DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, CONSTRUCTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING (CE)
Professor Kenneth Fridley, Department Head
Office: 260 H. M. Comer Hall
The American Society of Civil Engineers takes pride in describing its role as a people-serving profession. Civil engineers protect our environment and conserve our natural resources while providing the infrastructures society takes for granted. Civil engineering provides a rewarding career for those who dream of planning, designing, and constructing structures like air-pollution control systems, airports, bridges, dams, environmental engineering facilities, foundations for structures, highways and roads, hydroelectric facilities, reservoirs and lakes, structural frameworks for large buildings, traffic systems, and water-supply systems.
Program Outcomes
Graduates and upper-level students of civil engineering must demonstrate the following:
- an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics (through differential equations and probability and statistics), science (including calculus-based physics and general chemistry), and engineering
- an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- an ability to communicate effectively
- a knowledge of contemporary issues
- an ability to present a major design based on the professional component of the curriculum
- an understanding of civil engineering professional issues such as procurement of work; bidding versus quality based selection process; interaction between design professionals and construction professionals; the impact of civil engineering solutions in a global and societal context; and the importance of professional licensure and continuing education in lifelong learning
- proficiency (including the ability to design and conduct laboratory experiments and to analyze and interpret data) in at least four of the following major civil engineering areas: environmental, structural, geotechnical, water resources, and transportation
Taking the Fundamentals of Engineering examination is a departmental requirement for graduation.
Research. Faculty are conducting research on topics such as applying computers and advanced management techniques to civil engineering projects; improved analysis and design of wood structures, disaster resistant structural design, quantitative site characterization, reliability based exploration, remediation of hazardous waste sites; landfill design and regulations; hydrologic extremes of precipitation, floods, and droughts; and stormwater management. The University Transportation Center for Alabama conducts thirty or more projects per year in topics that include transportation safety, ITS, GIS, transit, system management, bridge design, and bridge management.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors in Civil Engineering
a) Completion of the course requirements for the B.S. degree in civil engineering
b) Maintenance of a 3.30 GPA in all civil engineering courses, as well as a 3.30 overall GPA in all undergraduate coursework
c) Completion of 12 hours of approved civil engineering courses using honors credit by contract. The professor and the honors student enter a contract by which the student agrees to additional work to receive honors credit. The following courses are guaranteed available for honors by contract:
CE 260 Elementary Surveying
CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
CE 378 Water Resources Engineering
CE 433 Reinforced Concrete Structures
While the above courses are available for the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Departmental Honors Program, they are not required. Other civil engineering courses are available and can be included as part of the required 12 hours of honors credit by contract. Courses other than those listed above taken for honors credit require instructor and departmental approval. Student should contact the instructor for availability.
d) Completion of an honors undergraduate thesis. Students must work directly with a civil engineering faculty member on a problem of common interest. Credit for the thesis work is given through completion of 3 credit hours of the following course:
CE 491 Special Problems (honors thesis)
Credit for the honors thesis through CE 491 also is accepted as a CE elective within the civil engineering curriculum.
Students enrolled in the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Departmental Honors Program are encouraged also to participate in one of the three University-wide honors programs (University Honors Program, Computer-Based Honors Program, and International Honors Program).
Students interested in the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Departmental Honors Program should contact the department office or their academic advisors for further details.
Laboratories. Laboratory facilities are provided for instruction and research investigations in computer-aided design, bituminous materials, cement and concrete, environmental engineering, including chemical-bacteriological phenomena, structures, transportation and ITS, surveying, and geotechnological engineering.
Graduate programs. Graduate programs are offered leading to the degrees of master of science in civil engineering, master of science in engineering, master of science in engineering (environmental), and doctor of philosophy. Please refer to the University of Alabama graduate catalog for details of these programs.
Requirements for the Minor in Civil Engineering
The minor requires a minimum of 24 hours of coordinated coursework in civil engineering.
Required Coursework (select five of six courses; 18 hours minimum):
- CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (4 hours)
- CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (4 hours)
- CE 340 Geotechnical Engineering I (4 hours)
- CE 350 Highway Design and Construction (3 hours)
- CE 366 Construction Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 378 Water Resources Engineering (4 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 6 hours):
Any two 400- or 500-level CE electives. Please see an advisor.
For additional information regarding the minor in civil engineering, please contact the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Room 260 H. M. Comer Hall, (205) 348-6550.
Requirements for the Minor in Construction Engineering
The minor requires 21 hours of coordinated coursework, including a 3-hour internship designed to provide practical, on-the-job experience prior to graduation.
Required Coursework (12 hours):
- CE 366 Construction Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 467 Construction Administration and Finance (3 hours)
- CE 468 Construction Management (3 hours)
- CE 469 Construction Internship (3 hours)
Electives (select three; 9 hours):
- CE 491 or CE 591 Special Problems (construction site erosion control) (3 hours)
- IE 417 or IE 517 Project Management (3 hours)
- IE 418 or IE 518 Engineering Management (3 hours)
- IE 454 or IE 554 Safety Engineering (3 hours)
- IE 425 Statistical Quality Control (3 hours)
- ME 407 Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (3 hours)
- ME 416 or ME 516 Energy Conservation and Management (3 hours)
- FI 432 Real Estate Appraisal (3 hours)
- LGS 408 Law of Business Organizations (3 hours)
- OM 400 Management Sciences (3 hours)
Alternate electives may be allowed. Please see a construction engineering advisor.
For additional information regarding the minor in construction engineering, please contact the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Room 260 H. M. Comer Hall, (205) 348-6550.
Requirements for the Minor in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
The minor requires 23 hours of coordinated coursework as follows:
Required Coursework (14 hours):
- CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (4 hours)
- CE 378 Water Resources Engineering (4 hours)
- CE 422/CE 522 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (3 hours)
- CE 425/CE 525 Air Pollution (3 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 9 hours):
- CE 220 Infrastructure in the Environment (3 hours)
- CE 423/CE 523 Effects/Fates of Hazardous Materials (3 hours)
- CE 424 Water and Wastewater Treatment (3 hours)
- CE 427/CE 527 Urban Water Systems (3 hours)
- CE 429/CE 529 Environmental Systems Analysis (3 hours)
- CE 442/CE 542 Waste Containment Facilities (3 hours)
- CE 475/CE 575 Hydrology (3 hours)
- CE 485/CE 585 Construction Site Erosion Control (3 hours)
- CE 486/CE 586 Stormwater Management (3 hours)
- CE 491/CE 591 Special Problems (environmental special projects) (3 hours)
- CE 519 Remediation of Contaminated Soils and Ground Water (3 hours)
Alternate electives may be allowed. Please see an advisor.
For additional information regarding the minor in environmental and water resources engineering, please contact the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Room 260 H. M. Comer Hall, (205) 348-6550.
CIVIL ENGINEERING CURRICULUM
Related department policies and updates of catalog information are posted on the civil engineering bulletin board.
Grades. A grade of "C-" or higher must be earned in each required civil engineering course and in all courses counted as technical electives.
Interim term courses. Interim term courses may not be used to fulfill civil engineering or technical elective course requirements.
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| First Semester | Hours |
| CH 101 General Chemistry I (N) | 4 |
| DR 100 Technical Sketching for Engineers | 1 |
| EC 110 Principles of Microeconomics (SB) | 3 |
| EN 101 English Composition I (FC) | 3 |
| GES 131 Foundations of Engineering I | 2 |
| MATH 125 Calculus I (MA) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 101 Introduction to Civil Engineering | 1 |
| DR 133 2D AutoCAD for Engineers | 2 |
| EN 102 English Composition II (FC) | 3 |
| GES 132 Foundations of Engineering II | 2 |
| MATH 126 Calculus II (MA) | 4 |
| PH 105 General Physics with Calculus I (N) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| AEM 201 Statics | 3 |
| CE 260 Elementary Surveying | 3 |
| MATH 227 Calculus III (MA) | 4 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective1 | 3 |
| PH 106 General Physics with Calculus II (N) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| AEM 250 Mechanics of Materials I | 3 |
| AEM 251 Mechanics of Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| AEM 264 Dynamics | 3 |
| CE 262 Civil Engineering Materials | 3 |
| MATH 238 Applied Differential Equations I (MA) | 3 |
| Natural science (N) elective | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| AEM 311 Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (C) | 4 |
| CE 340 Geotechnical Engineering I | 4 |
| CE 350 Highway Design and Construction | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective1 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 4 |
| CE 366 Construction Engineering | 3 |
| CE 378 Water Resources Engineering (C) | 4 |
| ECE 320 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering or ME 215 Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective1 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| COM 123 Public Speaking (HU) | 3 |
| GES 255 Engineering Statistics I or GES 400 Engineering Statistics | 3 |
| Electives2 | 9 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 401 Civil Engineering Design Project | 4 |
| Electives2 | 9 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective1 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Total: 132 hours | |
2These electives must be CE courses numbered 400 or above or other courses listed on the approved electives list or courses approved by petition. At least 6 hours of technical courses must be designated design courses (see department for list). In addition, up to two electives may be non-civil engineering courses (see department for list).
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING CURRICULUM
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| First Semester | Hours |
| CH 101 General Chemistry I (N) | 4 |
| DR 100 Technical Sketching for Engineers | 1 |
| EC 110 Principles of Microeconomics (SB) | 3 |
| EN 101 English Composition I (FC) | 3 |
| GES 131 Foundations of Engineering I | 2 |
| MATH 125 Calculus I (MA) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 101 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering | 1 |
| DR 133 2D AutoCAD for Engineers | 2 |
| EN 102 English Composition II (FC) | 3 |
| GES 132 Foundations of Engineering II | 2 |
| MATH 126 Calculus II (MA) | 4 |
| PH 105 General Physics with Calculus I (N) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| AEM 201 Statics | 3 |
| CE 260 Elementary Surveying | 3 |
| MATH 227 Calculus III (MA) | 4 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective1 | 3 |
| PH 106 General Physics with Calculus II (N) | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| AEM 250 Mechanics of Materials I | 3 |
| AEM 251 Mechanics of Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| AEM 264 Dynamics | 3 |
| CE 262 Civil Engineering Materials | 3 |
| MATH 238 Applied Differential Equations I (MA) | 3 |
| Natural science (N) elective1 | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (C) | 4 |
| CE 340 Geotechnical Engineering I | 4 |
| ECE 320 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering | 3 |
| LGS 200 Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| Restricted elective2 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 17 | |
| Second Semester | |
| AC 210 Introduction to Accounting | 4 |
| CE 366 Construction Engineering | 3 |
| GES 255/400 Engineering Statistics | 3 |
| ME 215 Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| Technical elective3, 4 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| CE 4695 Construction Internship | 3 |
| (Please see a construction engineering advisor prior to enrolling.) | |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| CE 4683 Construction Management (C) | 3 |
| COM 123 Public Speaking (HU) | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective | 3 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective | 3 |
| Technical elective3, 4 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 401 Civil Engineering Design Project (W) | 4 |
| CE 4673 Construction Administration and Finance (W) | 3 |
| IE 4543 Safety Engineering | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective | 3 |
| Technical elective3, 4 | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Total: 134 hours | |
2CE 320, CE 350, CE 378, CE 4333 , CE 4343 or CE 4363
3Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher may choose to enroll in the equivalent graduate-level course.
4Technical electives must be chosen from an approved list. Please see a construction engineering advisor.
5Co-op experience may be substituted with prior approval. Please see a construction engineering advisor.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING CERTIFICATE
Engineering students may earn the certificate in environmental engineering in addition to the B.S. degree. The certificate is noted on transcripts and is awarded to students who complete 12 hours of environmental engineering courses from the approved list. Most of these courses are acceptable for elective credit toward the degree; however, of the 12 hours, at least 6 must be in addition to the B.S. degree requirements. Students should consult their advisors for more information.
Eligible Courses
CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
CE 378 Water Resources Engineering
CE 422 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
CE 424 Water and Wastewater Treatment
CE 425 Air Pollution
CE 428 Environmental Aqueous Chemistry
CE 442 Waste Containment Facilities
CE 475 Hydrology
CE 491 Special Problems (environmental engineering)
CHE 524 Air Pollution
CHE 464 Health and Safety in the Chemical Process Industry
CHE 491 and CHE 492 Special Problems – Environmental Engineering
CHE 495 and CHE 496 Undergraduate Honors Seminar
CHE 498 and CHE 499 Honors Special Problems – Environmental Engineering
GES 449 Radiation Safety
IE 454 Safety Engineering
ME 377 Noise Control
CE 522 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
CE 524 Air Pollution
CE 528 Environmental Aqueous Chemistry
CE 542 Waste Containment Facilities
CE 570 Open Channel Flow
CE 571 Groundwater Hydraulics or GEO 506 Hydrogeology
CE 573 Statistical Applications in Civil Engineering
CE 575 Hydrology
Other courses approved by petition
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Engineering students may earn the certificate in construction management in addition to the B.S. degree. The certificate is noted on transcripts and is awarded to students who complete 12 hours of construction management courses from the approved list. Most of these courses are acceptable for elective credit toward the degree; however, of the 12 hours, at least 6 must be in addition to the B.S. degree requirements. Student should consult their advisors for more information.
Eligible Courses
CE 366 Construction EngineeringCE 467 Construction Administration and Finance
CE 468 Construction Management
CE 469 Construction Internship