Geotechnical engineering is a broad field, which generally focuses on understanding the response of soils and structures within soil to mechanical and hydraulic loading. The University of Arkansas has an active research program in several areas of geotechnical engineering, including projects on deep and shallow foundation design, slope stability, settlement of natural and compacted soils, soil dynamics, earthquake engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, and unsaturated soils.

The geotechnical program has a state-of-the-art shear strength laboratory, field instrumentation, and physical modeling facilities. Faculty have experience in the use of the latest sensor technology and data acquisition for unsaturated soils, soil dynamics, and sub-surface deformation monitoring. Courses are oriented toward developing an understanding of the fundamental aspects of soil behavior and application of engineering concepts to practical design of geotechnical structures.