Geological engineering is the development and conservation of natural resources in ways useful to humankind. It encompasses diverse fields such as groundwater resources, subsurface contamination, slope stability, environmental site design, and mineral and petroleum exploration and production. Instruction in geological engineering provides training at both the undergraduate and graduate levels through the Ph.D.

Geological Engineering (GEOE) as a relatively rare degree program that only 13 schools in the U.S. offer. The degree bridges the gap between the science of geology and multiple engineering disciplines including mining, civil, petroleum and envirnmental engineering. As such, the curriculum that students complete as part od the degree is very diverse, with courses covering topics in geology, the engineering disciplines stated above, and engineering topics unique to geological engineering.