MSCE Advanced Design & Construction Technology

About

The 21st century leaders of the built environment, those who are involved in design, architecture, engineering and construction, must be able to manage and leverage the rapid pace of technological change. The new program in Advanced Design & Construction Technology is a multi-disciplinary program which aims to develop professionals to think holistically about design and engineering of sustainable cities, infrastructure, buildings, and systems of the future. 

In this program, students will explore an integrative approach to design, engineering and construction technology, and in developing expertise in core topics including sustainability, data analysis and visualization, computing, modeling, simulation, process engineering and manufacturing, leadership, design and innovation. This program is designed for students with a passion for technologies and a passion to influence the design and engineering of the built environment.  The curriculum will prepare this next generation of innovators to not only harness the power of technological innovation, but to bridge the industry’s fragmentation in order to foster collaboration, catalyze change, and offer advanced and sustainable solutions to global problems. 

ADCT graduates will pave the way in design, engineering, construction, management and leadership roles in the built environment. Our graduates can expect to find roles in AECO firms, in technology firms, and in management consulting firms who focus on civil infrastructure, smart cites, buildings and technology. Our graduates will be encouraged and supported to be entrepreneurs and stewards of the built environment and to help solve many of its grand challenges.

This degree offers the student a myriad of opportunities and exposure in the construction industry.

  • Graduates enter into areas of construction management, engineering development and planning, consulting, and the pursuit of higher degree.
  • Graduates have a variety of employment opportunities, including working for general contractors, real estate developers, sub contractors, construction management firms and architectural engineering firms.
  • Graduates also have the opportunity to seek employment with prominent global architectural, engineering, and construction firms. Parsons, Fluor Daniel, and Jacob's Engineering, are all headquartered in Los Angeles.

    Prerequisites

    • Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics.
    • Students with a degree in Mathematics or Physics are required to take additional engineering courses.
    • Satisfactory GPA and GRE/GMAT scores.
    • Satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students.

    Program requirements:

    A minimum of 28 units with an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is required. Two thirds of the units applied toward the degree must be taken at the 500-level or above

    For detailed course information, please see the Course Catalogue. For a course schedule, please see the Schedule of Classes.

    Required Courses (16 Units*)

    CE 470: Building Information Modeling and Integrated Practice (4 units)
    CE 505: Data Management (2 units)
    CE 568: Fundamental Concepts of Computing and Programming in Civil and Environmental Engineering  (2 units)
    CE 573: Advanced Technologies in AEC Practices (4 units)
    CE 578: Technology Enabled Integrated Design, an Architecture, Engineering and Construction Capstone (4 units)

    Elective Courses (varies*)

    The program requires electives to be pre-approved by the program director. Electives can be taken from a wide variety of options across disciplines and are intended for students to acquire new skillsets and to provide deep dives into particular areas of interest. There are a number of electives which are specifically aligned to the program that will be strongly encouraged and others that are intended to enhance expertise in core areas topics including sustainability, data analysis and visualization, computing, modeling, simulation, process engineering and manufacturing, leadership, design and innovation.

    A minimum of 12 elective units are needed to complete the degree. Electives must be pre-approved by the program director, Dr. David Gerber (dgerber@usc.edu).

    *Other electives from elsewhere at USC can be selected with advisor approval.