GeoEngineering Graduate Programs

GeoEngineering graduate students should ideally possess the following qualities:

• Strong academic background in math and science
• Commitment to combat the process of global warming
• Interest in working in an interdisciplinary field
• Interest in working in a relatively new, and growing, field

GeoEngineering Graduate Programs and Curriculum

Interested students can explore geoengineering in the context of disciplines ranging from environmental engineering to ocean technology. Students pursuing graduate degrees in these areas may take classes ranging from earthquake engineering to dynamics of ocean structures. Below is a broad sample of coursework a geoengineering student might encounter in graduate school:

• Water wave mechanics
• Mineral and energy resources
• Applications in ocean acoustics
• Coastal and harbor engineering
• Marine renewable energy
• Engineering geology
• Advanced geomechanics
• Seismic methods in applied geophysics
• Rock stability
• Groundwater and seepage

Students obtaining a graduate degree in geoengineering may choose from a master’s or a Ph.D. in geoengineering. A master’s degree may take anywhere from one to three years to complete. A Ph.D in geoengineering averages four to six years to complete. A master’s thesis or independent project may be required as part of the master’s degree requirements, and a dissertation and completion of exams will be required for the doctoral degree.

Those applying to GeoEngineering graduate programs should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. They should have a solid academic background in math and science, and may need to fulfill prerequisites set by the graduate school to which they are applying. They may need to submit GRE scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a personal statement; TOEFL scores, if applicable, are also required.

GeoEngineering Careers

GeoEngineers typically have the following job responsibilities:

• Design projects and systems
• Obtain and analyze data
• Obtain permits
• Prepare reports
• Assess sites
• Consult and collaborate with related agencies

GeoEngineers may find employment in the public sector, working at government-run environmental agencies. They also could work in the private sector, at nonprofits and think-tanks.

GeoEngineering Salary and Job Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, employment for environmental engineers is expected to grow by 22% between 2010 and 2020. This can be attributed to a trend of increasing concern for environmental safety, such as the quality of drinking water, cleanup of contaminated sites, and the need to comply with environmental regulations.

While specific salary data for geoengineers is not currently available, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does provide salary information for the related occupation of environmental engineering. In May 2010, per the BLS, environmental engineers earned an average yearly salary of $78,740. The minimum educational requirement for this data was a bachelor’s degree. There were 51,400 environmental engineers employed in or by the United States. Those employed by the federal government earned an average of $100,270, while those employed by the state government earned an average of $69,050.

Data according to

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Ed,