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title: 'Joint JD/MSCE Degree Requirements'
date: '2024-01-24T14:35:26-06:00'
type: page
word_count: 832
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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 (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 YearCourseHours[LAW 600 Contracts](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW600)2[LAW 602 Torts](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW602)4[LAW 603 Criminal Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW603)4[LAW 608 Civil Procedure](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW608)4[LAW 610 Legal Writing and Research](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW610)2 16

Spring Term, First YearCourseHours[LAW 601 Property](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW601)4[LAW 605 Contracts II](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW605)3[LAW 609 Constitutional Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW609)4[LAW 642 Evidence](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW642)3[LAW 648 Research and Writing](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW648)
(Moot Court)216



Fall Term, Second YearCourseHours[LAW 660 The Legal Profession](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW660)3CE 573 Statistical Applications in
Civil Engineering3CE Elective approved for JD
(see list below)3LAW Elective2 11

Spring Term, Second YearCourseHoursCE Elective approved for JD
(see list below)3CE Core Course (see below)3LAW Elective approved for MSCE
(see list below)2LAW Seminar210



Fall Term, Third YearCourseHoursCE Elective approved for JD
(see below)3LAW Elective approved for MSCE
(see list below)2LAW Skills Class3LAW Electives5 13

Spring Term, Third YearCourseHoursLAW Elective approved for MSCE
(see list below)3LAW Electives710



Fall Term, Fourth YearCourseHoursLAW Elective approved for MSCE
(see list below)3LAW Electives7 10

Spring Term, Fourth YearCourseHoursLAW Elective approved for MSCE
(see list below)2CE Elective approved for JD
(see below)3LAW Electives510



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](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW601)
- [LAW 620 Computers and the Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW620)
- [LAW 680 Natural Resources Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW680)
- [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 702 Environmental Law I (NEPA, Air, and Water)](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW702)
- [LAW 704 Employment Law: Occupational Safety and Health](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW704)
- [LAW 721 Employment Discrimination Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW721)
- [LAW 723 Law and Economics](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW723)
- [LAW 738 Environmental Law and Policy: Coastal Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW738)
- [LAW 763 Problems in Environmental Law](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW763)
- [LAW 766 Real Estate Development](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW766)
- [LAW 771 Environmental Law II (Toxins and Hazardous Waste)](/academics/law-school-course/?course=LAW771)





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/).

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