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Geotechnical Engineering Degree Requirements

Download print version: Geotechnical Engineering degree requirements

Research Track (Thesis Option)Professional Master's Program (Coursework Option)
  • 33 credits of coursework
  • 9 credits of CEE 700 – Master's Thesis (max 12 credits with faculty approval)
  • 42 credits of coursework

Coursework requirements

  • 18 credits minimum 500 level coursework
  • 18 credits minimum of 400-500 level coursework
  • 3 credits minimum outside of CESG coursework
  • All CESG coursework (except seminars) taken for numeric grade
  • 3 credits maximum of CEE 600 - Independent Study
  • 499 credits do not count towards a graduate degree
  • 300 and below coursework does not count towards a graduate degree
  • Maximum 2 credits of ENGR 601 allowed with faculty advisor approval

GPA requirements

  • 3.0 Minimum cumulative GPA overall
  • 3.0 Minimum cumulative GPA in Geotechnical coursework
  • 2.7 minimum grade for a course to count

Other requirements

  • 6 year max to complete degree (including official On Leave status)
  • 6 credits maximum of approved transfer credits

Course #Course NameCredits
Autumn quarter
CESG 561Adv Soil Mech4
Winter quarter
CESG 566Slope Stability and Landslides3
Spring quarter
CESG 567Advanced Foundation Engineering3
CESG 569Geological Eng & Rock Mechanics3

19 credits of the following courses are required for PMP student, 15 credits for Thesis Students.

Course #Course NameCredits
Autumn quarter
CESG 562Adv Geotech Lab5
CESG 563Phys-chem Aspects of Soil Beh3
Winter quarter
CESG 564Computational Geomechanics*4
CESG 565Soil Dynamics3
CESG 571Case Histories3
Spring quarter
CESG 568Geotechnical Earthquake Eng3
CESG 570Geosystems Engineering3

The remaining course requirements for the MSCE degree can be satisfied by any 5XX and some 4XX courses in the CEWA program, as well as a variety of relevant courses from other departments at the UW. Students are encouraged to explore the availability of these courses and decide on an individual plan of study that balances depth and breadth, in line with the student's career goals, with guidance and approval from their faculty adviser.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list but rather suggestions for some relevant courses. Refer to the UW Time Schedule or the corresponding department for course offering details.

Course #Course NameCredits
AA 540/541Finite Element Analysis I & II3
AMATH 506Applied Probablility Statistics4
AMATH 581, 582, 583Scientific Computing5
AMATH 584, 585, 586Numerical Analysis5
ARCH 574Design and Construction Law3
ATM S 552Objective Analysis3
CESG 508Materials Modeling3
CESG 501Structural Mechanics4
ESS 512Seismology3
ESS 522Geophysical Data Collection and Analysis3
ESS 523Geophysical Inverse Theory3
STAT 504, 506Applied Regression, Applied Prob. & Stat.4
STAT 512Statistical Inference4
STAT 520Spectral Analysis of Time Series4