mrniphty

I'm an engineering/applied physics undergrad with an emerging interest in geology and earth science.

Could someone familiar with Engineering Geology and related disciplines comment a bit about the field--what kinds of work people do, what kinds of education/licensure is involved, what job prospects are like? Thanks.

Mr Payne

You can work in the oil & gas industry. Extremely lucrative.

Corbett

Engineering geology/geotechnical engineering are professionally quite distinct from petroleum geology/petroleum engineering.

Geotechnical professionals work with land. They evaluate the physical properties of soil and rock, and design appropriate foundations, excavations, tunnels, grading, etc. They evaluate potential geohazards, such as earthquake faults, unstable slopes, soft soils, etc.

Since virtually every engineered structure (apart from boats and space stations) interfaces with soil or rock, some degree of geotechnical input is required on all civil engineering projects. Engineering geologists usually do the evaluation; geotechnical engineers usually prepare the appropriate design.

The market for geotechnical engineers tends to be cyclical, depending on the real estate market. Professional opportunities have been very good over the past several years, because skyrocketing property values have encouraged land development. Hiring may slow in the future if the real estate market falls.

Many geotech firms are small and locally based; there are good opportunities to own or manage your own consulting firm. Since geotech work requires local knowledge and presence, it is highly resistant to outsourcing.

You can get an entry-level geotech job with a BS, but an MS is better. You will ultimately need a state PG or PE license. Licensing requirements are particularly strict in West Coast states, which require advanced specialty licenses (CEG and GE) for geotechnical professionals.

Corbett

Geoenvironmental engineering is another discipline that deals with land; however, it focuses on chemical (rather than physical) properties. Geologists and engineers in this field typically work with land that has been affected by some form of industrial pollution, and which must be cleaned up to meet regulatory concerns or to allow redevelopment. Again, job opportunities have been generally good in recent years due to rising property values, but could slow in the future.

Subsurface contaminants commonly migrate in groundwater or soil vapor. So geoenvironmental projects tend to require more knowledge of fluids than geotechnical projects. Degree and licensing requirements are similar to those for geotech.

sac

Like most technical fields, the more advanced the degree, the more interesting projects you will get to work on as a geotechnical engineer. PhDs do a lot of mathematical modeling. Dams, bridges, nuclear and other power plants, evaluating seismic hazards around the world -- it goes way beyond housing developments. You might do it in stages, working for a few years at a small company on local projects, then going to grad school once you have an area you'd like to specialize in.

mrniphty

Thanks for the thoughtful replies.

What's a normal first professional degree? (I assume I couldn't just go out and be an engineering geologist with a bachelor's degree in physics.)

Corbett

Traditionally, the first professional degree for geotech has been a geology BS, or an ABET-accredited civil engineering BS. These are typically "general" degrees, because most schools don't offer specialized geotechnical degrees at the BS level. Of course, a student interested in geotech would normally try to take relevant elective courses as an undergraduate.

It would likely be difficult to find work as an EG or GE without a geology or engineering degree. You might get your foot in the door at a lower level as a technician; geotech firms often hire staff to oversee or inspect construction projects, and for these positions they might not require any degree at all.

It might be difficult to get a PE or PG license without an appropriate degree. State licensing laws vary widely in terms of education requirements. In some states, you could make up the deficiency with extra work experience; in others, you would be barred from licensure. Some states have not established licensing programs for geologists; in such cases, geologists have no legal authority regardless of degree, so this would not be an issue.

There is increasing interest in promoting the MS, rather than the BS, as the first professional degree. This change has been formally recommended by ASCE and NCEES, and at least some states are likely to require the MS for PE licensure in the next few years. If this happens, then similar rules may be implemented for PG licensure. But it will take years.

If you have a BS in physics and want to work in geotech, you should consider staying in school for another BS in geology or civil engineering. Alternatively, go for a specialized MS in engineering geology or geotechnical engineering after you graduate. You will likely need to make up some undergraduate courses as a grad student, but the MS should be quite marketable, even with a physics BS.

One potential pitfall to this approach is that some states still regard the BS as the only acceptable first professional degree. For example, you may not be able to get a PE license in some states without an ABET BS in engineering, even if you have an appropriate MS in engineering. This is likely to change in the future, as noted above, but for now you should still check your state licensing laws.

sac

Coming from physics, you might also look into geophysics.

mrniphty

Seems like it'd be a fairly serious effort to switch. Good to know.

Sac: Out in industry, what distinguishes a practicing geologist from a practicing geophysicist?

Corbett

Geologists and geophysicists both study earth materials, but they go about it differently.

Geologists evaluate earth materials, like soil or rock, by direct observation.

Geophysicists evaluate earth materials indirectly, by using instruments to assess their physical properties. Basically they study instrument readings, rather than soils or rocks themselves. This approach can provide information about earth materials even when direct observation or sampling is impossible or impractical. For example, geophysicists have determined the properties of the earth's core, which is impossible to observe directly, by its effect on the propagation of seismic waves.

Geophysicists in industry tend to work for oil companies. Oilfields may be tens of thousands of feet below the surface, so it's very expensive to drill holes for samples; geophysical methods are a cost-effective exploration alternative. Some geophysicists work on a smaller scale in the construction industry, mapping underground features like utilities, tanks, groundwater, etc.