About
Geological engineers connect the worlds of nature and engineering. They apply engineering principles to the natural materials and fluids found in the earth, including rocks, soils, groundwater, petroleum and natural gas.
- Four year degree
- Full-time program
- You can enter this program directly from high school
- You can begin this program off-campus
What you will learn
Starting your degree
We've redesigned first-year engineering at USask to help you succeed and make engineering more fun. We call the new first year RE-ENGINEERED. It’s the only program of its kind in Canada. It will get you excited and inspired about engineering.
In RE-ENGINEERED, instead of high-stakes exams, you will do more assignments and quizzes so you can improve your mark if you stumble early. Daily tutorials are part of the schedule so you can get help when you need it. And instead of final exams, you will explore the different branches of engineering in hands-on courses.
You will choose your engineering specialty – known as your major, or discipline – at the end of your first year. This is the area you will study in-depth in your upper-years classes.
RE-ENGINEERED: The new first-year program
In RE-ENGINEERED, your first-year classes will be shorter and more intensive so you can learn a broader range of material. These essential skills will form the strong foundation you need for the rest of your degree.
| Course | Description |
|---|---|
| Courses in both the fall and winter terms | |
| Introduction to Engineering | |
| Mechanics (Dynamics and Statics) | |
| Design | |
| Engineering Mathematics | |
| Electrical Circuits | |
| Engineering Communication | |
| Additional first-year courses | |
| Computer Science | |
| Natural sciences and their connection to engineering | |
| Process Engineering | |
| Hands-on experiences in the engineering disciplines | |
* These are elective courses. You'll have a number of courses to choose between.
The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.
Here are just a few of the classes you might take while you complete this degree:
GEOE 218: Engineering Geology
Introduction to engineering geology and the engineering properties of geomaterials including strength, compressibility and permeability of soils and rocks. Labs, case studies and field trips emphasize slope stability, ground monitoring, instrumentation and the engineering significance of geological processes and geomaterials. Fundamentals of structural geology, applied geomorphology, site investigation technology, geophysics and airphoto interpretation.
GEOE 315: Rock Mechanics
Physical properties of rock. Rock stress-deformation behaviour and failure. Laboratory and in situ testing.
GEOE 466: Petroleum Geomechanics
Geomechanical, geotechnical and petrophysical problems of interest to the petroleum industry: petroleum well drilling, borehole breakouts, wellbore stability, hydraulic fracturing, subsidence and compaction due to oil and gas withdrawal.
We have RE-ENGINEERED first year
Experience RE-ENGINEERED. Our new first-year program is designed to help you succeed. We don’t want our first years to simply survive, we want you to thrive.
Your school day will start and end at the same times each day. And all first years have the same lunch-hour so you have time to join a club with your friends or fit in a workout.
Learn by doing
You will use state-of-the-art technology in the lab to learn, experiment and test your ideas. From our wind tunnel to our anechoic chamber, our students gain experience using equipment and software first-hand, rather than by watching demonstrations.
Get the academic help you need
Daily tutorials are built in to the RE-ENGINEERED schedule so you can get the help you need as soon as possible.
Our strong team of academic advisors is passionate about their work. You can book a one-on-one academic advising appointment to plan your degree and get your questions answered.
Join our community
You will be part of a welcoming community where you are noticed and supported. Our students cheer for each other and help each other succeed. We seek to be a place where students of any gender, race, ethnicity, religion, identity or background can work hard and achieve their goal of becoming an engineer.
Make an impact outside the classroom
Our student groups are well-established and successful.
You can use what you’ve learned in the classroom and develop leadership and team-building skills. Our design groups work on projects ranging from ¼-scale tractors, to steel bridges, to cube satellites.
Careers
With a degree in geological engineering, you will have many career options, including some of the following:
- working with mining and petroleum companies
- consulting as an engineer in geotechnical and geoenvironmental settings
- working for provincial or federal government
Tuition estimates
| Canadian students | International students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,354 | $54,954 |
| Student fees | $1,121 | $1,121 |
| Books | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Total | $13,975 | $57,575 |
Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay in your first year if you enroll in a full course load, the maximum number of courses allowed (2024-2025 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 per year.
Program options
Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.E.)
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree is a four-year program offered by the College of Engineering.
While you complete your Bachelor degree, you can also enhance your experience with the following options:
Admission requirements and deadlines
Ready to apply?
Create an admissions account and start your application today. When you are ready to submit your application, you will be assessed a non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD. Effective December 2, the application fee is increasing to $120 CAD.
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