Geotechnical engineering students go on to design bridges, buildings and other structures.
Geotechnical engineering, sometimes called civil engineering or environmental engineering, deals with the analysis and design of natural environments. Students of this field study geology and agronomy, in addition to traditional engineering courses. One example of a project a geotechnical engineer might work on is designing a structure located in an earthquake zone. This work also includes design and improvement of drainage systems, retaining walls, landfills and hazardous waste areas. There are a number of geotechnical engineering programs available in the United States.
West Coast
There are several colleges on the West Coast offering civil and environmental engineering programs that focus on the geotechnical aspects of the field. The University of Washington in Seattle offers several related degrees, including a B.S., M.S. and PhD degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a distance learning master's degree in Construction Engineering. Other programs in geotechnical engineering on the West Coast are offered at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Southern California.
East Coast
Geotechnical engineering programs are just as popular on the East Coast. The Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech teaches nearly 700 undergraduate and 400 graduate students construction engineering and management, land development, environmental and water resources engineering and geographic information systems. Other programs on the East Coast are offered at George Washington University, the University of Pittsburgh, the Massachusetts Institute of Engineering, Berks Technical Institute in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania and the New England Institute of Technology.
Midwest
In the Midwest region, students can attend environmental programs at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, the University of Akron in Ohio, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Oklahoma State University and Northwestern University in Illinois. The program at Northwestern divides civil and environmental engineering into separate tracks. Those earning a degree in civil engineering with a focus on structural and geotechnical engineering go on to design mega-projects like airports, subways and industrial complexes.
Nevada and Alaska
The University of Nevada, Reno offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in civil engineering with geotechnical emphasis. The program combines researching and teaching related to soil liquefaction, vehicle-pavement interaction, retaining structures under static and seismic conditions and more. The University of Alaska Anchorage has a large engineering school offering both bachelor and masters programs in civil engineering. Those studying civil engineering at U of A are qualified to work in engineering fields in Alaska or other cold weather environments throughout the world.
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