Geotechnical Courses
Columbia University

In soil mechanics, we study and characterize the properties of soils that are relevant for engineering analysis or design. We study the behavior of soil, up to failure, due to external or internal loading. Different natural or man-made soil structural systems,  ranging from very traditional to recently developed ones, are studied. I have a bit of writing about geotech to share with you.

Our Geotech tends to focus on the Ph.D. Program compared to the Master's Program.

It has been a long and invaluable tradition of our Department that students, including geotechnical students, are extremely strong in basic subjects of mechanics (note: Geotech seems very "mechanics" these days).  For instance, half of the topics covered in the Ph.D. Qualify Examination for a typical geotechnical candidate would be from applied mechanics and/or structural courses.

A list of geotechnical courses are given below. [A few words about these courses]

 


Courses
 2007-F
(tentative)
 2008-S
 2008-F
 2009-S
 2009-F

Soil Mechanics (E3141)
Lecture: Wednesday (1-4 pm, break in between)
Lab (Tue, Thurs) 9:25-10:25
Lectures: Mon & Wed
Lab:(Tue, Thurs)

Aly Mohammad
Aly Mohammad
Mohammad
*
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (E4242)
 Hoe Ling
Hoe Ling
Ling
*
Advanced Soil Mechanics (E6246)
Hoe Ling

?

Experimental Soil Mechanics (E6248)
 Hoe Ling
Hoe Ling


Geosynthetics and Waste Containment (E4244)
Logan Brant
Brant

Finite Elements in Geotechnical Engineering (E4253)



Ling?

Foundation Engineering (E4243)
 Chris Burke
Chris Burke
Brant

Earth Retaining Structures (E4246)
Samuel Leifer
Leifer

Tunnel Design and Construction (E4245)
Nasri
Munfah
 Nasri Munfah
Munfah

Civil Engineering Research## (E9101)





Civil Engineering Report## (E9201)











## most geotechnical master's students take these two courses over a period of 1.5-2 years leading to the completion of a research project, which is equivalent to a master's thesis.
A full list of civil engineering/applied mechanics courses are available here

I consider Advanced Soil Mechnaics and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering as core courses for the Geotech Major (PhD).
The Qualifying Exam requires a major and a minor area. In addition, math (such as partial differential equations and linear algebra) and a technical presentation are needed.
Recommended courses for Geotech doctoral students leading to Qualify Examination:

Mastering Geotechnical Engineering through Monuments
(Geotech Fundamentals 2006)

April 15, 2009
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