College of Engineering

Sustainable Building Systems

Master's: Boston
Request Info | Apply

The Master of Science in Sustainable Building Systems focuses on the design and operation of buildings to provide a comfortable, healthy, and productive indoor environment with minimal energy and environmental impact.

Boston
Location
Full-Time
Part-Time
Commitment
2 Years
Duration of Program
Yes *
Meets F1 Visa Requirements
Overview

The Master of Science in Sustainable Building Systems integrates elements of an architectural engineering program with construction management while embracing the concepts of engineering sustainability as related to energy and materials usage and the effect on the environment. The program focuses on the design and operation of buildings to provide a comfortable, healthy, and productive environment and landscape with minimal energy and environmental impact. Prospective students for the MSSBS program are engineering, architecture, business or science majors, and industry professionals pursuing an industrial or public planning-based career, who desire to gain cutting-edge knowledge in sustainability practices for building systems development and its infrastructure.

Students develop leadership and decision-making skills to implement sustainable building practices in either the private or public sectors in the global market. The graduates of the Master of Science in Sustainable Building Systems should display a high level of engineering knowledge in a broad range of architectural engineering, civil engineering, and construction management while embracing the concepts of engineering sustainability as related to energy and materials usage and the effects on the environment. Graduates will have the base training necessary to lead efforts within companies to plan and implement sustainable practices for the design and operation of buildings, realize energy and materials efficiency improvements, and minimize environmental impact. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to take the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate examination, providing them with an internationally recognized certificate in this field.

More Details

Unique Features

  • This program meets F-1 international student status requirements
  • Can be combined with a Gordon Engineering Leadership certificate
  • Optional participation in Northeastern's co-op program
  • Prepares students to take the LEED Green Associate Exam

Looking for something different?

View more Engineering programs
Admissions

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-50 university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

$54K *
Tuition

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

  • Application form
  • Application fee
  • Resumé
  • Transcripts for all institutions attended
  • TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo exam scores for international students
  • GRE is not required for terms starting during the 2021-2022 or the 2022-2023 academic years

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the College of Engineering admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Applications received after the stated deadline dates will be accepted and processed as quickly as possible; however it may not be possible to have a decision rendered in time for the applicant to begin taking classes for the desired term if admitted.

Applications submitted by the referenced dates will receive full consideration for the referenced term. Applications received after the referenced dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Fall Semester Entry
Spring Semester Entry
Funding/Early Action deadline for domestic and international applicants: January 15
Deadline for international applicants (outside the U.S.): May 15
Deadline for international applicants (inside the U.S.): July 1
Deadline for domestic applicants: August 1
Deadline for regional campus applicants: August 15
Deadline for international applicants (outside the U.S.): September 15
Deadline for International applicants (inside the U.S.): November 1
Deadline for domestic applicants: November 15
Deadline for regional campus applicants: December 15
Curriculum

General Requirements

Master of Science in Sustainable Building Systems General Requirements

Core Requirements

ARCH 5210 - Environmental Systems 
4.00 
ARCH 5211 - Recitation for ARCH 5210 
0.00 
SBSY 5100 - Sustainable Design and Technologies in Construction 
4.00 
SBSY 5200 - Sustainable Engineering Systems for Buildings 
4.00 

Students must register for this 0 SH course every semester:

SBSY 5400 - Sustainable Building Systems Seminar 
0.00 

Electives

Restricted Elective List

Complete 8 semester hours from the following:

ARCH 5220 - Integrated Building Systems 
4.00 
CIVE 5221 - Construction Project Control and Organization 
2.00 
CIVE 5231 - Alternative Project Delivery Systems in Construction 
2.00 
CIVE 5275 - Life Cycle Assessment of Materials, Products, and Infrastructure 
4.00 
CIVE 7230 - Legal Aspects of Civil Engineering 
4.00 
EMGT 6305 - Financial Management for Engineers 
4.00 
SBSY 5250 - Building Performance Simulation 
4.00 
SBSY 5300 - Information Systems for Integrated Project Delivery 
4.00 

Students can take either of the following courses, but not both:

CIVE 7220 - Construction Management 
4.00 
EMGT 5220 - Engineering Project Management 
4.00 

Other Elective List

Any restricted elective not used to meet the restricted elective requirement can be taken as another elective.

Complete 12 semester hours from the following:
The specific topic for CIVE 7388 is Dynamics and Control of Infrastructure Systems.

ACCT 6200 - Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making 1 
3.00 
ACCT 6201 - Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making 2 
1.50 
CIVE 7151 - Urban Informatics and Processing 
4.00 
CIVE 7350 - Behavior of Concrete Structures 
4.00 
CIVE 7351 - Behavior of Steel Structures 
4.00 
CIVE 7388 - Special Topics in Civil Engineering 
4.00 
FINA 6200 - Value Creation through Financial Decision Making 
3.00 
FINA 6216 - Valuation and Value Creation 
3.00 
FINA 6217 - Real Estate Finance and Investment 
3.00 
LPSC 7312 - Cities, Sustainability, and Climate Change 
4.00 
ME 5645 - Environmental Issues in Manufacturing and Product Use 
4.00 

Please note: This curriculum is for marketing purposes only and is subject to change. Official curriculum can be found within the course catalog.



Experiential Learning

Northeastern combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and research to prepare students for real-world engineering challenges. The cooperative education program, also known as co-op, is one of the largest and most innovative in the world, and Northeastern is one of only a few that offers a co-op program for graduate students. Through this program, students gain professional industry experience in their field of interest as part of the academic curriculum while employed from four to eight months in a wide variety of organizations, from large companies to entrepreneurial startups.
 
In 2019, the Graduate School of Engineering placed nearly 1000 students in co-op positions. We have a team that prepares students for the cooperative education experience through resumé building, developing interview skills, and guiding professional development.

Faculty

Our Faculty

Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

Jerome F. Hajjar

Jerome F. Hajjar

CDM Smith Professor and Chair, Civil and Environmental Engineering
David Fannon

David Fannon

Associate Professor, Architecture and Civil and Environmental Engineering
Andrew T. Myers

Andrew T. Myers

Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Students

By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 275,000 alumni and 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global nongovernmental organizations. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster a lifelong, global community of learning and mentoring.

Below is a look at where our Engineering alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.

 

  • Where They Work

    • GE Aviation
    • Raytheon
    • CDM Smith
    • Bose Corporation
    • IBM

  • What They Do

    • Engineering
    • Operations
    • Business Development
    • Program and Project Management
    • Entrepreneurship

  • What They're Skilled At

    • Engineering
    • Project Management
    • AutoCAD
    • SolidWorks
    • Manufacturing

 

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.

Request Info

Related Articles

Product Approval in Biotech

June 10, 2021 -
Industry Advice

How to Choose a Biotechnology Concentration

June 3, 2021 -
Industry Advice

Computational Biology vs. Bioinformatics: What’s the Difference?

May 28, 2021 -
Industry Advice

You May Also Be Interested In
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
2 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
2 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
1.5 to 2 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
1.5 to 2 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
2 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
2-3 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Certificate
Boston
Part-Time
1-1.5 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE