Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Massachusetts

Amherst, Ma. 01003

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

DEGREE PROGRAM

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE

The principal objectives of the Master's degree program in Geotechnical Engineering are to educate qualified students in the discipline of Geotechnical Engineering and prepare individuals for careers as geotechnical engineers in the areas of soil mechanics, foundation engineering and environmental geotechnics. These objectives are achieved through a course program carefully prepared by the student and his/her advisor. The basic understanding of geotechnical problems is obtained from a core of required fundamental courses. In addition to the core courses, a variety of other elective courses are offered which allow individuals to complete their career goals.

At the M.S. level, students may choose to follow either a career path in traditional Geotechnical Engineering or a path in Environmental Geotechnics. Course requirements for each of these paths differ. In addition to the general Graduate School requirements for the M.S. Degree, a minimum of 31 graduate credits must be earned for a M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering. In either program students earn a Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Requirements:
Geotechnical Engineering

a) CEE 525 Environmental Geotechnology

b) CEE 620 Shear Strength and Soil Behavior

c) CEE 622 Geotechnical Material Testing

d) CEE 623 Advanced Foundation Engineering

e) CEE 575 Hydrogeology or

    GEO 560 Geomorphology or

    GEO 562 Glacial Geology

f) Six credit hours of additional graduate level coursework in Geotechnical

    Engineering

g) Three credit hours of additional graduate level elective coursework to

    compliment the student's program

h) Six credit hours of Master's Research Project

i) One credit hour of Geotechnical Seminar

 

 

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE DEGREE
This program allows students to obtain an M.S. degree which is based on coursework only and does not involve a research project which would normally be undertaken in the traditional M.S. program. The program presents the opportunity for persons currently employed to take a nine month leave of absence to complete the degree requirements. The program is intended for students who are not being supported on either a teaching assistantship (TA) or research assistantship (RA) and who are self-supported. Students in this program will receive no financial assistance from the Geotechnical Engineering Group and will be expected to cover the cost of fees, tuition, and other expenses. The program is a regimented curriculum consisting of 31 credit hours of graduate coursework in Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Geology. The curriculum is designed to allow completion of the degree requirements in two consecutive semesters, and must be initiated in the fall semester in order to complete in 2 semesters.

FALL SEMESTER
Credit Hours
CEE 525 Environmental Geotechnology 3
CEE 620 Soil Behavior and Shear Strength 3
CEE 668 Professional Engineering Practice Concepts 2
CEE Environmental/Geotechnical Elective 3
CEE Project 2
GEOL 575 or 560 3
Total Credits 16

SPRING SEMESTER
Credit Hours
CEE 622 Geotechnical Materials Testing 3
CEE 623 Advanced Foundation Engineering 3
CEE Environmental Elective 3
CEE Environmental/Geotechnical Elective 3
CEE Project 2
CEE Seminar 1
Total Credits 15

Two of the three electives must be Environmental.
CEE Environmental Electives may be from the following list:
CEE 575 Hazardous Waste Management
CEE 660 Subsurface Hydraulics
CEE 680 Water Chemistry
CEE 776 Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil and Ground Water
CEE Geotechnical Electives may be any graduate level Geotechnical course.

 

General Information: Telephone  413-545-2580 ;  Fax  413- 545-2840

 
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