Apply scientific methods and engineering principles to earth materials and structures. The master of engineering in Geotechnics combines the fields of rock mechanics and soil mechanics with engineering to form a comprehensive program of study. 

This is a non-thesis interdisciplinary program with a practice-oriented project. Courses include geology, geotechnics, soil mechanics, rock mechanics and subsurface hydrology.  It requires 30 credit hours of coursework to complete, with a minimum of 15 credit hours of geological engineering courses. A maximum of nine credit hours of graduate-level work (grade B or better) can be transferred from other univerisites, if approved. Classes must have been completed in the last five years to be eligible for transfer. 

 The following courses (or equivalents) are required courses:

• GEO ENG 5381 Int. Subsurface Hydrology and Contaminant Transport 
• GEO ENG 5441 Engineering Geology and Geotechnics
• GEO ENG 5471 Rock Engineering
• CIV ENG 5715 Intermediate Soil Mechanics or MinE 6842: Rock Mechanics II

In addition a practice-oriented project report is required for new students. This requires enrolling in three hours of GEO ENG 6400, and producing a practice-oriented report in a topic approved by the program coordinator. 

 Other courses approved by the program coordinator may be substituted for any of the above listed courses on a case-by-case basis.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline
• Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0
• GRE V+Q ≥ 300; GRE Q ≥ 150, and GRE WR ≥ 3.0
• International requirement: TOEFL ≥ 79, IELTS ≥ 6.5,  or satisfactory completion of an approved English language Institute program.

The following courses (or equivalents) will be required for admission to the Geotechnics ME program:

• GEO ENG 1150 Physical and Environmental Geology
• GEO ENG 2605 Statics and Mechanics of Geological Materials
• MIN ENG 4823 Rock Mechanics I or CE 3715 Elementary Soil Mechanics