Building Construction Science Diploma

This program focuses on live projects and hands-on activities to teach students energy-efficient construction materials and methods associated with high-performance buildings. Students will learn advanced framing methods and other alternative building techniques associated with ‘green building’. Students will also learn energy auditing techniques and software associated with building energy analysis. Students will graduate from this program with the skills required to build high-performance buildings and monitor their energy use. As the construction industry reinvents itself around more sustainable building concepts, the Building Construction Science Program at A-B Tech is the “go-to” place for training and retraining for a new era of construction.

All credits in this program can transfer into the Associate's Degree in Construction Management Technologies which would allow a student to graduate in two years with a diploma and a degree. Many of the credits transfer into our Sustainability Technologies program as well. Furthermore, some credits will transfer into four-year programs.

For more information, contact Heath Moody by email at brantonhmoody@abtech.edu or by phone at (828) 398-7349.

Visit Construction Science Overview or visit Facebook @AshevilleGreenSchool for more program details.

Specific Requirements

Courses requiring a grade of “C” or better: ARC, BPR, CMT, CST, EGR, and SST

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
ARC-112		4
This course introduces construction materials and their methodologies. Topics include construction terminology, materials and their properties, manufacturing processes, construction techniques, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to detail construction assemblies and identify construction materials and properties. View course details for Construction Materials and Methods ‌‌
CMT-210		3
This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of effective supervision emphasizing professionalism through knowledge and applied skills. Topics include safety, planning and scheduling, contracts, problem-solving, communications, conflict resolution, recruitment, employment laws and regulations, leadership, motivation, teamwork, discipline, setting objectives, and training. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the basic skills necessary to be successful as a supervisor in the construction industry. View course details for Construction Management Fund ‌‌
CST-111		4
This course covers standard and alternative building methods to include wall framing. Topics include safety and footings, foundations, floor framing systems, and wall framing systems commonly used in the construction industry. Upon completion, students should be able to safely erect all framing necessary to begin roof framing. View course details for Construction I ‌‌
CST-112		4
This course covers building methods and materials used to dry-in a building. Topics include safety, ceiling/roof framing applications, roof finishes, windows, and exterior doors. Upon completion, students should be able to safely erect different roof types and properly install window and exterior doors, roofing, and exterior finish materials. View course details for Construction II ‌‌
CST-150		3
This course introduces concepts and techniques for the design and interaction of the mechanical systems of high-performance buildings. Topics include building envelope, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), indoor air quality, lighting, plumbing and electrical. Upon completion, students should be able to understand building system's interaction and performance. View course details for Building Science ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
ARC-131		3
This course covers the methods of researching building codes for specific projects. Topics include residential and commercial building codes. Upon completion, students should be able to determine the code constraints governing residential and commercial projects. View course details for Building Codes ‌‌
CST-241		3
This course covers the procedures involved in planning and estimating a residential structure. Topics include labor and equipment with emphasis placed on quantity take-off of materials necessary to construct a residential structure. Upon completion, students should be able to accurately complete a take-off of materials and equipment needs and plan the labor to construct a residential structure. View course details for Planning/Estimating I ‌‌
SST-120		3
This course introduces the principles of analyzing energy use, energy auditing tools and techniques, conservation techniques, and calculating energy savings. Topics include building system control theory, calibrating digital controls, energy loss calculations, and applicable conservation techniques. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of energy use, audits, and controls in the analysis of energy consumption View course details for Energy Use Analysis ‌‌
SST-140		3
This course is designed to introduce the student to sustainable building design and construction principles and practices. Topics include sustainable building rating systems and certifications, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable building materials and water use. Upon completion, students should be able to identify the principles and practices of sustainable building design and construction. View course details for Green Bldg & Design Concepts ‌‌

Course Code	Course	Credit Hours	Link to course details
BPR-130		3
This course covers the interpretation of prints and specifications that are associated with design and construction projects. Topics include interpretation of documents for foundations, floor plans, elevations, and related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to read and interpret construction prints and documents. View course details for Print Reading-Construction ‌‌
ENG-111		3
This course is designed to develop the ability to produce clear writing in a variety of genres and formats using a recursive process. Emphasis includes inquiry, analysis, effective use of rhetorical strategies, thesis development, audience awareness, and revision. Upon completion, students should be able to produce unified, coherent, well-developed essays using standard written English. This is a Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) course that satisfies English Composition. View course details for Writing and Inquiry ‌‌
MAT-121		3
This course provides an integrated approach to technology and the skills required to manipulate, display, and interpret mathematical functions and formulas used in problem-solving. Topics include basic geometric and proportion applications; simplification, evaluation, and solving of algebraic and radical functions; complex numbers; right triangle trigonometry; and systems of equations. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the ability to use mathematics and technology for problem-solving, analyzing and communicating results. View course details for Algebra/Trigonometry I ‌‌

Total Credit Hours Required:

Curriculum is based on the 2024-2025 catalog.

Why General Education?

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”

General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.

How many hours of General Education do I have to take?

If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:

Six hours from Communication
Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics

General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:

Communication	Humanities & Fine Arts	Social & Behavioral Science	Natural Science & Mathematics
COM-110	ART-111	ECO-251	BIO-161
COM-120	ART-114	ECO-252	BIO-163
COM-231	ART-115	HIS-111	BIO-168
ENG-110	HUM-110	HIS-112	MAT-110
ENG-111	HUM-115	HIS-131	MAT-121
ENG-112	MUS-110	HIS-132	MAT-143
ENG-114	MUS-112	POL-120	MAT-152
	PHI-215	PSY-150	MAT-171
	PHI-240	SOC-210	PHY-110/110A
		SOC-225	PHY-121

Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:

Six hours in English Composition
Six to nine hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
Three to eight hours in Mathematics
Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
11 to 14 additional General Education hours

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:

Six hours in English Composition
Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
12 hours in Mathematics
12 hours in Natural Sciences

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:

Six hours in English Composition
Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
Three to four hours in Mathematics
Four hours in Natural Sciences

Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.

What will I learn in General Education?

At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will learn the following:

Students will critically evaluate information:

Students will demonstrate information literacy.
Students will critique works of human expression.
Students will analyze scientific literature.

Students will solve problems:

Students will identify processes.
Students will analyze problems.
Students will interpret the results.
Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.

Students will effectively communicate.

Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.

Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?

A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.

If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.