Geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil engineering that generally deals with problems involving soil and rock.Academics / Master's ProgramGeotechnical Engineering Master’s Specialization
Designing Urban Infrastructure and Mitigating Natural Hazards
Geotechnical Engineers lead in the creation and improvement of infrastructure above and below ground and in the evaluation and mitigation of natural hazards. The MS in Geotechnical Engineering at Northwestern prepares graduates with sound fundamentals necessary to become creative geotechnical consultants and designers, capable of addressing the wide range of issues arising from the development and maintenance of sustainable infrastructure systems.
The program builds on strengths of the world-renowned faculty and elite Chicago-based geotechnical consulting firms and specialty contractors. Core courses are complemented with design courses and projects taught by design professionals from firms such as Hayward Baker, Geosyntec Consultants, and Turner Construction.
- Join a new generation of geotechnical engineers
- Experience a broad curriculum in theory and practice
- Learn cutting-edge analysis and design techniques
- Evaluate and mitigate natural hazards
- Design for underground space for urban development and renewal
- Create geo-structures for the future
- Make industry contacts and network through seminars and career fairs
Curriculum Overview
Coursework and activities in the specialization include:
- Geotechnical Engineering Fundamentals Coursework: A series of nine courses designed to provide students with the core knowledge required for geotechnical practice. Coursework encompasses: soil mechanics, soil dynamics, unsaturated soil mechanics, groundwater, computational plasticity and limit analysis, and constitutive modeling of soils.
- Geotechnical Analysis and Design Coursework: Students supplement their fundamentals with six courses: foundation engineering, earth retaining structures and slope stability, engineering properties of soils, underground construction, ground improvements, LRFD in geotechnics, computational geotechnics, case studies in geotechnical engineering, structural design, numerical analyses, and comprehensive design project.
- Master’s Thesis: Because surveys have shown that the greatest challenge often faced by new practicing engineers is in the area of written communication, we require that all graduate students prepare a written report during their graduate studies. Preparation of the document involves extensive individual interaction with the supervising professor, thus developing the student's communication skills, individual thought processes, and problem-solving capabilities.
- Seminars & Career Fair: Students participate in special professional development seminars, which include project presentations by geotechnical engineers and specialty contractors, as well as a resume workshop hosted by engineers. In addition, the department organizes two career fairs annually to connect students to employers.
Alumni Network
Our alumni hold geotechnical positions in Chicagoland and across the U.S., with employers like Geosyntec Consultants, GEI Consultants, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, Hayward Baker, Inc., AECOM and Jacobs.
Eligibility and Admission
Students studying in the geotechnical engineering specialization earn a master of science in civil and environmental engineering through Northwestern University's Graduate School. To be admitted to the MS program, the student must meet one of the following requirements:
- A BS degree in an area of engineering, OR
- A non-engineering degree, but with coursework covering mathematics through differential equations, fluid mechanics, first-year, college-level chemistry and physics, statics and dynamics, and mechanics of materials.
These course requirements for admission may be met at Northwestern, but credits from these courses cannot be applied to the graduate degree. In addition, each applicant must meet the usual requirements of The Graduate School and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Because surveys have shown that the greatest challenge often faced by new practicing engineers is in the area of written communication, we require that all graduate students prepare a written report during their graduate studies. The requirement is fulfilled through the preparation of an MS thesis or PhD dissertation.
Preparation of the document involves extensive individual interaction with a supervising professor, which develops a student's communication skills, individual thought processes, and problem-solving capabilities.
Questions?
Contact us with questions about this specialization at ms_geo@northwestern.edu