Geological Engineering
The Geology program educates professionals who contribute to society by providing solutions to geological problems aimed at enhancing quality of life and promoting sustainable development through comprehensive research and innovation. These efforts adhere to the highest standards and are responsive to societal needs.
Mission
The mission of the Geology program is to prepare professionals who contribute to society by providing solutions to geological problems to improve quality of life, while fostering sustainable and responsible development through comprehensive and competent research and innovation in the Earth sciences.
Program Pillars
Fundamentals of Geology: This segment provides essential training in geological knowledge. It encompasses fundamental and up-to-date topics aligned with the demands of both national and international industries. The program content is aligned with global trends in this professional field.
Mining Geology: This component is dedicated to developing expertise in exploration techniques, characterization, and assessment of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources. It contributes to the transformation of the productive matrix and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage through the application of knowledge for prospecting, exploration, and evaluation of metallic, non-metallic, and aggregate mineral resources, considering environmental and natural conservation aspects.
Hydrocarbons and Groundwater: This area covers aspects related to the formation of petroleum reservoirs, groundwater, and their exploration.
Geotechnical Engineering and Geological Hazards: This segment involves the characterization of geological hazards such as mass movements, earthquakes, and structural faults. It also includes stratigraphic characterization of subsurface layers and geomorphological characterization of areas prone to damage from seismic events, landslides, and floods.
The Geology degree program is accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission.
International Accreditation
The Geology degree program is accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission and the European seal of international quality in engineering EUR-ACE.
* Undergraduate tuition/fees:
The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador in its Article 356, among other principles, establishes that third-level public higher education will be tuition/fees free. Zero cost education is linked to the academic responsibility of the students.
Number of admitted students per academic year
Number of graduates per year
Number of enrolled students per academic year
Graphs show the figures in real time, at the time of the query
The Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) emerged as a response to the increasing demands for scientific and technical education in the country. It was created during the presidency of Dr. Camilo Ponce Enríquez, through Executive Decree No. 1664 published in the Official Registry on November 11, 1958. On May 25, 1959, 51 students officially began their academic life at ESPOL in two classrooms of the Casona Universitaria, under the direction of the first Rector, Ing. Walter Camacho Navarro, who was an Mining Engineer. It is worth noting that almost immediately after the creation of the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, in 1959, the activities of what was then called the Department of Mines began.
In the last months of 1964, when the first graduate of the academic unit had just been released, it was called the Department of Geology, Mines, and Petroleum. A total of five students, divided into three groups of different levels, were pursuing the only degree offered to obtain the title of Engineer in Geology, Mines, and Petroleum. The department had two full-time professors, two part-time professors, one assistant for the only existing laboratory, and one janitor.
The Faculty of Engineering in Geology, Mines, and Petroleum was formed in 1983 in response to the need to create these three careers. Initially, ESPOL only had the Mining Engineering specialty within the area of Earth Sciences. The current name, Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences (FICT), was adopted in 1989 with four careers: Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, and Civil Engineering, the latter replacing Geotechnical Engineering. With some changes and improvements in the curriculum and the Faculty, these four careers have been maintained until the present time under the name of the Faculty of Engineering in Earth Sciences (FICT), which was established in 1989.
Starting from this year, the student population in Mining Engineering at ESPOL decreased to the point where in 1995, only 2 students were enrolled in the program. At the time, other universities were facing similar situations, and some even closed this specialization. To address this issue, ESPOL optimized all available resources and the potential of the program by conducting promotional campaigns and revising the academic curriculum. Despite the challenges faced, the Mining Engineering program at ESPOL remained open, which was rare for this field nationally.
Subsequently, with the implementation of the National Exam for Higher Education and the research conducted in Mega-projects in the Mining area, the number of students increased, and by 2015, there were 134 active students enrolled in the program.
Curious individuals, passionate about nature, and eager to understand how the planet works.
We are looking for students with strong observation and analytical skills who enjoy fieldwork, research, and solving problems related to natural resources and the environment.
An ideal candidate for this career should have an affinity for science, along with a critical and proactive mindset to tackle challenges in mining, resource exploration, environmental management, and natural disaster prevention.
If you are driven by adventure, discovery, and applying science for sustainable development, you have the perfect profile to become a Geology Engineer!
At the end of their studies at ESPOL, Geological Engineering graduates are expected to achieve the following student outcomes:
SO1. Ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying the principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
SO2. Ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specific needs taking into account public health, safety and well-being, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
SO3a. Ability to communicate effectively with a large audience in Spanish. SO 3b. Ability to communicate effectively with a large audience in English.
SO4. Ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in situations involving engineering and to make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and social contexts.
SO5. Ability to work effectively in a team whose members jointly provide leadership, create an environment of collaboration and inclusion, set goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
SO6. Ability to develop and carry out appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
SO7. Ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as necessary, using appropriate learning strategies.
SO8. Ability to design real solutions with a unique value proposition to address specific needs considered from the point of view of the interested parties.
First Year
Description:
It is a core course for Engineering, Natural Sciences, Exact Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities, students. Topics, such as, topological notions, limits and continuity of real variable functions, derivatives and their applications, antiderivatives and integration techniques, and the definite integral with its applications, are examined. This course is aimed to the development of student’s skills and know-how in the derivation and integration processes, as a fundamental basis for the following upper level courses in its academic training process
Description:
Physics: Mechanics is a basic, theoretical-practical training course aimed at engineering students, with laboratory experimentation activities, which provides the fundamentals of particle mechanics, rigid bodies and fluid mechanics, in an environment of active learning.
Description:
In this course, students apply the Design Thinking methodology to identify, analyze real-life problems or needs, to design innovative solutions. Students work in multidisciplinary teams to present solution proposals that add value to customers/users from private companies, public organizations and non-profit organizations.
Description:
This professional formation course of the basic level of the Geology career is focused on the principles of geological engineering and its role in society. It studies the endogenous and exogenous processes of the planet, focusing on geological evolution, the structure, composition of each of the different Earth layers. In addition, it presents essential information on the different types of rocks, minerals, and sedimentary environments.
Description:
This subject of basic training of initial level of the career of Geology provides a vision. of the crystalline structure of minerals structure and composition of the Earth’s crust, physical properties, defined chemical composition of mineral species.Finally, the question of descriptive mineralogy for is presented. recognize the mineral resources that could hold great future potential for the country.
Description:
This basic and general education subject presents grammatical structures to produce a simple paragraph based on a writing program. Additionally, it allows the identification of a specific argument in oral and written communication. It also considers learners’ personal opinions about different topics related to social, academic, and professional aspects. It includes the necessary vocabulary to make comparisons between present and past, books or movies description, creation of simple students’ profile, opinions about inventions, formal apologies and tell past events.
Description:
Vector calculus is a course aimed at the basic training of professionals in the areas of Engineering, Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences who developed problem-solving and problem-solving skills in the n-dimensional context. For this purpose, the course consists of 5 general themes: three-dimensional analytic geometry and functions of several variables, differential calculus of scalar and vector fields, optimization of scalar functions of several variables, line integrals and multiple integration, surface integrals and theorems of the vector theory; being the main applications of this course: the optimization of functions of several variables applied to practical problems, the calculation of lengths, area, volumes, work and flow, using objects of the plane and space.
Description:
The course presents students with strategies to solve common problems in various professional fields through the design and implementation of solutions based on the use of a programming language. It covers the basic principles so that the student can read and write programs; emphasizing the design and analysis of algorithms. In addition, it introduces students to the use of development and debugging tools.
Description:
This course of professional training of the initial level of the Geology career presents the main optical concepts necessary for understanding the functioning of the petrographic microscope and its application in mineralogy matter. In addition, the crystallographical and optical properties of the minerals commonly present in nature, both translucent and opaque, are exposed for the identification of mining resources with high potential for the country.
Description:
This professional formation course of the basic level of the Geology career presents the main factor that rule the distribution of fossils in time and space. The systematic study of the marine invertebratesfossil is emphasized to determine their relative age and the sedimentary environment. Tools are provided to identify those favorable areas for the accumulation of hydrocarbon resources with exploitation potential for the country.
Description:
This subject of basic formation and general education presents the grammatical structures for the production of an academic paragraph, through the development of the writing program in a transversal way. In addition, it allows the identification of specific arguments in oral and written communication, considering the production of one's own criteria on different topics of a social, academic or professional nature. The necessary vocabulary is also applied to refer to the different forms of communication, share work experiences and the use of digitl technology, tell short stories about interpersoanl relationship and personalities, and comment on the future of the environment.
Description:
General Chemistry is a theoretical-practical course aimed at the basic training of professionals in the areas of Engineering and Natural Sciences, which provides a scientific basis of the matter and its interactions, and seeks to develop in students the ability to solve problems related to the content of the subject. It begins with an Introduction to Thermochemistry, then the analysis of the physicochemical properties derived from the state of aggregation of matter: liquids, solids and solutions, the study of the Kinetics and Equilibrium of reactions and solubility.
Second Year
Description:
This professional formation course of the basic level of the Geology career is focused on the study of sedimentary deposits and structures, and on sediment transport processes. It covers the main methodologies in the description of deposits, elaboration of stratigraphic columns and granulometric analysis. The course is designed also to perform the interpretation of geological data and the reconstruction of sedimentary paleo-environments, to direct an exploration in the search for natural resources.
Description:
This professional formation course of the basic level of the Geology career is focused on the features of sedimentary rocks and their textures. The main methodologies are covered, including the description of the petrographic thin sections and sedimentary deposits, the reconstruction of depositional processes and the determination of favorable areas for the accumulation of natural resources.
Description:
This suject as one of the basis of the Geology career provides fundamental knowledge of the mechanical behavior of materials in the linear range, where aspects of stress-strain behavior in geological materials such as soils and rocks are discussed, which is of great importance for the realization of geological models.
Description:
In this subject, we study the development of the academic prosumer profile of the students, which should be consolidated throughout each individual's life, based on the processing of complex, holistic, and critical thinking. We aim to foster understanding and the production of academic knowledge through rigorous analysis of realities and readings from various academic/scientific sources.
Description:
This transversal course is aimed at the basic training of students in the engineering area who require mathematical foundations to analyze the differential equations that arise in the process of modeling natural phenomena in the different areas of study. The course combines classical quantitative methods, such as integration of linear and non-linear differential equations and systems of equations and Laplace transforms, with qualitative methods that make use of relevant topics in linear algebra, which in turn are developed in an integrated and effective way.
Description:
This subject of basic instruction and general education presents grammatical topics for the elaboration of an outline and a structured composition, through the development of the writing program in a transversal way. In addition, it allows the identification of arguments in oral and written communication on contemporary and academic topics. Additionally, appropriate vocabulary is applied to discuss issues related to different cultures, places where we live, everyday news, entertainment media, and past and future opportunities.
Description:
This subject of basic instruction is a theoretical-practical course that contributes to the learning of concepts of electricity and magnetism in an environment of active learning.
Description:
This professional formation course of the intermediate level of the Geology careerpresents a global vision of the regional geology and on the geodynamic context that characterizes Ecuador. The main geomorphological, structural and stratigraphic features of the different regions of Ecuador are associated with the various geological processes. An overview of those favorable areas for the accumulation of both mining and hydrocarbon resources and those that could contain great future potential for the country is analyzed.
Description:
This subject is an intermediate level professional training course of the Geology career that analyzes and describes geological structures that include folds, faults and joints. Along the course, the mechanical behavior of the rocks, the volume, pressure, temperature and geological time are taken into consideration.
Description:
This professional formation course of the intermediate level of the Geology career presents the features of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Current and past geological processes and their geodynamic contexts are related. The genetic processes of these rocks, their mineralogical description and nomenclature are discussed, according to the different classifications, for the location of favorable areas for the accumulation of natural resources.
Description:
This is a training basic course training and provides the knowledge to the engineering and science student can convert data into information, associate everyday situations with statistical processes, and determine scientific conclusions through experimental observations, applying descriptive statistics, notions of probability, models of random variables and inferential analysis.
Description:
This subject of basic formation and general education, presents the grammar structures to produce a persuasive essay, through the transversal development of the writing programme. In addition, it allows students to identify specific arguments in the oral and written communication, as well as, to express their own opinions about different topics of social, academic, or professional fields. It also includes the necessary vocabulary to stablish a conversation, narrate situations of their environment, activities to reach their goals, analyze cause and effect and personal and professional opportunities.
Third Year
Description:
This transversal course addresses the conditions required to innovate and the process associated with developing an innovation from an entrepreneurial point of view. Subsequently, topics such as the identification of opportunities, value creation, and prototyping and validation of products/services proposals are reviewed, as well as the elements of the business toghether with tools for the evaluation of a budget/financial management plan and the interpretation of financial data. Considerations that are essential for the feasibility and adoption of an innovation. Finally, entrepreneurial competences and process associated with the development and adoption of an innovation are studied.
Description:
This professional training subject in the area of statistics provides basic techniques for the descriptive and inferential analysis of data taken in different geographical locations such as: mineral deposits, oil reservoirs, agricultural plantations and geotechnical characterizations. The general concepts of classical statistics and geostatistics are reviewed, starting with the exploratory analysis of data. Regionalized random variables, variograms and semivariograms, stationarity, Kriging interpolation methods and finally simulation are addressed.
Description:
This professional training subject intermediate level of the Geologycareer will focus on the main geochemistryconcepts and the main samplingmethods for the geochemical data analysis. Isotope geochemistry, geospheregeochemistry and coalgeochemistry are addressed in an integral way for the evaluation of geological engineering problems.
Description:
This transversal course to engineering careers, addresses spatial data models from a database of georeferenced variables. Fundamental concepts of cartography and geodesy, capture and spatial elementsrepresentation of are covered through vector data models. At the end, the spatial elements through raster data models , and their applications to engineering projects are represented.
Description:
This is an intermediate level vocational course of Geology that provides a global vision of the evolution of the Earth based on the theory of plate tectonics. The internal structure of the Earth is systematically described, explaining the characteristics of the mantle and the core. Subsequently, the geological processes that result from the internal activity of the Earth are described and the Wilson cycle is analyzed. The final part of the course addresses the effects of plate tectonics in the Ecuadorian convergent margin and the importance of this knowledge in geological studies.
Description:
This advanced-level professional training course in Geology focuses on the fundamental concepts for the recognition of mineral deposits, a topic of great relevance for Ecuador in this historical stage of promoting safe and sustainable mining on a large scale. The characteristics, genesis, and relationships with geological processes that give rise to the different types of mineral deposits are analyzed, and their relationship with the exploration and investigation stage of mineral deposits.
Description:
This subject of professional training at an advanced level of the Geology career provides the theoretical and practical bases for the identification of the different geoforms and terrestrial structures. Techniques for analyzing topographic maps, aerial photographs, software models of geographic information systems, satellite images, and field information are explained. The case studies related to the environment, territorial planning, and natural risks are examined to identify those favorable areas for the accumulation of both mining and hydrocarbon resources and those that could contain the great future potential for the country.
Description:
This advanced level professional training subject of the Geology career presents applications of geology in engineering works. Aspects of the mechanics of soils and rocks are addressed and the elements affected or used to contribute to the construction of safe works are reviewed.
Description:
This subject is a professional training course at an advanced level of the Geology career that presents the main geophysical methods. The seismic, electrical, magnetic and gravimetric methods are studied, and their use in the characterization of the subsoil, addressing them in an integral way for the solution of geological engineering problems.
Description:
This transversal training course for all students of the institution has five chapters. It introduces the key principles of sustainability and the path to sustainable development. Addresses ecological principles by deepen into biodiversity, ecosystems, human population and ecosystem services. Study the fundamentals of renewable and non-renewable resources as well as the alternatives for sustainable use. Analyzes environmental quality specifically in the air, water and soil components, delving into issues such as climate change, eutrophication and deforestation. Finally, it emphasizes on the economic axis with topics such as circular economy and on the social axis on topics such as governance and urban planning.
Fourth Year
Description:
This professional formation course of the advanced level of the Geology career provides the knowledge for the planning, survey and processing of geological data in the field. The different phases of field and office work and the design of geological maps are discussed, usefully in the research of new strategic natural resources for the country.
Description:
This advanced-level professional course in Geology provides the methods of mineral exploration, estimation, and calculation of reserves, as well as the basic criteria for a geological evaluation of mineral deposits. Geological prospecting guidelines and the evaluation of mineral deposits concepts are reviewed, which together provide essential information for the calculation of reserves and safe and sustainable mining exploitation on a large scale, according to international standards that are projected to Ecuador.
Description:
This professional formation course of the advanced level of the Geology career covers concepts related to oil deposits, from their origin and type of hydrocarbons to the establishment of oil accumulation. The techniques of exploration and initial evaluation of reserves are introduced, as well as the role of the geologist in the development of oil and gas fields.
Description:
This advanced-level professional training subject in Geology covers geological topics and their applications to the surface and underground water resources. Techniques for the search, use and management of groundwater are presented at various scales, attending to their preservation, protection and development, in a context of sustainability. The hydrological cycle, circulation, balance and quality of water are covered, and its distribution in the soil and subsoil, ending with the exploration of groundwater.
Description:
Thisprofessional formationcourse of the advanced level of the Geology career focuse on design geological risk maps. The principles for data management and factors to be taken into account for the determination of risk levels, their effects, mitigation actions and resilience are presented.
Description:
This subject of advanced level degree in the Geology career includes public policies, laws, and regulations related to the development of professional activities, in the different phases of the development of engineering projects related to earth sciences. Reviews existing legislation in the areas of mining, mineral treatment, environment, safety, and occupational health. It focuses on practical engineering cases, which expose the engineer's relationship with society and his ethical and social responsibility.
Description:
This subject of professional training of Geology degree is focused on a project where the application of the profiles declared in his career is evidenced, developing processes of creativity, organization, and relevance that involve him in a professional design experience. In the first part of the course, the needs of the client/user/public are identified, the problem/opportunity is defined, data is collected and critical factors are analyzed. In the second part, alternative solutions are created framed in the regulations and restrictions of each user. It concludes with the design, analysis, and validation of the results.
Additional
ARTS, SPORTS AND LANGUAGES ELECTIVE COURSES
1 credits - 1.9 ECTS
HUMANITIES ELECTIVE COURSES
1 credits - 1.9 ECTS
SELECTED ELECTIVE COURSE
3 credits - 5.8 ECTS
SELECTED ELECTIVE COURSE
3 credits - 5.8 ECTS
Afver five year of professional practice, students in the Geological Engineering will be able to:
1. Apply geoscience skills and knowledge, taking into account scientific and technological advancements, to contribute to the sustainable development of society.
2. Design, plan, execute, manage or initiate geological engineering projects that integrate technical, environmental and socioeconomic variables or constrains in accordance with societal demands.
3. Apply current legal, environmental or labor regulations at various stages of geological project implementation for its sustainability.
4. Propose, investigate, develop or apply solutions related to Earth Sciences and knowledge transfer, with the aim purpose of contributing to the scientific, technological, social, economic, environmental and political development of the country.
Occupational Profile
Develop and interpret geological and geoscientific thematic maps. Conduct both basic and applied geological research in the fields of Regional Geology, Tectonics and Petrology.
Have approved at least 48 credits in Vocational Training and Itinerary.
Have approved at least 26 credits in General and Complementary Education.
Have approved at least 31 credits in Basic Sciences and Mathematics.
Accredit a minimum experience of 336 hours of professional practices, divided into; 96 hours of community internships and 240 hours of professional internships in the industry corresponding to 7 credits.
Pass the graduation process, equivalent to 8 credits.
The Capstone Project is a culminating requirement for graduation. These projects provide students with the experience of applying acquired knowledge and skills to the needs of society, with a focus on sustainability.
The IDEAR Fair showcases all Capstone projects, offering students a valuable opportunity to showcase their work and hone soft skills such as communication and teamwork. It is also a space for students to network with potential clients and future employers.
Explore all of the Capstone projects completed by the Geology program.
The Geology student will be able to access the realization of Pre-Professional Practices considering:
Ability to express yourself orally and in writing. Preparation of technical reports, proposals and studies.
Ethical and professional responsibility
Availability of credits to carry out internships (5 credits for pre-professional business internships if carried out in PAO 1 or PAO 2.
Be an active student and not be in a probationary situation.
The student will be able to access the Pre-Professional Practices once they have approved the subjects of the profile to which they will be assigned, these are defined below:
. Geochemistry and Geostatistics: Identification, characterization and classification of rocks, gases, liquid solutions and minerals. Analysis, sampling, interpretation and classification of georeferenced information, zoning and/or maps of interest. Interpretation of geochemical, mineralogical and petrographic information for the identification of ore minerals.
- Geological Engineering and Geology: Determine the properties and indices of the soil for the analysis of interaction between the phases of the porous medium. Determine the resistance and deformability properties of the rock mass through tests, for the study of the rock matrix. Evaluate the stability of underground excavations and slopes through the study of historical cases, which lead to the resolution of practical problems of rock mechanics.
- Geographic Information Systems and Geology: Represent and analyze spatial elements through maps taking into account geological and structural data, profiles and block diagrams.
- Geomorphology and Geographic Information Systems: Analyze the different types of lithological units, geological structures and geological features, for the preparation of maps. Represent and analyze the elements and their spatial behavior, applying vector and raster data models, for the analysis of georeferenced variables to design solutions in different fields of engineering.
· Geophysical Methods and Information Systems: Relate the main parameters involved in the acquisition and processing of data in the different geophysical methods for the characterization of the subsoil and groundwater.
Interpret and represent geophysical data by applying the knowledge acquired for the elaboration of subsoil models.
DID YOU KNOW?
Our geology engineers are highly valued in the job market due to their extensive knowledge and versatility in multiple specializations. Their training opens doors to key industries such as mining, energy, construction, and scientific research, where their expertise plays a crucial role in sustainable development and natural resource management.
Additionally, they stand out among the most sought-after professionals for academic mobility programs at prestigious universities in Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Chile, Canada, and the United States. They also have the opportunity to participate in high-level scientific expeditions, such as research missions in Antarctica, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of our planet.
