Program Introduction

Geological Engineering encompasses activities carried out within the framework of geological guidance and engineering principles. These include the formation of the Earth's crust; its physical, chemical, and mechanical properties; the exploration, development, management, and evaluation of related environmental impacts of natural resources (minerals, petroleum, coal, industrial raw materials, groundwater); site selection for various engineering structures (dams, tunnels, roads, etc.); investigation and analysis of construction materials; and the identification of natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, paleoclimate changes) and the development of measures to reduce risks associated with them.

The METU Geological Engineering Department aims to cultivate entrepreneurial graduates who can generate solutions to problems needed by both the private and public sectors in areas concerning geological engineering; who can closely follow scientific and technological developments and put this knowledge into practice; and who have "learned how to learn" and are capable of continuous self-improvement.

Key Highlights

• Curriculum Structure: The framework of the educational program consists of mathematics and basic sciences, geology, engineering sciences, and social and human sciences.
• Facilities and Laboratories: The department houses a Geology Museum where various mineral, rock, and fossil samples are exhibited, alongside a fully equipped computer laboratory. Educational and research activities are conducted in a wide range of specialized labs, including the Analytical Chemistry, Marine Micropaleontology, Economic Geology, Photogeology, X-Ray Diffractometry, Hydrogeology, Geophysics, Clay Mineralogy, Engineering Geology and Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems laboratories, among many others.
• Academic Opportunities: In its Master’s and PhD programs, the department offers students the opportunity to specialize in specific areas and guides them toward academic careers by providing both purely scientific and applied theses in various fields of geology.
• Career Paths: Graduates are primarily preferred by the private sector domestically and internationally (construction, geotechnical, mining, petroleum, environment) and by domestic public institutions (General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, General Directorate of Water Management, General Directorate of Highways, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Turkish Petroleum Corporation, İlbank, BOTAŞ, General Directorate of Environmental Protection, etc.).

Real Experience

• Field Applications: Field applications are considered the most important part of the education and are conducted using a master-apprentice approach.
• Teamwork and Skill Development: Students are equipped with the ability to work in teams with members of other engineering disciplines (civil, mining, petroleum, environmental, etc.).
• Design-Oriented Projects: Beyond standard coursework, students participate in engineering design projects in various courses. These projects aim to improve students' research skills, enable them to provide solutions to real-world problems, and help them express themselves effectively in both writing and orally.

For further information: https://geoe.metu.edu.tr/en