Master of Geotechnical Engineering

Purpose

The main purpose of this qualification is to produce learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage effectively and provide solutions to engineering challenges involving the ground control and stability encountered in the field. This professional Masters' Degree programme is aimed at learners who seek careers in fields related to Geotechnical Engineering but not necessarily research based. It will provide an intensive graduate education in Geotechnical Engineering for individuals through a combination of appropriate course scheduling and will suitably serve working professionals as it will include work that develops skills related to workplace needs.

Rationale

This qualification is developed to cater for learners of other qualifications in Civil/Environmental Engineering or related fields. It will be a practice oriented postgraduate qualification provided as an alternative to the research intensive Master of Science Degree currently undertaken in the department which has proved challenging for learners who are in fulltime employment due to the time demand of the research curriculum. This new coursework centred Master of Geotechnical Engineering Degree is designed to assist graduate Civil Engineers and technical professionals in the development of their careers and to provide the expertise needed in the rapidly changing business, government, and industrial environments ensuring that industry workforce needs are met.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

For the purpose of admission into the qualification applying admission criteria other than described above, learners could be assessed as per institutional RPL Policy and Procedures.

The RPL admission route requires that learners submit portfolio of evidence of the knowledge and skills achieved through non-academic means. The information is assessed in accordance with the receiving faculty's rules and regulations. Learners who meet the criteria are allowed to proceed towards registration.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entrance requirement is

• Bachelor Honours Degree in Engineering or Geometrics.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 181 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 117 Credits

• Lateral Earth Supports, 16 Credits.
• Laboratory and Field Techniques, 16 Credits.
• Foundation Design, 16 Credits.
• Geotechnical Engineering Project, 45 Credits.
• Slope Stability, 12 Credits.
• Geosynthetics Engineering, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules, 64 Credits (Choose four)

• Contaminated Land and Remediation, 16 Credits.
• Ground Improvement Techniques, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Soil Mechanics, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Mechanics of Materials, 16 Credits.
• Structural Dynamics with Applications, 16 Credits.
• Structural Concrete Properties and Practice, 16 Credits.

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of advanced Geotechnical Engineering principles.
• Be able to identify the geotechnical data relevant to a given engineering scenario.
• Generate such data through the employment of appropriate testing techniques, and interpret the data in an engineering context.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyse Geotechnical Engineering problems and apply the knowledge in providing workable solutions.
• Demonstrate awareness and an understanding of the developing technologies within the field of Geotechnical Engineering.
• Demonstrate technical competence, innovation or professional expertise in Geotechnical Engineering.
• Be able to undertake a Geotechnical Engineering project and demonstrate their ability to work independently.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1

The following associated assessment criteria apply across all the exit level outcomes of this qualification

• An advanced knowledge and understanding of the principles of Geotechnical Engineering and of their applications in a Civil Engineering context is displayed.
• Engineering properties and characteristics of soils are identified and discussed.
• The site investigation process from design, through testing and interpretation, to reporting is explained.
• Creative and innovative designs which provide optimal solutions to geotechnical problems are developed.
• The geotechnical design process, the design of foundations, slopes and earth retaining structures are outlined.
• The geotechnical data relevant to a given engineering scenario is identify and interpreted in an engineering context.
• Ideas, concepts and data are selected and applied from both science and engineering context, in order to generate creative and innovative designs which provide optimal solutions to geotechnical problems.
• The ability to communicate by means of well prepared, clear and confident presentations as well as by concise and grammatical written documents is demonstrated.

Integrated Assessment

Formative and summative modes of assessments will be used to evaluate learner progress in this qualification.

Assessment procedure will determine how well the learner has met the intended learning outcomes of the qualification. In order to pass, the learner will need to demonstrate to the geotechnical teaching staff and an independent External Examiner that their performance against the program outcomes has been satisfactory. The learner will do this by completing an assessed assignment, sitting a written examination or completing a design project where applicable. Verbal and written feedback on assignments and projects will be provided on an ongoing basis. Learners will receive internal and external examiners reports on their research projects.