Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Engineering

Geotechnical engineering is a field of Civil Engineering dealing with engineering behavior of earth materials (soil, rocks, and water). Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental engineering deals with three phases of soil and rock, i.e., soil or rock solid phase, water phase, and air phase. Geotechnical Engineering uses the principles of soil and rock mechanics to investigate subsurface environment in order to characterize its physical and mechanical properties, and analyze, design, and construct earthworks and substructures.

Geoenvironmental engineering overlaps geotechnical and environmental engineering fields, dealing interactions between earth materials (soil and rocks) and a fourth phase such as chemicals. Geoenvironmental engineering concerns with the fate and transport as well as remediation of this additional phase (e.g., contaminants). Geoenvironmental engineering uses similar principles to investigate subsurface environment in order to characterize its physical, mechanical, chemical, and biological properties, and analyze, design, and construct substructures such as landfill and contaminant-containment facilities as well as soil and groundwater remediation.

Geotechnical / Geoenvironmental Engineering MS Curriculum