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE | 6 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 3 from the following: | 9 | |
| Architecture Options | ||
| ADVANCED COMPUTER APPLICATIONS | ||
| CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS | ||
| CODES AND REGULATIONS | ||
| DIGITAL FABRICATION METHODOLOGY | ||
| DIGITAL TECTONICS & PROTOTYPING | ||
| HIGH PERFORMANCE FACADE SYSTEMS | ||
| TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURE | ||
| Engineering Options | ||
| MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS | ||
| CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMICS | ||
| CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS | ||
| CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, SPECIFICATIONS, & ADMINISTRATION | ||
| CONSTRUCTION SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 5332 | 3 | ARCH 5326 | 3 |
| ARCH 5357 | 3 | ARCH 5368 (Green Design + Construction) | 3 |
| ARCH 5320 | 3 | ARCH 53xx ( Elective) | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Hours | Spring Semester | Hours |
| ARCH 53xx ( Elective) | 3 | ARCH 5695 (topic specific) | 6 |
| ARCH 53xx ( Elective) | 3 | ||
| 6 | 6 | ||
| Total Hours: 30 | |||
Program Completion
A student may be subject to dismissal from the program if they accumulate 4 deficiency points during their program of graduate study. Students who complete a Master’s degree at CAPPA will not carry deficiency points into their PhD work. Deficiency points may not be removed from a student’s record by repeating a course or additional coursework.
D = 2 deficiency points
F = 3 deficiency points
I = 1 deficiency point
W = 0.5 deficiency point
A student whose cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 in courses taken while enrolled as a UT Arlington graduate student may be subject to dismissal from the program.
Advising Resources
The College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) at UT Arlington equips students with skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges in design, public policy, and research. Our Advising Office supports academic and career success. Explore our Future Students page to connect with an Academic Advisor and shape your future.
Location:
203 CAPPA Building
Email:
cappa.advising@uta.edu
Phone:
817-272-2801