Striving for academic excellence since its beginning, the Program for Graduate Studies in Geotechnical Engineering started its activities in 1977 in the master's level and doctoral level in 1984 and has been accredited by the Conselho Nacional de Educação (National Board of Education) for more than three decades.

The program's main objectives are the development of research contributing to the advancement of current knowledge in the area, to award master´s and doctoral degrees to those interested in academic careers and to promote scientific training of recently graduated or specialized professionals interested in Geotechnical Engineering.

The set of courses and research areas of the program include the subareas which constitute the Geotechnical Engineering: Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics. Research in these areas is performed in a laboratory, which can be considered as one of the most complete in Brazil. Until 2013, the Graduate Program in Geotechnical Engineering has graduated 319 masters and 103 doctors, who during their studies received grants from various agencies, such as CNPq, CAPES and FAPESP. The program graduates have had outstanding performance in the market, not only in teaching and research institutions, but also in private companies acting in the Geotechnical Engineering area.