A NEW INNOVATIVE COURSE OFFERING: CONSULTING CASE HISTORIES IN ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

For the past three summers the author has taught a case histories course based on his consulting experience, during the 4 week Maymester session at Purdue University. The class consists of two and a half hours of lecture per day for 20 sessions, 4 times the rate of a normal semester. Each year seven case histories are presented, each requiring a written report, submitted the day after completing the subject. Field trips to some of the sites extend the session for that day. Over the three year period, new case histories are added while others are removed. Projects include studies in site selection and characterization, water supply, ground water contamination, highway construction, excavations, karst topography, building foundations, dams, sanitary landfills, contstruction materials and slope stability. Students include both undergraduates and graduates in geology and civil engineering. The course has been well received.