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title: 'Joint JD/MSCE Degree Requirements'
date: '2024-01-24T14:35:26-06:00'
type: page
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# Joint JD/MSCE Degree Requirements

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. 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.

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 JD\*

- 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](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW601)
- [LAW 690 Water Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW690)
- [LAW 691 Construction Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW691)
- [LAW 694 Land Use Planning](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW694)
- [LAW 697 Workers’ Compensation Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW697)
- [LAW 721 Employment Discrimination Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW721)
- [LAW 723 Law and Economics](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW723)
- [LAW 766 Real Estate Development](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW766)
- [LAW 814: Environmental Law Survey](/academics/law-school-course/?course=law814)





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](http://cce.eng.ua.edu/).

*\* Other courses may be allowed, please see an advisor.*