Separately, the Juris Doctor (JD) requires a minimum of 90 hours and the Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE) requires a minimum of 30 hours, totaling 120 credit hours. The dual JD/MSCE program allows up to 12 credit hours of specified CE electives to count towards the JD and a maximum of 12 credit hours of specified LAW courses to count towards the MSCE. The joint degree program, however, requires a minimum of 96 credit hours total (versus 120 credit hours) for both degrees.
Students in the join JD/MSCE degree program will follow the first year curriculum (31 hours) prescribed by the Law School (see below). The joint degree program effectively begins after the first year of the JD curriculum is complete. Joint JD/MSCE students will work with advisors from both programs prior to their third semester to assure an appropriate plan of study is developed and progress is made to satisfy the requirements of both degrees.
| Fall Term, First Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| LAW 600 Contracts | 2 |
| LAW 602 Torts | 4 |
| LAW 603 Criminal Law | 4 |
| LAW 608 Civil Procedure | 4 |
| LAW 610 Legal Writing and Research | 2 |
| 16 | |
| Spring Term, First Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| LAW 601 Property | 4 |
| LAW 605 Contracts II | 3 |
| LAW 609 Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 642 Evidence | 3 |
| LAW 648 Research and Writing (Moot Court) | 2 |
| 16 | |
| Fall Term, Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| LAW 660 The Legal Profession | 3 |
| CE 573 Statistical Applications in Civil Engineering | 3 |
| CE Elective approved for JD (see list below) | 3 |
| LAW Elective | 2 |
| 11 | |
| Spring Term, Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| CE Elective approved for JD (see list below) | 3 |
| CE Core Course (see below) | 3 |
| LAW Elective approved for MSCE (see list below) | 2 |
| LAW Seminar | 2 |
| 10 | |
| Fall Term, Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| CE Elective approved for JD (see below) | 3 |
| LAW Elective approved for MSCE (see list below) | 2 |
| LAW Skills Class | 3 |
| LAW Electives | 5 |
| 13 | |
| Spring Term, Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| LAW Elective approved for MSCE (see list below) | 3 |
| LAW Electives | 7 |
| 10 | |
| Fall Term, Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| LAW Elective approved for MSCE (see list below) | 3 |
| LAW Electives | 7 |
| 10 | |
| Spring Term, Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Course | Hours |
| LAW Elective approved for MSCE (see list below) | 2 |
| CE Elective approved for JD (see below) | 3 |
| LAW Electives | 5 |
| 10 | |
JOINT JD/MSCE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The JD requires a minimum of 90 credit hours, including a maximum of 12 credit hours of approved coursework from the MSCE. The following CE courses are approved for joint credit from the MSCE in the JD.
The MSCE requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, including up to 12 credit hours of approved coursework from the JD. The following LAW courses are approved for joint credit from the JD in the MSCE.
CE Electives Approved for JD1
- CE 515 Advanced Engineering Economics
- CE 517 Advanced Project Management
- CE 518 Engineering Management
- CE 522 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
- CE 525 Air Pollution
- CE 527 Storm Water Management
- CE 552 Traffic Safety and Security
- CE 553 Intelligent Transportation Systems
- CE 554 Urban Transportation Planning
- CE 564 Safety Engineering
- CE 581 Legal Aspects of Engineering and Construction
- CE 580 Forensic Engineering
- CE 629 Environmental Regulations
LAW Electives Approved for MSCE1
- LAW 601 Property Law
- LAW 620 Computers and the Law
- LAW 680 Natural Resources Law
- LAW 690 Water Law
- LAW 691 Construction Law
- LAW 694 Land Use Planning
- LAW 697 Workers’ Compensation Law
- LAW 702 Environmental Law I (NEPA, Air, and Water)
- LAW 704 Employment Law: Occupational Safety and Health
- LAW 721 Employment Discrimination Law
- LAW 723 Law and Economics
- LAW 738 Environmental Law and Policy: Coastal Law
- LAW 763 Problems in Environmental Law
- LAW 766 Real Estate Development
- LAW 771 Environmental Law II (Toxins and Hazardous Waste)
Students pursuing the MSCE are required to complete, as part of their degree requirements, a set of three core courses (9 credit hours) prescribed by the student’s area of interest.
MSCE Core Course Requirements (9 credit hours)
Construction Engineering and Management
- CE 573
- CE 567
- CE 568
Structural Engineering and Materials
- CE 573
- CE 534
- CE 537, CE 538, or CE 544
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
- CE 573
- CE 525
- CE 524, CE 527, CE 585, CE 575, or CE 570
Transportation Systems Engineering
- CE 573
- CE 551
- CE 558
The Joint JD/MSCE program is designed primarily for MSCE Plan II (coursework only, non-thesis option) students. If the MSCE Plan I (thesis option) is pursued, a maximum of six hours of LAW coursework will be allowed to count towards the MSCE (versus up to 12 hours for the MSCE Plan II).
For additional information on the JD, please visit law.ua.edu.
For additional information on the MSCE, please visit cce.eng.ua.edu.
1 Other courses may be allowed, please see an advisor.