Geological Engineering

Geological Engineering Program

• General Information 
• Program 
  • Common Core
  • Technical Electives
  • Complementary Studies Electives

General Information

Geological Engineers play key roles in the exploration, protection, and responsible development of Earth’s water, mineral, and energy resources. They also ensure that structures such as bridges, dams and buildings are designed for long term stability and safety, taking geological conditions and hazards into account. The profession is distinct amongst engineering disciplines for the opportunities it affords for travel and work in the natural environment, and for the atmosphere of adventure and discovery that accompanies geological exploration at all scales.

Geological engineers require skills and tools to “see” beneath the surface and predict the behaviour of highly variable earth materials. To this end, they draw on the field methods, powers of observation, analytical techniques, and remote sensing tools employed by geoscientists, and incorporate engineering approaches to materials testing, modelling, structural design and risk assessment. They must integrate a wide variety of data with knowledge of geological and geotechnical processes in order to make informed recommendations and decisions. As team players, frequently working with geologists or civil engineers, geological engineers also require good communication and people skills.

Examples of engineering works with significant geological engineering components include mines, dams, bridges, building foundations, highways, slope stabilization projects, landfill and wastewater treatment sites, waterways and port facilities. Geological engineers also conduct environmental impact assessments, develop and protect groundwater resources, and remediate contaminated sites. In the energy and mining industries, they are responsible for locating and evaluating resources hidden far below the Earth’s surface and for developing  them efficiently and responsibly with measures to mitigate environmental impacts.

Program

The Geological Engineering Program is delivered jointly by the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Earth Sciences at UNB. The program provides education in the basic sciences and engineering principles required for the profession as well as exposure to important aspects of oral and written communications, engineering design, economics, law, and professional practice. Skills in field work and team work are developed through two geoscientific field schools and through a capstone team design project. Students may tailor their program of study through the choice of technical and complementary electives. For example, students interested in the geoenvironmental, geotechnical, or water, mineral, and energy resources fields can choose electives to further their understanding of those topics. Graduates of this program will have fulfilled the academic requirements for registration in Canadian associations of professional engineers. With appropriate course selection, graduates of the program may also be eligble to register as professional geoscientists.

The Geological Engineering BScE degree program entails 161 credit hours in classes plus an additional 10 credit hours taken in the form of two field schools that are held in the spring or late summer outside the normal teaching terms. All courses in the program must be passed with a grade of C or better. The program is intended for completion within eight terms. Students should pay special attention to the course sequences and prerequisites when selecting their courses for any term. Some upper year courses are offered in alternate years. Advice concerning the course selection and sequencing should be sought from the Director of the Geological Engineering Program.

Core (158 ch)

Technical Electives (7 ch)

Suggested technical electives are listed below. Other courses may be acceptable subject to the approval of the GE Program Director.

CE 3403 Environmental Engineering
CE 5142 Foundation Engineering II
CE 5163 Advanced Soil Mechanics
CE 5212 Introduction to Pavement Engineering
CE 5421 Water Quality and Treatment
CE 5432 Wastewater Treatment and Pollution Control
CE 5623 Project Management
CE 5721 Ecohydraulics
ESCI 3482 Mineral Resources, Economics and Environment
ESCI 3492 Petroleum Geoscience, Carbon Cycle & the Environment
ESCI 4412 Applied Rock Mechanics (O)
ESCI 4452 Environmental Impact Assessment
ESCI 4461 Economic Geology I
ESCI 4501 Applied Geophysics I
GE 4401 Applied Glacial Geology
GE 4422 Applied Remote Sensing
GGE 3342 Remote Sensing

Complementary Studies Electives (6 ch)

A complete Geological Engineering program requires 6 credit hours of complementary studies electives. Course selections are subject to Program Director's approval, and also must meet the Faculty of Engineering General Regulations for Complementary Studies requirements. At least one course must be designated as having a substatianl wrtiting component, indicated by a (W) in the calendar description. At least one of the electives must be chosen from one of the following disciplines; Anthropology, Classics, Literature, History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology.