Master of Science in Geological Engineering

Master of Engineering in Geotechnics

PhD in Geological Engineering

Doctorate of Geological Engineering

Academic Program

Areas of Emphasis include:

Environmental Issues: Groundwater Studies

The graduate emphasis in environmental protection is broadly based and encompasses a diversified selection of course work and a variety of research interests. Research activities include studies in groundwater modeling and contaminant transport, probabilistic analysis of groundwater flow, site specific studies of hazardous waste sites and the effects of waste leachates on the physical and chemical properties of bedrock and soil. The faculty has a wide range of expertise and the department offers an excellent selection of upper level and graduate level courses appropriate for environmental protection studies.

Engineering Geology and Geotechnics and Geologic Hazards

Fundamental to all geological engineering is knowledge of the hydrological and geotechnical character of earth materials. Courses which deal with the strength, compressibility, porosity and permeability of soil and rock will prepare the graduate for a wide variety of earth engineering activities upon graduation. Research projects assess the engineering character of difficult engineering materials such as shale and weathered rock, evaluate the reclamation options for closed landfills, provide engineering and geologic insight into mine subsidence and landslide problems, and produce maps to assist engineers and planners.

Geographic Information Systems and Digital Image Processing

Geological Engineering has operated and maintained a Digital Image Processing and GIS Laboratory since 1975. This lab has hardware and software for analyzing all types of multispectral digital images as well as digital Geodata such as DEM, DRG and digital geological and soil information. Research in the lab has encompassed a variety of applications including mineral and petroleum exploration, land use planning, site characterization for construction, location of geologic hazards, evaluation of environmental hazards, and stream and flood assessment.

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities:

The research activities of the geological engineering department encompass a broad spectrum of environmental and geotechnical activities. On these, the department relies a great degree on graduate research assistants to work with the faculty member responsible for the project to achieve the anticipated objectives. Illustrations of some current or recent activities reflect the wide range of faculty research interest. For example, one project has been focusing on probabilistic modeling of groundwater flow and contaminant transport.

Department faculty also are engaged in a research project to determine the contamination risks that abandoned oil wells present to underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). This work combines regional geologic and hydrogeologic studies with assessments of construction and abandonment methods (e.g., types of flow barriers and plugs) used in wells during various times. The goal of this research is to develop and demonstrate a methodology for identifying the largest possible number of wells in a geographic area that could be granted variances for formal EPA regulatory studies. This project is being sponsored by the Underground Council Issues Group of the American Petroleum Institute.

In a set of projects linked to weak rock engineering, faculty and graduate students have developed field tests to measure rock durability, modified laboratory durability tests to reduce error, and esearched the effects of weathering on rock properties. Other faculty research and projects include:

Work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on various geotechnical problems in and around Missouri

A geomorphological assessment of long-term stability at the Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project near St. Charles, MO

Evaluation of the impact of limestone aggregate size on the chemistry of percolating landfill leachate

Compilation and digitization of Missouri soils maps

Development of a probabilistic method to calculate expected costs due to structure damage from expansive soil or bedrock

Outstanding Facilities

Career Opportunities

Geological engineering graduates generally work in one of three focus areas, at least in the initial phase of their careers:

geoenvironmental engineering and environmental remediation

geological hazards and geotechnics and

energy and mineral resources.

Geological engineers work in industry, consulting firms, government regulatory agencies, and education. They would typically begin as entry-level field and office engineers working on data collection, analysis and problem solving. After some experience, they will often be placed in positions of increasing responsibility such as project engineers and managers, where they will direct and lead a team of engineers and scientists. Ultimately, geological engineers are encouraged to obtain their professional engineering license and they may become principals in their consulting firms, and leading executives in industry and government.

Recent graduates have been hired by such companies and agencies as URS, Golder and Associates, CH2M-Hill; and government entities such as the EPA and state Departments of Natural Resources. Starting salaries for those with an M.S. degree in Geological Engineering are typically between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, with the higher salaries being offered by petroleum companies, and the lower salaries being offered by government entities.

Financial Assistance

Professional Societies

The Association of Engineering Geologists

Admissions Requirements

Application to the graduate program should be submitted by July 1 for the fall semester and by December 1 for the winter semester. Students should have a 3.00/4.00 grade point average during their last four regular undergraduate semesters, although lower averages may be considered in special circumstances

Students should have completed the specified courses for a bachelor's degree in geological engineering (which includes standard courses in geology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science). Deficiencies may be taken at Missouri S&T, but are not typically awarded graduate credit.

Students are required to receive credit for the following courses, which may be taken for graduate credit or accepted from the student's undergraduate program: groundwater hydrology, engineering geology, subsurface exploration, and applications of GIS.

Quantitative and Analytical Writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be taken. A minimum score for the Quantitative portion is 600. A minimum score on Analytical Writing is 3.5. Lower scores may be accepted under special circumstances. The department requires a minimum TOEFL score of 560 from foreign applicants to be accepted to a graduate program.