This class is highly manageable and super interesting if you're looking to get deeply involved in civil engineering. The course covers a variety of topics from soil classification to soil mechanics and hydrology. While the topics can be complex and complicated, the professor does an amazing job making sure everything is comprehensible and manageable. The tests can be timely, but they literally mirror example problems done in class and homework assignments. Class attendance is important, as she uses older videos that don't cover new materials or exam details, and there are participation assignments. Homeworks make up a significant portion of your grade, and sometimes it can be difficult, but office hours can really help.

The professor is extremely kind and accommodating, and every class was a pleasure to attend! She has a somewhat open-door policy and is really handy for discussions outside of geotech engineering, and she is pretty encouraging when it comes to class participation and questions. Overall, for 3rd year Civil Engineers planning to take this course, you don't have too much to worry about. As long as you work ahead and take every opportunity to get extra credit and study for exams, you should be fine!

#tCFfall25

Professor Burden is amazingly kind and understanding and is truly passionate about the topics discussed in class. The tests and final exam ask for information pulled directly from the powerpoints used in class so use them to study for the tests and make sure you have a basic understanding of everything covered in them. The homeworks can be difficult so go to office hours or ask for help after class to make sure you do well, they are a relatively large portion of your grade.

If you put some sort of effort in this class, you should be able to get an A in this class. Just do well in the homeworks and inclass problems. If you read the powerpoints and understand the homeworks and inclass problems, the exams will be easy.