Bachelor of Building Science (Entry Level 03) (Honours) (Co-op)
Experience current and emerging technologies in Canada`s only Bachelor of Building Science program.
- Enjoy a more personalized learning environment with our small classes
- Benefit from supportive and experienced faculty who are active in their industry
- Gain the latest and best industry-specific knowledge and skills to be career-ready upon graduation
Program Availability and Schedule
Schedule
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Program Summary
Credential
Program Delivery
Program Code
Area of Interest
School
Campus
Work Integrated Learning
The four-year Bachelor of Building Science Honours Degree program is designed to give you a broad knowledge base related to building environments. It covers all facets of building design, construction, human comfort and sustainability. It is Canada`s only Bachelor of Building Science program.
If you have a recognized Diploma in Architectural Technician, Construction Engineering Technician, or Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology you may be eligible to enter into the second year of the program with advanced academic standing. See Application/Admission Information for details....(read more)
Overview
Experience current and emerging technologies in Canada`s only Bachelor of Building Science program.
The four-year Bachelor of Building Science Honours Degree program is designed to give you a broad knowledge base related to building environments. It covers all facets of building design, construction, human comfort and sustainability. It is Canada`s only Bachelor of Building Science program.
If you have a recognized Diploma in Architectural Technician, Construction Engineering Technician, or Advanced Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology you may be eligible to enter into the second year of the program with advanced academic standing. See Application/Admission Information for details.
The small class sizes of the program allow you and your peers to form tight-knit working groups and build the effective communication skills necessary to succeed in the industry. You spend approximately one third of your time working in the labs, developing your skills. You also have the opportunity to gain industry experience from site visits, professors who are actively working in the field and mandatory cooperative education work terms.
As a student in the program, you learn skills specific to architecture, construction methodologies, building envelopes, sustainability and other areas such as:
- science and engineering principles, professionalism and methodologies
- fundamentals of mathematics, technical writing, computer applications
- building frames and structures, geotechnical engineering, and materials science
- sustainable design, botany, renewable energy, urban planning and building information modeling
- business fundamentals, project planning and management, and research and leadership skills
Students also gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term(s) (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op work term(s) are subject to availability and academic eligibility. Please note admission to a co-op program does not guarantee a co-op placement.
Graduates may find work as a(n):
- building scientist
- architectural or construction project manager
- energy consultant
- building inspector
- researcher
- junior analyst
- technical staff member with engineering firms or government agencies
Graduates of this program may also pursue further study in a variety of graduate credentials, such as Algonquin College`s Energy Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate, or pursue a Master`s degree in Building Science.
SUCCESS FACTORS
This program is well suited for students who:
- Appreciate the role of mathematics and applied science in the development of engineering solutions.
- Can work independently and contribute to problem-solving teams.
- Like to use drawings and spatial reasoning to visualize possibilities.
- Are inquisitive about the reasoning behind the choices and decisions that are made during building construction.
- Enjoy the challenge of researching and testing building methods and materials.
- Are interested in working with individuals who offer diverse perspectives.
Courses
Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
Code:
BSC2100
Course Name:
Building Frame and Structural Studies
Course Description:
Building frames and structures endure a variety of different strains and stresses over the lifespan of a building. Additional expected and u... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
ENG1100
Course Name:
Thermodynamics
Course Description:
Engineering-related disciplines, such as building science, draw heavily on a variety of sciences in order to identify, describe and solve pr... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENG2100
Course Name:
Geotechnical Engineering
Course Description:
Accurate assessments of the sub-grade geological materials found on a given site are a vital part of the decision making process related to ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL8810
Course Name:
Technical Communications
Course Description:
Students develop an appreciation of both the applications and the implications of technical communication. Through a combination of written ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GEP1001
Course Name:
Cooperative Education and Job Readiness
Course Description:
Students are guided through a series of activities that prepare them to conduct a professional job search and succeed in the workplace. Thro... + Read More
Hours:
18.0
Code:
MAT8204
Course Name:
Differential Equations
Course Description:
Physical situations such as beam deflection, harmonic motion, circuit theory or Newton's laws require solving first or second-order ordinary... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC2000
Course Name:
Introduction to Sociology
Course Description:
When working with individuals and groups it is important to understand both the background and influences present. Students develop a famili... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
BSC2300
Course Name:
Applied Numerical Methods
Course Description:
Students reviews a variety of building science applications and problems using analytical techniques, mathematical knowledge and physics pri... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
CON2200
Course Name:
Business Development for the Construction Industry
Course Description:
As a substantial economic sector, the construction industry reaches many facets of today's society. On the strength of a broad industry ove... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
CON3200
Course Name:
Seminar in Constructability
Course Description:
Using the knowledge and skills acquired to date in the program, students solve problems that arise when construction practicality meets aest... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
DSN2200
Course Name:
Sustainable Design
Course Description:
Sustainable design is the conception and insight of an environmentally responsive expression as a part of the evolving matrix of nature. Th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4100
Course Name:
Creative Writing
Course Description:
Whether for personal or public consumption, many people enjoy writing short fiction to express their creative energy while improving upon th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4200
Course Name:
New Worlds and Alternative Realities: Speculative Fiction
Course Description:
Speculative fiction gathers together all those works of fiction in which new worlds or alternative realities are envisioned. Within this ca... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4000
Course Name:
Philosophy and Popular Culture
Course Description:
Many facets of today's popular culture engage, directly or indirectly, with the concerns of a variety of philosophical traditions. Drawing o... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4002
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Drugs
Course Description:
Drugs are everywhere: professionals prescribe them to us to make us "better"; we take them recreationally; we give them to our children, pet... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4003
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Love and Sex
Course Description:
Love and sex are central to the human condition, and have been topics of academic inquiry and controversy throughout history. Various practi... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4004
Course Name:
Technology,Society and the Environment
Course Description:
Environmental issues have come to occupy a central place in the marketplace, politics, policy, and society at large. Owing largely to the ma... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4100
Course Name:
Survival in the Information Age: Risk and the Media
Course Description:
On an almost daily basis, the media, through its various outlets - television, radio, web sites, RSS, and podcasts - reports on issues that ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHY4000
Course Name:
Black Holes, Big Bangs and the Cosmos
Course Description:
The dynamic and exciting field of Cosmology outlines our current understanding of the Universe from its start, at the so-called Big Bang, th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4000
Course Name:
Criminology
Course Description:
The interdisciplinary study of social science examining the individual and social aspects of crime is known as criminology. Students work th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4001
Course Name:
Global Perspectives
Course Description:
Sociology, through its exploration of the organization of society and the connections between people and their surroundings, provides new wa... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
WKT2500
Course Name:
Work Term I
Course Description:
Immediately following semester four, the first co-op placement provides students with experiential opportunities within the construction ind... + Read More
Hours:
Code:
BSC2200
Course Name:
Building Systems
Course Description:
Through readings, discussion, and primary research using living lab tools, students explore the electrical, plumbing and safety systems that... + Read More
Hours:
70.0
Code:
BSC3100
Course Name:
Renewable Energy
Course Description:
The energy demands of new and existing buildings are an expense that many building owners and managers have accepted as a requirement, but e... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
GEO2300
Course Name:
Principles of Urban Planning
Course Description:
Increasingly cities and communities are feeling the pressure of expansion, and people from all walks of life feel disconnected from the proc... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
MAT8205
Course Name:
Statistics and Probability
Course Description:
Students review basic statistics operations including probability, random sampling, variability, and the binomial, normal and Poisson's dist... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
MGT3100
Course Name:
Introduction to Construction Project Management
Course Description:
It might reasonably be said that the only constant in a construction project is the variables. Students focus their attention on the dynamic... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
BIO2200
Course Name:
Botany
Course Description:
Biologists with an interest in plant life may choose to specialize in botany. Beginning with the organic features of life, focusing on plant... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
BSC3200
Course Name:
Alternative Energy
Course Description:
Students extend their knowledge of energy sources through a consideration of non-fossil fuel options that are currently available or being r... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
BSC3300
Course Name:
Energy Conservation and Auditing
Course Description:
In buildings of all sizes for all types of applications, essential components in the establishment and preservation of environmental comfort... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
CAD3200
Course Name:
Building Information Modeling
Course Description:
In construction and the building lifecycle process, alignment and improvement of both qualitative and quantitative metrics is guaranteed in ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENG3100
Course Name:
Heat Transfer
Course Description:
Students further develop their problem-solving abilities through a continued exploration of the theoretical and practical applications of mo... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
WKT3500
Course Name:
Work Term II
Course Description:
Immediately following academic term six, the second co-op placement provides students with experiential opportunities within the constructio... + Read More
Hours:
Code:
BSC4100
Course Name:
Applied Energy Management
Course Description:
Using existing and emerging research available from a variety of related disciplines, students examine new and accredited hardware, and soft... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
BSC4200
Course Name:
Professional Portfolio Development
Course Description:
In the profession of building science, the ability to construct a portfolio is an important skill. Students collect all the projects for the... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
BSC4300
Course Name:
Building Science Research Project I
Course Description:
Working individually or in small teams, students engage in a research project that contributes to the body of knowledge in applied building ... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
CAD4100
Course Name:
Energy Modelling and Simulation
Course Description:
Students explore a number of advanced software tools that use powerful analytical mechanisms to model the whole building during the design o... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4100
Course Name:
Creative Writing
Course Description:
Whether for personal or public consumption, many people enjoy writing short fiction to express their creative energy while improving upon th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4200
Course Name:
New Worlds and Alternative Realities: Speculative Fiction
Course Description:
Speculative fiction gathers together all those works of fiction in which new worlds or alternative realities are envisioned. Within this ca... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4000
Course Name:
Philosophy and Popular Culture
Course Description:
Many facets of today's popular culture engage, directly or indirectly, with the concerns of a variety of philosophical traditions. Drawing o... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4002
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Drugs
Course Description:
Drugs are everywhere: professionals prescribe them to us to make us "better"; we take them recreationally; we give them to our children, pet... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4003
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Love and Sex
Course Description:
Love and sex are central to the human condition, and have been topics of academic inquiry and controversy throughout history. Various practi... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4004
Course Name:
Technology, Society and the Environment
Course Description:
Environmental issues have come to occupy a central place in the marketplace, politics, policy, and society at large. Owing largely to the ma... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4100
Course Name:
Survival in the Information Age: Risk and the Media
Course Description:
On an almost daily basis, the media, through its various outlets - television, radio, web sites, RSS, and podcasts - reports on issues that ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHY4000
Course Name:
Black Holes, Big Bangs and the Cosmos
Course Description:
The dynamic and exciting field of Cosmology outlines our current understanding of the Universe from its start, at the so-called Big Bang, th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4000
Course Name:
Criminology
Course Description:
The interdisciplinary study of social science examining the individual and social aspects of crime is known as criminology. Students work th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4001
Course Name:
Global Perspectives
Course Description:
Sociology, through its exploration of the organization of society and the connections between people and their surroundings, provides new wa... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
BSC4350
Course Name:
Building Science Research Project II
Course Description:
Students complete the research project that was started in the previous semester. The research project is presented to peers and faculty in ... + Read More
Hours:
56.0
Code:
BSC4400
Course Name:
Seminar in Sustainable Solutions
Course Description:
In this collaborative learning experience, students research and hypothesize about the direction sustainable solutions may take in the years... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
CON4200
Course Name:
Construction Methods for Renovation and Rehabilitation
Course Description:
Building from scratch is not always the most feasible solution in today's marketplace, and so owners turn to renovation and rehabilitation a... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
MGT4200
Course Name:
Scenarios in Team Leadership
Course Description:
With the prevalence of team and project-based organizational models in the construction industry, skills in team participation and leadershi... + Read More
Hours:
28.0
Code:
ENL4100
Course Name:
Creative Writing
Course Description:
Whether for personal or public consumption, many people enjoy writing short fiction to express their creative energy while improving upon th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
ENL4200
Course Name:
New Worlds and Alternative Realities: Speculative Fiction
Course Description:
Speculative fiction gathers together all those works of fiction in which new worlds or alternative realities are envisioned. Within this ca... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4000
Course Name:
Philosophy and Popular Culture
Course Description:
Many facets of today's popular culture engage, directly or indirectly, with the concerns of a variety of philosophical traditions. Drawing o... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4002
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Drugs
Course Description:
Drugs are everywhere: professionals prescribe them to us to make us "better"; we take them recreationally; we give them to our children, pet... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4003
Course Name:
The Philosophy of Love and Sex
Course Description:
Love and sex are central to the human condition, and have been topics of academic inquiry and controversy throughout history. Various practi... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4004
Course Name:
Technology,Society and the Environment
Course Description:
Environmental issues have come to occupy a central place in the marketplace, politics, policy, and society at large. Owing largely to the ma... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHI4100
Course Name:
Survival in the Information Age: Risk and the Media
Course Description:
On an almost daily basis, the media, through its various outlets - television, radio, web sites, RSS, and podcasts - reports on issues that ... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
PHY4000
Course Name:
Black Holes, Big Bangs and the Cosmos
Course Description:
The dynamic and exciting field of Cosmology outlines our current understanding of the Universe from its start, at the so-called Big Bang, th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4000
Course Name:
Criminology
Course Description:
The interdisciplinary study of social science examining the individual and social aspects of crime is known as criminology. Students work th... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Code:
SOC4001
Course Name:
Global Perspectives
Course Description:
Sociology, through its exploration of the organization of society and the connections between people and their surroundings, provides new wa... + Read More
Hours:
42.0
Careers & Pathways
Careers
Graduates may work in architects` offices, engineering firms, contracting companies and government agencies and departments as researchers, junior analysts, project officers, building specialists, technical staff, architectural and construction project team leaders and consultants.
Pathways
Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Integrate sustainable building practices and alternative energy solutions and present options that balance client specifications, site conditions, and human factors.
- Use sound, acceptable engineering principles for the solution and documentation of situations encountered during the construction or rehabilitation of buildings.
- Communicate effectively with all project stakeholders.
- Read, interpret, and, with direction, modify documents related to building plans, including working drawings that involve structural, electrical, and mechanical features.
- Formulate strategies for the efficient and effective commissioning and operation of buildings and building systems.
- Evaluate the practical applications of primary and secondary theoretical research related to existing and emerging construction methods and materials.
- Analyze, test, and comment on the functionality of alternative structural, mechanical, and electrical solutions proposed for integration in both new projects and renovations.
- Contribute to the on-going economic viability of construction and engineering projects through the application of principles of estimating, accounting, and cost controls.
- Facilitate partnerships and productive interactions within project teams that involve knowledge-workers and skilled trade workers.
- Ensure work, activities, and practice are in compliance with established ethical and professional standards, as well as local, provincial, and national legislation.
- Adapt to changes in employment requirements through the development, implementation, and updating of professional and personal development plans.
- Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.
Tuition & Fees
Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.
2023/2024 Academic Year
Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.
Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.
Fees are subject to change.
Additional program related expenses include:
- Books and supplies cost approximately $1,200 per academic term and can be purchased from the campus store. For more information visit www.algonquincollege.com/coursematerials.
- Students are expected to purchase CSA-approved safety footwear and safety glasses, which are required at the start of the term.
Admissions Requirements
All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.
Program Eligibility
- Graduates from one of the following Ontario College Diplomas with the noted Grade Point Averages are eligible to bridge directly into semester three (year 2) of the eight semester (4-year) Bachelor of Building Science (BBS) Degree program:
- Architectural Technician, Ontario College Diploma with an overall GPA of 2.7 (70%); OR
- Construction Engineering Technician, Ontario College Diploma with an overall GPA of 2.7 (70%); OR
- Mechanical Engineering Technology, Ontario College Advanced Diploma with an overall GPA of 2.7 (70%) minimum. (* a bridging course is required and will be added to the student`s Level 03 course load.)
- Students who have completed the Architectural Technician or Construction Engineering Technician Ontario College Diploma programs are strongly recommended to complete an Integral calculus course or equivalent. (* a bridging course is required and will be added to the student`s Level 03 course load).
Application Information
BACHELOR OF BUILDING SCIENCE (ENTRY LEVEL 03)(HONOURS)(CO-OP)
Program Code 1512A03FWO
Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:
ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228
Applications are available online at www.ontariocolleges.ca.
Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.
International applicants applying from out-of-country can obtain the International Student Application Form at https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/ or by contacting the Registrar`s Office.
For further information on the admissions process, contact:
Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro
Additional Information
Program Resources
Algonquin College has been granted consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting February 5, 2021. The College shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable timeframe.
CO-OP INFORMATION:
Co-operative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience through paid work terms. Two academic terms prior to the cooperative education work term, students are required to actively participate in and successfully complete the self-directed co-op course, readiness activities and workshops.
Students must actively conduct a guided, self-directed job search and are responsible for securing approved program-related paid co-op employment. Students compete for co-op positions alongside students from Algonquin College and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. Algonquin College`s Co-op Department provides assistance in developing co-op job opportunities and guides the overall process, but does not guarantee that a student will obtain employment in a co-op work term. Co-op students may be required to relocate to take part in the co-op employment opportunities available in their industry and must cover all associated expenses; e.g., travel, work permits, visa applications, accommodation and all other incurred expenses.
Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during a term when students are not taking courses. For more information on your program`s co-op level(s), visit the courses tab on your program`s webpage.
International students enrolled in a co-op program are required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to have a valid Co-op/Internship Work Permit prior to commencing their work term. Without this document International students are not legally eligible to engage in work in Canada that is part of an academic program. The Co-op/Internship Work Permit does not authorize international students to work outside the requirements of their academic program.
For more information on co-op programs, the co-op work/study schedule, as well as general and program-specific co-op eligibility criteria, please visit www.algonquincollege.com/coop.
Successful completion of all courses, including mandatory cooperative education (Co-op) Work Terms, is a requirement for graduation.
TRANSFER CREDIT RECOGNITION:
Applicants with degrees or degree level courses from Canadian institutions empowered to award degrees and from other degree granting institutions recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To receive a course credit, a minimum grade of C (65%) is required. Official transcripts and course descriptions/outlines must be presented with the application for credit recognition. Applicants with degrees or degree level courses from countries other than Canada or from postsecondary institutions not recognized by the MCU must have their degrees evaluated by a recognized Canadian public or private institution that specializes in the evaluation of international degree programs. MCU must have their degrees evaluated by a recognized Canadian public or private institution that specializes in the evaluation of international degree programs.
DEGREE ELECTIVE INFORMATION:
Students may choose from a variety of breadth courses. Courses from a range of disciplines are offered within the humanities, social sciences, sciences, global cultures and mathematics. Elective offerings vary from semester to semester.
Contact
Stephen Vardy
Program Coordinator
Room CA519
Stephen is a Professor and Coordinator for the Bachelor of Science (Building Science) program at Algonquin College. He has been teaching at the College since 2011 (Part-Time until 2016, and Full-Time since). In addition, Stephen has taught previously at Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College and in the Architecture and Civil/Construction Engineering programs at Algonquin College.
Prior to joining Algonquin College full time, Stephen acquired 6 years of industry experience in the consulting industry as a Structural Engineer and Sustainability Consultant, working on a variety of large projects in the Ottawa area, including the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence. Stephen has also been involved more recently with the Centre Block Rehabilitation project, working with the Joint Venture (CENTRUS) in a part-time structural engineering role. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Civil Engineering) from Queen’s University, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering also from Queen’s University. His Ph.D. research focused on the structural performance of natural building materials.