Geological Engineering Queen's University

Overview

The Geological Engineering BSc course from Queen's University geological engineers will be part of impact studies for facilities and operations that impact the surface environment and subsurface.

The recommendations of Geological Engineers will often impact the construction and operation of these projects. Any engineering project that interacts with the Earth or Earth materials in any way requires the input of Geological Engineers.

Geological Engineers plan, design, and implement geotechnical, geological, geophysical, hydrogeological, and environmental data acquisition from manual ground-based methods, shallow and deep drilling, geochemical sampling, advanced geophysical techniques, and satellite surveys.

Geological Engineers are also involved in analyzing past and future ground behaviour, creating geological models (maps, sections, 3D, and 4D virtual models) at all scales, and conducting ground characterization programs for specific engineering requirements. These analyses lead Geological Engineers to prepare recommendations and reports on factors that could affect the foundations of construction, mining, and civil engineering projects, such as rock excavation, pressure grouting, hydraulic channel erosion control, the settlement of buildings, the stability of slopes and fills, the probable effects of landslides and earthquakes, groundwater flow, as well as assessment and remediation of contamination.

Career opportunities:

Our graduates are sought after not only for their deep and broad knowledge base but also for their exceptional field skills and their familiarity with state-of-the-art analysis and design tools and technology. We strongly emphasize interaction and student-faculty dialogue in our courses and departmental affairs. The Queen’s Geological Engineering Degree is very well respected among Canadian and international employers.

Queen’s Geological Engineering grads are employed across Canada and around the world in summer and permanent positions by environmental firms, construction consultants, the oil and gas sector, geophysical investigation teams, the mineral resources and mining industry, government offices, NGOs, and a vast number of related sectors.

A Queen’s Geological Engineering Degree also provides a firm basis on which to enter a wide range of graduate studies and research institutions to undertake more advanced projects and to pursue research careers.