Bachelor of Science [B.S] [Geological Engineering] From Michigan Technological University

Geological engineers play an important role in identifying and mitigating man-made and natural hazards that pose a threat to civil structures, infrastructure, or people. Their work includes performing site investigations for planned tunnels, dams, or roads; locating sites and designing facilities for nuclear waste disposal; developing and restoring groundwater resources; stabilizing rock and soil slopes for dams, highways, and property development; exploring and harvesting mineral and energy resources; and studying geologic hazards such as volcanoes, landslides, and earthquakes.

Specialty areas in geological engineering include the following:

• Soil mechanics
• Rock mechanics
• Geotechnics
• Groundwater engineering
• Hydrogeology
• Civil design
• Hazard investigation and planning
• Natural resources

The daily duties of geoscientists, such as geological engineers, could include investigating natural phenomena and collecting data on location, interpreting the results in a lab, and writing reports.

Field studies bring geoscientists to diverse landscapes around the globe—from volcanoes to oceans to oil fields. Geoscientists must have the ability to develop a picture of a field site based on limited data; therefore, sound critical-thinking skills are advantageous in this discipline. Due to the nature of their work, these professionals must adapt to a variety of situations and working conditions.

Our graduates have found work in the following areas:

• Groundwater and surface water monitoring and cleaning
• Natural-hazards mitigation
• Satellite remote sensing of environmental processes
• GIS mapping of environmental data
• Site investigations of underground hazards
• Slope failure investigations
• Oil or gas exploration and recovery
• Subsurface visualization
• Natural and Induced Seismicity Evaluation