The Master of Building Science course at University of Southern California (USC) empowers students to devise innovative and sustainable engineering solutions for architecture.

The Master of Building Science integrates building systems with current design practice and new technologies to create innovative and holistic design solutions.

Students emerge from the programme as design professionals equipped to enter the fields of architecture, engineering and construction.

Drawing from a foundation in research and design methods, graduates integrate aspects of energy performance, health and comfort and environmental design to develop design solutions that address the complexity of the built environment.

The faculty guide students through individual thesis projects covering a wide-range of topics, including building information modelling, operational and embodied carbon, facade design and performance, human-centred intelligent environmental controls and design automation.

School: University of Southern California School of Architecture
Course: Master of Building Science
Type: Postgraduate
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Course dates: September 2026 to May 2028
Application deadline: 5 January 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– Architectural technologies including structure, environmental controls, sustainability, materials and methods, facade design, wellness, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), BIM and digital technologies

What are the requirements?

– Individuals who have completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree are eligible for admission

What facilities and resources are available?

– Over 50,000 square feet of space dedicated to design studios, classrooms, galleries, fabrication workshops and research labs
– Each space is equipped with cutting-edge tools and technology to support every stage of the creative process
– 24/7 studio access and a personal workstation for each student

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

Our graduates go on to become building science consultants, specialists in architecture firms, government advisors, owners of their own companies and PhD students for those wishing to continue into teaching.

Who teaches this course?

– Bhavna Sharma, programme director

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