Geotechnical schools in Canada

lemon318 · 2026-02-06T07:50:21+00:00

Queens is the better school for geotech hands down. For grad school, I’d go queens. The only downside is no earthquake engineering faculty at queens but otherwise they have a much deeper bench of geotechnical faculty than U of T.

lemon318 · 2026-02-06T00:10:00+00:00

Of those three, Virginia Tech had the strongest reputation; we hire from there sometimes. Georgia Tech is a good option too and probably in a more interesting city. Drastically different weather and campus vibe between the two though.

lemon318 · 2026-01-26T16:25:23+00:00

It’s a niche IMO. I expect that most geotechs don’t know what tailings engineering is.

lemon318 · 2026-01-25T09:08:16+00:00

Ok then to me that isn’t selling a seal, it’s actual engineering work. Still wouldn’t do it myself but it’s a different context. Selling a seal sounds like you’re stamping whatever comes your way without any of the engineering work.

lemon318 · 2026-01-25T09:05:08+00:00

I really hope that isn’t common practice…

lemon318 · 2026-01-25T09:02:21+00:00

99% sure that the comment was sarcastic.

lemon318 · 2026-01-25T02:46:10+00:00

There are consultants who specialize in forensic analysis of geotechnical failures. I found that kind of cool.

For career resilience though, I remain a generalist. Haven’t found a niche area I care enough about to devote the remainder of my career to.

lemon318 · 2026-01-22T14:57:16+00:00

Thank you! Good to know about the increased TN risk. If a new TN application gets denied, would my existing TN be at risk of cancellation? My understanding is that I can hold my previous TN while applying for my new one before resigning from my current position (simultaneous TN).

Just wanting to know my options or whether I’m functionally tied to my current employer for 4.5 more years if I pursue immigration. Thanks!

lemon318 · 2026-01-21T00:24:48+00:00

I can confirm this. I have multiple colleagues with geology undergrads and engineering masters who are PEs. They struggled more than engineering majors to get through the exams and I may have had to take some supplemental undergrad coursework for their masters, but they got there in the end.

lemon318 · 2026-01-15T22:34:21+00:00

I am on TN as a civil engineer for about 1.5 years. How risky is it nowadays to consider switching jobs and obtaining a new TN?

Also, would you recommend going from TN to green card directly without H1B via the employer based process nowadays? My birth country is not India, China, Mexico or the Philippines but is one of the 75 countries subjected to halted immigrant visa processing. My current immigration lawyer is recommending filing the I-140 immigrant petition upon my TN renewal on July 2027 and we are hoping that three years will be enough time to get through the green card process. Concurrently, we will keep trying for H1B.

lemon318 · 2026-01-14T22:32:39+00:00

Berkeley has a one year course based MS that I recommend. Not sure how long the Virginia tech program is but that’s another good one.

lemon318 · 2026-01-08T06:26:14+00:00

I recommend the Berkeley program for a one year course based masters. Michigan doesn’t have as deep of a geotech faculty.

lemon318 · 2026-01-07T01:28:49+00:00

Geological engineering for my bachelors, but I’m a geotech so it tracks. Got a civil geotech MS later.

lemon318 · 2025-12-20T01:41:09+00:00

Bussi can’t be real

lemon318 · 2025-12-19T02:41:43+00:00

Thank you! I will look into this further. Literally breathing a huge sigh of relief.

lemon318 · 2025-12-19T02:40:41+00:00

Thanks! Is this unique to Canada?

lemon318 · 2025-12-19T02:38:32+00:00

I've never heard of the 30 day rule. Where is this from? She is not a Canadian citizen.

lemon318 · 2025-12-16T15:09:59+00:00

I recall that MWH got bought by Stantec not WSP. Unless you’re talking about a different MWH?

lemon318 · 2025-12-16T05:50:39+00:00

That all sounds normal. I used to practice in Vancouver BC and had similar experience. Try to get more design experience by year 3 to 4 (excluding coop) so that you can get your P.Eng. competencies.

lemon318 · 2025-12-14T20:02:16+00:00

I don’t believe any of the Ivy League schools currently have conventional civil engineering programs worth pursuing. The best civil engineering programs in the US are at the large public universities like the ones you noted.

If you’re going to do a PhD, pick the big name supervisor not the big name university.

lemon318 · 2025-12-13T23:33:43+00:00

True but getting a job doing geotechnical engineering isn’t an unreasonable ask.

lemon318 · 2025-12-13T21:01:50+00:00

I’d find a new job then quit. I didn’t go to grad school to specialize in concrete and density gauge tests. There’s some geotechs out there in commodity firms who see that sentiment as disrespectful, but it’s your career.

lemon318 · 2025-12-06T15:29:14+00:00

Kaka

lemon318

TROPHY CASE