Graduate Program

Geotechnical Engineering & Geomechanics

Our graduate students come from diverse backgrounds; a BS or MS in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering and Geomechanics is not necessary to apply.

Courses

For full course descriptions, please visit theÌý.Ìý

Suggested List of Courses for GEGM One-Year MS Coursework-Only Degree (select 5 in Fall, 5 in Spring):

There are other courses available in Civil Engineering, Geological Sciences, Applied Mathematics, etc.

Fall (choose 5):Ìý

  • CVEN 5511 (Introduction to Finite Element Analysis) or CVEN 5537 (Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering)
  • CVEN 5708 (Soil Mechanics)
  • CVEN 5718 (Mechanics and Dynamics of Glaciers)
  • CVEN 5798 (Dynamics of Soils and Foundations)
  • CVEN 5818 (Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering)
  • APPM 5350 (Methods in Applied Mathematics: Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems)

Spring (choose 5):

  • CVEN 5131 (Continuum Mechanics and Elasticity)
  • CVEN 5628 (Seepage and Slopes) or CVEN 7718 (Engineering Properties of Soils)
  • CVEN 5728 (Foundation Engineering)
  • CVEN 5768 (Introduction to Rock Mechanics)
  • CVEN 5788 (Computational Modeling in Geotechnical Engineering)
  • CVEN 5831 (Wave Motion)
  • APPM 5360 (Methods in Applied Mathematics: Complex Variables and Applications)

Graduate level courses in Geotechnical Engineering and Geomechanics not currently taught:

  • CVEN 5678 Soil Improvement and Earth Retaining Structures
  • CVEN 5688 Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • CVEN 5738 Applied Geotechnical Analysis
  • CVEN 5748 Design of Earth Structures
  • CVEN 5758 Flow Processes in Soils
  • CVEN 5778 Advanced Rock Mechanics

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for Graduate Admission

Before taking graduate courses the following minimum undergraduate course requirements must be satisfied:

1. Mathematics and calculus courses through differential equations and linear algebra.

2. Courses in statics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, geology, soil mechanics and foundation engineering.

Transfer Credits

For the Master of Science program the Department will accept up to 9 hours graduate credit from other institutions toward the minimum course requirements if not used toward another degree.

For the Doctoral program up to 15 semester hours of 5000 level or above course work may be transferred from another institution and applied towards the 30 hours minimum course work requirement. For a student who has obtained his/her M.S. degree at the University of ColoradoÌýBoulder, up to 21 semester hours of 5000 level or above course work may be transferred.

Degree Requirements

The graduate program in Geotechnical Engineering and Geomechanics (GEGM) leads to the d