DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, CONSTRUCTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING (CE)
Professor Kenneth Fridley, Department Head
Office: 260 H.M. Comer Hall
Web site: ce.eng.ua.edu
Civil, construction, and environmental engineers design and build the local communities in which we all live and work. They also work globally to make positive change in the world. From planning the public parks in our own neighborhoods to providing clean and safe drinking water to children in refugee camps a world away, from designing and constructing the modern sports stadiums to environmentally cleaning-up polluted lakes and streams, from creating a new and efficient public transportation networks to developing smart materials for our next generation of infrastructure, civil, construction and environmental engineers are in high demand and make a difference both locally and globally.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) states the following vision for civil, construction, and environmental engineers in the year 2025: Entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life, civil engineers serve competently, collaboratively, and ethically as master:
- planners, designers, constructors, and operators of the built environment;
- stewards of the natural environment and its resources;
- innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private, and academic sectors;
- managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and other threats; and
- leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and infrastructure policy.
Civil, construction, and environmental engineering provides a full breadth of opportunities for those who, for example, dream of designing and constructing structures from roller coasters to sky scrapers, design new water purification and distribution systems that provide clean and safe drinking water, or create tomorrow’s safe and sustainable transportation systems to move people and goods efficiently.
The department’s comprehensive and flexible set of programs provide students with the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary to successfully enter the profession and lead exciting, fulfilling careers. Students may choose between to undergraduate majors, the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) and the Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering (BSConE). Additionally, students may elect to supplement their degree with one of the department minors: architectural engineering, civil engineering (for non-civil majors), construction engineering (for non-construction majors), environmental and water resources engineering, structural engineering, and transportation engineering.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the University of Alabama Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) and Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering (BSConE) programs are to graduate students who are in demand by employers and graduate programs and who lead fulfilling professional careers through their abilities to: (1) solve fundamental civil or construction engineering problems; (2) articulate his or her responsibilities to the profession and society; and (3) demonstrate a basic level of achievement in the professional skills needed to practice civil or construction engineering.
Student Learning Outcomes
The BSCE and BSConE student learning outcomes are formulated into three categories: Foundational, Technical, and Professional Practice Outcomes. Graduates of The University of Alabama BSCE and BSConE programs will be able to:
Foundational Outcomes:
F1: Solve problems in mathematics through differential equations, probability and statistics, calculus-based physics, general chemistry, and one additional area of science.
F2: Explain the importance of (1) humanities, literature, and fine arts, and (2) history and social behavior in the professional practice of civil or construction engineering.
Technical Outcomes:
T1: Analyze and solve problems in material science, mechanics of solids, and mechanics of fluids.
T2: Select and conduct program-relevant civil or construction engineering experiments to meet a need, and analyze and evaluate the resulting data.
T3: Apply relevant knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems, including:
- For the BSCE – problems in at least four technical areas appropriate to civil engineering
- For the BSConE – problems in construction processes, communications, methods, materials, systems, equipment, planning, scheduling, safety, economics, accounting, cost analysis and control, decision analysis, and optimization.
T4: Explain the impact of historical and contemporary issues on civil or construction engineering, and predict possible impacts of a specific, relatively constrained engineering solution on the economy, environment, and society.
T5: Develop solutions to well-defined project management problems within civil or construction engineering.
T6: Design a system or process in more than one program-relevant civil or construction engineering specialty field to meet desired needs, including sustainability and within other realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, and constructability.
T7: Explain key aspects of at least one traditional or emerging program-relevant area of advanced specialization.
Professional Practice Outcomes:
P1: Analyze a situation involving multiple conflicting professional, legal, and ethical interests to determine an appropriate course of action.
P2: Organize and deliver effective written, verbal, graphical and virtual communications.
P3: Demonstrate the ability to learn through independent study, without the aid of formal instruction.
P4: Demonstrate attributes supportive of the professional practice of engineering; apply leadership principles to direct the efforts of a small group to solve a relatively constrained problem; and function effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team to solve open-ended engineering problems.
P5: Explain the importance of licensure, and basic concepts in engineering management, business, law, public administration, public policy, and globalization as related to the professional practice of civil or construction engineering.
All students are strongly encouraged to prepare for and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination prior to graduation.
CIVIL Engineering Curriculum
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| First Semester | Hours |
| CE 121 Intro to Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering | 1 |
| ENGR 111 Engineering the Future | 1 |
| ENGR 131 Engineering Concepts and Design I | 1 |
| ENGR 151 Fundamentals of Engineering Graphics | 1 |
| MATH 125 Calculus I (MA) | 4 |
| EN 101 English Composition I (FC) | 3 |
| Approved natural science (N) elective¹ | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | |
| ENGR 141 Engineering Concepts and Design II | 1 |
| ENGR 171 Large-Scale Engineering Graphics | 1 |
| MATH 126 Calculus II (MA) | 4 |
| PH 105 General Physics with Calculus I (N) | 4 |
| EN 102 English Composition II (FC) | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| CE 260 Civil and Construction Engineering Surveying | 2 |
| AEM 201 Statics | 3 |
| MATH 227 Calculus III (MA) | 4 |
| CH 101 General Chemistry I (N) | 4 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 262 Civil and Construction Engineering Materials | 3 |
| AEM 250 Mechanics of Materials I. | 3 |
| AEM 264 Dynamics | 3 |
| MATH 238 Applied Differential Equations I (MA) | 3 |
| PH 106 General Physics with Calculus II (N) or CH 102 General Chemistry II (N) |
4 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (C) | 3 |
| CE 340 Geotechnical Engineering | 4 |
| CE 350 Highway Design and Construction | 3 |
| AEM 311 Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CE 366 Introduction to Construction Engineering | 3 |
| CE 378 Water Resources Engineering (C) | 3 |
| ECE 320 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering or ME 216 Thermal Engineering Survey |
3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| Senior (plan of study) electives³ | 9 |
| COM 123 Public Speaking (HU)² | 3 |
| GES 255 Engineering Statistics I | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 401 Civil Engineering Project – Site Development (C,W) or CE 403 Civil Engineering Project – Building Design (C,W) |
4 |
| Senior (plan of study) electives³ | 9 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Total: 125 hours | |
| ¹ Approved natural science (N) electives include: BSC 114/BSC 115, GEO 101, GEO 102, GEO 105, GY 101, and GY 102 ² A 6-hour sequence in either HI/SB or HU/L/FA core classes is required. Students are encouraged to consider EC 110 as an SB, CE 220 as an SB, and/or a foreign language as an HU. ³ Senior (plan of study) electives must be CE courses numbered 400 or above or other approved electives. Other courses may be approved by petition. At least 6 hours of the senior electives must be “design-designated” courses. In addition, not more than two senior electives may “professional practice” courses, including any non-civil engineering courses. See the department for list a list of approved senior design electives, including approved design-designated (D), professional practice (P), and general technical (G) electives. |
|
All civil engineering students are strongly encouraged to prepare for and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination prior to graduation. A graduate of the program who has passed the FE exam would then be an Engineer Intern under Model Law as maintained by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (www.ncees.org). It is recommended that the FE be taken the semester prior to graduation.
Related department policies and updates of catalog information are posted on the department Web site (ce.eng.ua.edu) and message boards.
CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING CURRICULUM
| FRESHMAN YEAR | |
| First Semester | Hours |
| CE 121 Intro to Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering | 1 |
| ENGR 111 Engineering the Future | 1 |
| ENGR 131 Engineering Concepts and Design I | 1 |
| ENGR 151 Fundamentals of Engineering Graphics | 1 |
| MATH 125 Calculus I (MA) | 4 |
| EN 101 English Composition I (FC) | 3 |
| Approved natural science (N) elective1 | 4 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | |
| ENGR 141 Engineering Concepts and Design II | 1 |
| ENGR 171 Large-Scale Engineering Graphics | 1 |
| MATH 126 Calculus II (MA) | 4 |
| PH 105 General Physics with Calculus I (N) | 4 |
| EN 102 English Composition II (FC) | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| SOPHOMORE YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| CE 260 Civil and Construction Engineering Surveying | 2 |
| AEM 201 Statics | 3 |
| MATH 227 Calculus III (MA) | 4 |
| CH 101 General Chemistry I (N) | 4 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 262 Civil and Construction Engineering Materials | 3 |
| AEM 250 Mechanics of Materials I. | 3 |
| AEM 264 Dynamics | 3 |
| MATH 238 Applied Differential Equations I (MA) | 3 |
| PH 106 General Physics with Calculus II (N) or CH 102 General Chemistry II (N) |
4 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| JUNIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| CE 366 Introduction to Construction Engineering | 3 |
| CE 340 Geotechnical Engineering | 4 |
| CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (C) | 3 |
| Engineering systems elective³ | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| CE 463 Construction Cost Estimating | 3 |
| CE 462 Vertical Construction Methods | 3 |
| CE 418 Engineering Management | 3 |
| Engineering systems elective³ | 3 |
| History (HI) or social and behavioral sciences (SB) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Summer Term | |
| CE 469 Construction Internship4 | 3 |
| SENIOR YEAR | |
| First Semester | |
| CE 468 Construction Scheduling (W) | 3 |
| CE 461 Horizontal Construction Methods | 3 |
| GES 255 Engineering Statistics I | 3 |
| Senior (plan of study) elective5 | 3 |
| COM 123 Public Speaking (HU) | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 15 | |
| Second Semester | |
| CE 402 Construction Engineering Project – Site Development (C,W) or CE 404 Construction Engineering Project – Building Design (C,W) |
4 |
| CE 464 Safety Engineering | 3 |
| Senior (plan of study) electives5 | 6 |
| Humanities (H), literature (L), or fine arts (FA) elective² | 3 |
| ___ | |
| 16 | |
| Total: 125 hours | |
| 1 Approved natural science (N) electives include: BSC 114/BSC 115, GEO 101, GEO 102, GEO 105, GY 101, and GY 102. 2 A 6-hour sequence in either HI/SB or HU/L/FA core classes is required. Students are encouraged to consider EC 110 as an SB, CE 220 as an SB, and/or a foreign language as an HU. 3 Students must complete 6 hours of systems electives choosing from: ECE 320 Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, ME 216 Thermal Engineering Survey, and AEM 311 Fluid Mechanics. 4 Please see an advisor prior to enrolling. Co-op experience may be substituted with prior approval. See an advisor for additional information. 5 Senior (plan of study) electives must include at least one course (3 credit hours) in project management (PM) and at least one course (3 credit hours) in design (CD); one course may be a general technical elective (GT). See the department for a list of approved electives including approved project management (PM), design (CD), and general technical (GT) electives. |
|
All construction engineering students are strongly encouraged to prepare for and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination prior to graduation. A graduate of the program who has passed the FE exam would then be an Engineer Intern under Model Law as maintained by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (www.ncees.org). It is recommended that the FE be taken the semester prior to graduation.
Related department policies and updates of catalog information are posted on the department Web site (ce.eng.ua.edu) and message boards.
The Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering offers an undergraduate honors program for students who seek to be challenged by both independent and team projects, and who wish to receive additional distinction with their undergraduate degrees. This individually tailored program culminates with awarding of a Department Honors Certificate and recognition at the Honors Day Ceremony in the student’s senior year.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Degree with Honors
The requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with honors and the Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering with honors are as follows:
- a) Completion of the course requirements for the BS degree in civil engineering or construction 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:
- While the above courses are available for the Departmental Honors Program, they are not required. Other CE 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 department 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 also is accepted as a CE elective within the civil or construction 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.
DEPARTMENT MINORS AND CERTIFICATES
The department offers a suite of minors and certificate programs. For additional information regarding any of the minors or certificates offered by the department, please contact the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Room 260 H.M. Comer Hall, (205) 348-6550. Related department policies and updates of catalog information are posted on the department Web site (ce.eng.ua.edu) and message boards.
Requirements for the Minor in Architectural Engineering
The minor in architectural engineering requires a minimum of 22 hours of coordinated coursework in civil engineering.
Required Coursework (10 hours):
- CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 366 Project Management and Economics (3 hours)
- CE 403 Civil Engineering Project – Building Design or CE 404 Construction Engineering Project – Building Design (4 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 12 hours) representing coursework in at least two of the following areas: structural engineering and design, building mechanical systems, and/or construction engineering and management. Please see an advisor for a list of approved electives. Other courses may be approved by petition.
Requirements for the Minor in Civil Engineering
The minor in civil engineering requires a minimum of 21 hours of coordinated coursework in civil engineering.
Required Coursework (select five of six courses; 15 hours minimum):
- CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 340 Geotechnical Engineering (4 hours)
- CE 350 Highway Design and Construction (3 hours)
- CE 366 Introduction to Construction Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 378 Water Resources Engineering (3 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 6 hours): Please see an advisor for a list of approved civil engineering electives. Other courses may be approved by petition.
Requirements for the Minor in Construction Engineering
The minor in construction engineering requires a minimum of 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 Project Management and Economics (3 hours)
- CE 464 Safety Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 467 Construction Administration and Finance (3 hours)
- CE 469 Construction Internship (3 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 9 hours): Please see an advisor for a list of approved construction engineering electives. Other courses may be approved by petition.
Requirements for the Minor in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
The minor in environmental and water resources engineering requires a minimum of 21 hours of coordinated coursework as follows:
Required Coursework (12 hours):
- CE 320 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 378 Water Resources Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 422 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (3 hours)
- CE 425 Air Pollution (3 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 9 hours): Please see an advisor for a list of approved environmental and water resources electives. Other courses may be approved by petition.
Requirements for the Minor in Structural Engineering
The minor in structural engineering requires a minimum of 15 hours of coordinated coursework as follows:
Required Coursework (12 hours):
- CE 331 Introduction to Structural Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 432 Advanced Structural Analysis (3 hours)
- CE 433 Reinforced Concrete Structures I (3 hours)
- CE 434 Structural Steel Design I (3 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 3 hours): Please see an advisor for a list of approved structural engineering electives. Other courses may be approved by petition.
Requirements for the Minor in Transportation Engineering
The minor in transportation engineering requires a minimum of 21 hours of coordinated coursework as follows:
Required Coursework (9 hours):
- CE 350 Introduction to Transportation Engineering (3 hours)
- CE 451 Geometric Design of Highways (3 hours)
- CE 458 Traffic Engineering (3 hours)
Approved Electives (minimum of 12 hours): Please see an advisor for a list of approved transportation engineering electives. Other courses may be approved by petition.
Requirements for the Environmental Engineering Certificate
Engineering students may earn the certificate in environmental engineering in addition to their Bachelor of Science degree. Students must complete 12 hours of environmental engineering courses from an approved list. Many of these courses are commonly acceptable for credit toward the BS degree; however, of the 12 hours, at least 6 must be in addition to the BS degree requirements. Please see an advisor for a list of approved environmental engineering certificate courses. Other courses may be approved by petition.
Requirements for the Construction Management Certificate
The certificate in construction management is primarily designed for non-engineering majors. The certificate is noted on transcripts and is awarded to students who complete 12 hours of construction management courses from the approved list. Many of these courses may acceptable for credit toward the degree; however, of the 12 hours, at least 6 must be in addition to the student’s bachelor degree requirements. Please see an advisor for a list of approved environmental engineering certificate courses. Other courses may be approved by petition.