2024-2025

Building Science, Master of Science

Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering

College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences

Building science is a field of study concerned with the technical performance of buildings, building materials, and building systems that draws upon physics, chemistry, engineering, architecture, and the life sciences. Understanding the physical behavior of the building as a system and how this impacts energy efficiency, durability, comfort and indoor air quality is essential to innovating high-performance buildings. Modern building science employs models of the building as a system (systems theory), and applies empirical techniques to the effective solution of building design problems.
 

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Thesis Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Comprehensive Exam Comprehensive Exam is required.
Oral Defense Oral Defense is required.
Research Individualized research is required.
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Identify and research fundamental components and related problems of building science.
    • Apply knowledge of the historical context of building science to solving contemporary building design problems.
    • Research solutions that can be used to minimize energy and resource usage, conserve water, and minimize construction waste for a variety of energy-efficient building types.
    • Research solutions that can be used to improve the full-spectrum of human comfort parameters for building occupants for a variety of energy-efficient building types.
  • Develop protocols, tools and organizational methods necessary to solve building science problems.
    • Develop solutions that can be used to minimize energy and resource usage, conserve water, and minimize construction waste for a variety of energy-efficient building types.
    • Develop solutions that can be used to improve the full-spectrum of human comfort parameters for building occupants for a variety of energy-efficient building types
  • Analyze and solve advanced building science problems
    • Apply knowledge of modeling building energy performance, water resource use, and associated carbon emissions using appropriate modeling tools, to a variety of building types.
    • Develop and utilize digital tools to quantify and analyze the performance parameters of a variety of complex building systems.
    • Apply knowledge of environmental economics to the evaluation and selection of building performance alternatives.
  • Document and explain advanced building science solutions to a variety of audiences.
    • Accurately explain the design strategies used to improve building performance to a variety of audiences.
    • Communicate predicted performance results of the design strategies used to improve building performance, to a variety of audiences.

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Complete one of the following:
      • BS degree in Architecture
      • BS degree in Civil Engineering
      • BS degree in Construction Management
      • BS degree in Environmental Engineering
      • BS degree in Mathematics
      • BS degree in Mechanical Engineering
      • Bachelor's degree and a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil exam
      • BS degree in a natural science
      • Master of Architecture (MArch)
      • Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
      • MS degree in Civil Engineering
      • MS degree in Construction Management
      • MS degree in Environmental Engineering
      • MS degree in Mechanical Engineering
    • Personal Statement or Essay
      • Statement of Purpose
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam:
      • Required for international students whose degree is not from an English speaking institution.
      • Must have a minimum passing score of 80.
    • Two letters of recommendation
  • For those applying for fall 2025 and beyond, the following will also be required:
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Recommended
    • GRE® Revised General Test
Master's Requirements

  • This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:

    • Building Science Fundamentals: 9 units
    • Building Science Economics: 6 units
    • Building Science Electives: 9 units
    • Thesis or Master’s Project: 6 units


    Take the following 30 units:

    Building Science Fundamentals (9 units)


    Building Science Economics (6 units)
    Building Science Elective (9 units)
    Thesis or Master's Project (6 units)OR

    • The CENE Graduate Coordinator or their designee will serve as faculty advisor for these students. If a project is selected, the faculty member serving as the project leader will serve as the student’s advisor.


  • Milestones
    Students in this program must engage in original research in one of the focus areas of building science, as will be primarily mentored through the program by their advisor.  Students must secure a specific advisor by the end of their second term of study.  Faculty tasked to be advisors must be members of CECMEE or hold affiliate stats.  NTT faculty with a terminal degree will be allowed to serve as graduate advisors.  The timeline below is predicated upon two years to completion.  Milestones may be revised in the event of exceptional student progress.
     
    Thesis Milestones
     
    • Assignment of Thesis Committee (Year 1, Spring): The Thesis Committee will be formed with guidance of the student’s advisor, and will guide the student through the final stages of their research.  The committee must consist of three faculty, with at least two members of CECMEE and optionally one faculty member from outside the area. NTT faculty with a terminal degree in their field will be allowed to serve as Thesis Committee members.
    • Thesis Defense (Year 2, Spring): This examination consists of written and oral portions: The Thesis and Thesis Defense, respectively.  The Thesis captures the summative outcomes of a student’s research and the Thesis Defense allows for a comprehensive oral examination by the Thesis Committee to determine the merits and adequacy of the work.  The outcome of this combined exam may be a Pass or Fail, with 2/3 consent of the Thesis Committee required to achieve a Pass. Students who do not receive a Pass on this exam may retake the exam the following semester.
     
    Non-Thesis Option
    • Completion of required coursework, including Master’s Project is required for degree.
Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.