The Master’s in Geotechnical Engineering and Foundations is a specialized program designed for professionals in the construction, geology, and civil engineering sectors who seek to strengthen and update their knowledge of soil behavior. This program will allow you to delve deeper into geotechnical engineering, covering topics ranging from the description and classification of soils and rocks, fundamental aspects of soil and rock mechanics, to the complex interaction of water in the subsurface. You will explore flow in porous media, effective stresses, and consolidation processes—knowledge essential for the geotechnical characterization of any project. The program focuses on mastering advanced techniques, including numerical modeling in geotechnical engineering, a key skill for strategic decision-making. Through a rigorous approach, you will gain a deep understanding of the challenges and solutions in foundations and underground construction. You will develop superior analytical skills to assess risks, optimize designs, and ensure stability and safety in your projects. You will consolidate your expertise and stay up to date in a technical field that requires constant refinement, applying advanced methodologies that will significantly enhance your professional practice. This master’s program equips you with the tools and knowledge to tackle the most demanding geotechnical projects with confidence and precision.
Objectives
• Consolidate and expand your knowledge of the essential principles of geotechnical engineering, including the description and classification of geological materials. • Understand and manage water interactions in the subsurface by analyzing flow in porous media and consolidation processes. • Develop and apply advanced methodologies for characterizing soil properties, optimizing data analysis. • Formulate effective strategies and solutions for foundation design and the execution of underground construction projects. • Use numerical simulation tools to predict soil behavior and assess geotechnical risks. • Analyze the stability of slopes and structures, integrating complex analyses to support decision-making in engineering projects. • Evaluate and select the most appropriate foundation techniques for different types of projects and soil conditions. • Apply geotechnical design criteria to ensure the safety and functionality of infrastructure.
Methodology
At Educa PHAROS, we use a highly practical methodology focused on the direct application of knowledge in the student’s professional environment, combining theoretical content with real-world cases, digital tools, and support from a team of specialized instructors.
Program
Soil: Concept and Formation
Soil. Types of Soils and Sedimentary Deposits
Granular soils. Gravel and sand
Cohesive soils. Silt and clay
Cohesive Soils: Structure, Types, and Properties of Clays
Elemental Properties: Volumes and Weights
Elemental Properties. Granular Soils
Elemental Properties. Cohesive Soils
Soil Classification. Unified Soil Classification System (ASTM)
Soil Classification. AASHTO System
The Geological Cycle: Plate Tectonics and Deformations of the Earth's Crust
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary rocks
Metamorphic rocks
Rock, bedrock, and rock mass
Properties of the rock matrix
Properties of the rock mass. Discontinuities
Geomechanical Classifications. Bieniawski's RMR
Geomechanical Classifications. Barton's Q-Index
The GSI Index: Geological Strength Index
Groundwater. Types of Aquifers
Darcy's Law. Hydraulic head and hydraulic gradient. Permeability
Mechanics and Theory of Flow in Porous Media
Flow Networks
The Fragment Method
Principle of Effective Stresses. Application to Soils and Rocks
Stress Distribution in the Ground
Scouring, bottom heaving, internal erosion, and piping
Filters: Concept, Use, and Preliminary Design
Effects of Water on the Rock Matrix and the Bedrock Massif
Introduction
The amount of the consolidation entry
The Evolution of the Consolidation Base
Theory of Parabolic Isochrones
Preloading and Radial and Mixed Consolidation
Well Design and Construction
Well Design. Analytical Solutions for Individual Wells
Well Field Design. Analytical Solutions for Well Fields
Design and Construction of Wellpoints
Wellpoint Design
Previous office work
Design and Planning of Research Campaigns
Field Surveys and Preliminary Research
Drilling and Sampling Techniques
In-situ Tests for Soils and Rock Masses
Identification and Condition Assessments (I)
Identification and Condition Assessments (II)
Strength Tests (I)
Strength Tests (II)
Interpretation of the triaxial test
Deformability Test
Interpretation of the edometric test
Compaction and Reuse Tests
Rock Testing (I)
Rock Testing (II)
Introduction to Auscultation
Instrumentation Equipment (I)
Instrumentation Equipment (II)
Instrumentation Equipment (III)
Examples of Use in Construction Projects
The stress tensor: total, effective, and interstitial stresses. Mohr's circle of stresses
The strain tensor. Mohr's circle in strain analysis
Problem Statement
Equations and Parameters of Elasticity
Key Elastic Solutions in Soil and Rock Mechanics
Introduction to Plasticity
The criterion for plasticity. Types of plastic behavior
Law of Plastic Behavior. Plastic Flow and Plastic Potential
Main Theorems and Postulates of the Theory of Plasticity
The Mohr-Coulomb elastoplastic model
Rheological models
Hardening Soil Model
Hardening Soil Small Model
Jardine Model
Cam-Clay Model
Hoek and Brown's constitutive model
Barton–Choubey Constitutive Model for Joints and Discontinuities
Viscosity, viscoelasticity, and viscoplasticity
Extension of rheological models
Viscoelastic and viscoelastic constitutive models
Previous Work
Design and Planning of Research Campaigns
The Geotechnical Study
Soil samples
Preliminary Research and Field Surveys
Drilling and Sampling Techniques
In-situ Tests for Soils and Rock Masses
Concept of Identification and State of Resistance
Identification and Condition Tests
Strength Tests
Introduction to the Triaxial Test: Prerequisite Concepts
Definition of the triaxial test
Interpretation of the triaxial test
Practical Applications of the Triaxial Test
Deformability Test
Interpretation of the edometric test
Compaction and Reuse Tests
Laboratory Tests for Rock Characterization
In-situ tests for rock characterization
Definitions and Concepts
Stress Distributions in the Soil
Estimation of Settlement in Granular Soils
Estimation of Settlement in Cohesive Soils
Other methods and other deformations
Coulomb's Fundamental Hypotheses
Soil Mechanics According to Terzaghi and Rankine
Static buoyancy coefficients. Empirical relationships by Jaky and Mayne
Winkler Module
Numerical models (2D/3D FEM, LEM, DEM)
The Earthquake and Its Mechanical Effects on the Ground
Introduction to the Design of Rigid Walls
Design and Calculation of Gravity Walls
Construction Procedures and Geometry of Gravity Walls
Classification and Stability of Rigid Walls
Masonry Systems
Other rigid walls
Principles of Flexible Behavior
Design and Specifications for Gabion and Screen Walls
Reinforced Concrete Continuous Walls
Pile and Micropile Screens
Types of Screen Mounts
Excavation of sheet pile walls and trenches
Wall Construction Procedures
Auscultation instrumentation for ground motion and monitoring
Educa PHAROS is a training solution for businesses that centralizes learning, simplifies user management, and allows you to track progress through dashboards and reports.
It is designed for organizations that want to develop internal skills, standardize role-based training, and have traceability and learning metrics.
It includes learning paths by profile, user and permission management, progress reports, certification, and access to masterclasses or live sessions (depending on the plan).
It is based on best practices in security, access control, learning traceability, and implementation support. Customize this text according to your commitments (SLA, compliance, etc.).
Educa PHAROS is a next-generation training model that places a company’s human capital at the forefront. Through a platform that adapts to each company’s corporate identity and offers a total of more than 900 courses, it provides tailored training for each organization. The unlimited flat-rate plan provides each company with the number of courses that best suits its needs, as well as the ability to determine which employees will have access.
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Civil Engineering 
Spanish 
Credits: 60 ECTS
Leadership and Management 
Spanish
60 ECTS
Architecture and Construction