Teaching
Geotechnical engineering taught in the classroom, the laboratory and the field.
Teaching Philosophy
Geotechnical engineering is learned by doing. I want students to leave my classes able to reason about soil and structures, not just recite formulas.
Theory anchored in practice
Every concept is tied to a real engineering problem, a foundation, a slope, a retaining wall, so students see why the theory matters and how to apply it.
Learning by doing
Hands-on projects, laboratory work and open discussion put students in the driver's seat and build the problem-solving and teamwork skills the profession demands.
A classroom where everyone belongs
I work to make my courses inclusive and supportive, so every student has the confidence to ask questions, take risks and grow.
My goal is simple: graduates who are ready to lead, in industry or in academia.
Courses Offered at SIU
| Course | Times taught | Semesters |
|---|---|---|
| CE 320Soil Mechanics | 3 | Fall 2024Fall 2025Fall 2026 |
| CE 320LSoil Mechanics Laboratory | 3 | Fall 2024Fall 2025Fall 2026 |
| CE 421Foundation Design | 2 | Spring 2025Spring 2026 |
| CE 520Advanced Soil Mechanics | 1 | Fall 2025 |
| CE 528Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering | 1 | Spring 2026 |
| CE 534Computational Geotechnics | 1 | Fall 2026 |
What Students Say 19 comments
Anonymous comments from course evaluations and mid-semester reviews, quoted exactly as written.
Honestly, this course is the most balanced course I have taken since coming to the school. And, it has by far been the most interesting one. I think practice problems are the way that I learn best, and this course has a lot of opportunities to see examples, and to work them myself.
Felt fair, your tests are by far my most less stressful exams. I feel like you care about us and prepare us well and honestly not many teachers try to help you how you do. It’s very nice and refreshing. #2 threw me for a loop a little bit but given this is my fourth test this week and I’m cramming so much knowledge into my head at once I feel pretty good about it. Your class never really worries me grade wise. I understand a lot more about soils cause of you. Great class great teacher thank you for everything
I felt like this is my best class because he actually explains things and sets expectations properly.
Great exams. Professor Tiwari didn't hold back with the questions, expected us to apply ourselves fully, and challenged us to use the knowledge we gained to solve complex problems.
Both Dr. Tiwari and the TAs were well prepared in providing materials and answers. They also did their best to improve the comprehension of all students.
The practice exams are SOOOOOOOOO clutch. Those are beautiful. Never stop giving those out. Kids tend to learn what you want them to learn if you just put it on the practice exam.
Nitin Tiwari accepted critisism throughout the semester and truly listened to us students. As the semester progressed our critisms were heard and responded with change. The class became much better throughout the semester. At the beginning there were definitely a lot of assignments packed together in small periods of time and the questions being asked on the assignments and quizzes were becoming overwhelmingly difficult for most students, but as the semester progressed and our concerns were listened to the course became much easier as we kept the same amount of assignments but were now more evenly spaced to make the course less exhausting. I learned a lot in this course and care about the subject matter, throughout the semester I feel I've gained a better understanding of how soil mechanics works and how it affects other civil projects.
I think the course as well planned with proper academic materials. Classroom environment was engaging as well. I appreciate this kind of learning environment.
The class was very good. It was insightful and made us think critically about the subject matter.
The course helped me gain knowledge of the basics of building/designing a foundation. It was a great course directly following Soil Mechanics. The instructor was very prepeared and prepared the class before the exams in order for the students to excel. The final project was an amazing experience where the students were able to calculate the equations and use problem solve skills on a real world scenario.
Professor Tiwari did an exceptional job organizing and pacing the course while making sure the students understood what was happening in the class. the workload for the class was very manageable and was helpful to prepare for exams. The notes were a great resource for homework and exams, however certain small steps were sometimes skipped and it would be slightly easier to understand if every step was showed. The exam reviews were very helpful in preparing for the exam, however it would have been nice if more was gone over during the review days to further prepare. Overall professor Tiwari did a great job with the class and I would recommend him to future students.
Great Instructor I had him last semester for soils and this semester he was even better, very smart and good teacher, I like how we tackle assignments and exams, he really puts himself in the students shoes and it shows. Amazing teacher!
Dr. Tiwari is hands down the best professor I have ever had in my time at SIU. The amount of pride this man takes in his job is off the charts. He cares for his students more than I felt like we deserved at times. I came into his CE 320 class not super interested in his course subject, but after taking this class, I now have developed an appreciation for soil mechanics and foundation design. I truly do not think that there is anyone who loves their job (and soil) more than Dr. Tiwari. He will definitely be one of the best professors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I really enjoyed how you knew the professor cared about if his students understood him or not. He allowed plenty of time for questions and was always available for office hours in person or virtual. The course material was fairly difficult but he did allow lots of extra help. Sometimes some problems were really lengthy and difficult but he allowed as much as questions or help as possible to help his students. He was very supportive.
I really learn and practice with practice exams which were provided so I did love that. Also Twari is very knowledgeable and a good teacher, he made the course very doable for any type of student!
I don’t have any major suggestions for improvement. The course was well organized, the material was clearly explained, and the examples used in class were very helpful for understanding soil mechanics concepts. I felt the instructor supported my learning effectively throughout the semester.
The lab for this course was very enjoyable. The instructor along with the lab assistants were very helpful if the students had questions with the material. They taught the soil tests to where all of the students understood the material by the end of the lab section. This mad the lab a very enjoyable time slot.
Dr. Tiwari is nice, but he is still new. He would make a great instructor for graduate students who have decided that they enjoy the subject but still has skills to develop for instructing engineering undergraduate students. He showed a great amount of enthusiasm for the science behind soil mechanics. But I have no interest in soil mechanics. While enough of the coursework was rooted in math and physics for me to make it through, plenty of course material spoke only to the science behind intricate details of the discovery of soil mechanics. I don't care about that part. I just want to be able to solve the problems I will be presented with on the FE exam.
Great class overall. Growing pains in the beginning with a large workload but listened and worked with the students very well to find a compromise.
Fall 2026 Current
Explore the fundamental principles of soil mechanics, including soil’s physical and mechanical properties, soil classification, and flow through soils. Topics include effective stress, consolidation, shear strength, and soil compaction. By the end of this course, students can analyze and solve fundamental soil mechanics problems and apply them to practical engineering scenarios.
Flex Card Checker TA use onlyStudent comments 12
Honestly, this course is the most balanced course I have taken since coming to the school. And, it has by far been the most interesting one. I think practice problems are the way that I learn best, and this course has a lot of opportunities to see examples, and to work them myself.
Fall 2026
Felt fair, your tests are by far my most less stressful exams. I feel like you care about us and prepare us well and honestly not many teachers try to help you how you do. It’s very nice and refreshing. #2 threw me for a loop a little bit but given this is my fourth test this week and I’m cramming so much knowledge into my head at once I feel pretty good about it. Your class never really worries me grade wise. I understand a lot more about soils cause of you. Great class great teacher thank you for everything
Fall 2026
I felt like this is my best class because he actually explains things and sets expectations properly.
Fall 2026
Great exams. Professor Tiwari didn't hold back with the questions, expected us to apply ourselves fully, and challenged us to use the knowledge we gained to solve complex problems.
Both Dr. Tiwari and the TAs were well prepared in providing materials and answers. They also did their best to improve the comprehension of all students.
The practice exams are SOOOOOOOOO clutch. Those are beautiful. Never stop giving those out. Kids tend to learn what you want them to learn if you just put it on the practice exam.
Fall 2026
Nitin Tiwari accepted critisism throughout the semester and truly listened to us students. As the semester progressed our critisms were heard and responded with change. The class became much better throughout the semester. At the beginning there were definitely a lot of assignments packed together in small periods of time and the questions being asked on the assignments and quizzes were becoming overwhelmingly difficult for most students, but as the semester progressed and our concerns were listened to the course became much easier as we kept the same amount of assignments but were now more evenly spaced to make the course less exhausting. I learned a lot in this course and care about the subject matter, throughout the semester I feel I've gained a better understanding of how soil mechanics works and how it affects other civil projects.
Fall 2024
I really learn and practice with practice exams which were provided so I did love that. Also Twari is very knowledgeable and a good teacher, he made the course very doable for any type of student!
I don’t have any major suggestions for improvement. The course was well organized, the material was clearly explained, and the examples used in class were very helpful for understanding soil mechanics concepts. I felt the instructor supported my learning effectively throughout the semester.
The lab for this course was very enjoyable. The instructor along with the lab assistants were very helpful if the students had questions with the material. They taught the soil tests to where all of the students understood the material by the end of the lab section. This mad the lab a very enjoyable time slot.
Dr. Tiwari is nice, but he is still new. He would make a great instructor for graduate students who have decided that they enjoy the subject but still has skills to develop for instructing engineering undergraduate students. He showed a great amount of enthusiasm for the science behind soil mechanics. But I have no interest in soil mechanics. While enough of the coursework was rooted in math and physics for me to make it through, plenty of course material spoke only to the science behind intricate details of the discovery of soil mechanics. I don't care about that part. I just want to be able to solve the problems I will be presented with on the FE exam.
Great class overall. Growing pains in the beginning with a large workload but listened and worked with the students very well to find a compromise.
The Soil Mechanics Laboratory gives students hands-on experience with fundamental soil mechanics principles through laboratory exercises. It complements the theoretical material from lecture by offering practical applications and experiments.
Flex Card Checker TA use onlyComputational Geotechnics
Graduate3 credit hoursThis course develops the numerical methods used to model soil and rock behavior, from continuum formulations to discrete particle approaches. Students work through constitutive modeling, finite element analysis of geotechnical boundary value problems, and discrete element simulation of granular media. Emphasis is placed on model selection, parameter calibration against laboratory data, and the interpretation and verification of simulation results rather than on software operation alone.
Spring 2026
Students apply soil mechanics principles to foundation design, focusing on subsurface exploration, bearing capacity, and settlement analysis of shallow foundations. Topics include lateral earth pressures, retaining wall design, and the capacity and settlement of pile foundations under vertical axial loads. By the end of the course, students have a practical understanding of foundation design for a range of structural applications.
Student comments 5
The course helped me gain knowledge of the basics of building/designing a foundation. It was a great course directly following Soil Mechanics. The instructor was very prepeared and prepared the class before the exams in order for the students to excel. The final project was an amazing experience where the students were able to calculate the equations and use problem solve skills on a real world scenario.
Professor Tiwari did an exceptional job organizing and pacing the course while making sure the students understood what was happening in the class. the workload for the class was very manageable and was helpful to prepare for exams. The notes were a great resource for homework and exams, however certain small steps were sometimes skipped and it would be slightly easier to understand if every step was showed. The exam reviews were very helpful in preparing for the exam, however it would have been nice if more was gone over during the review days to further prepare. Overall professor Tiwari did a great job with the class and I would recommend him to future students.
Great Instructor I had him last semester for soils and this semester he was even better, very smart and good teacher, I like how we tackle assignments and exams, he really puts himself in the students shoes and it shows. Amazing teacher!
Dr. Tiwari is hands down the best professor I have ever had in my time at SIU. The amount of pride this man takes in his job is off the charts. He cares for his students more than I felt like we deserved at times. I came into his CE 320 class not super interested in his course subject, but after taking this class, I now have developed an appreciation for soil mechanics and foundation design. I truly do not think that there is anyone who loves their job (and soil) more than Dr. Tiwari. He will definitely be one of the best professors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I really enjoyed how you knew the professor cared about if his students understood him or not. He allowed plenty of time for questions and was always available for office hours in person or virtual. The course material was fairly difficult but he did allow lots of extra help. Sometimes some problems were really lengthy and difficult but he allowed as much as questions or help as possible to help his students. He was very supportive.
Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering
GraduateCE 528 introduces fundamental and advanced numerical methods used in civil engineering, covering finite difference, finite element, and optimization techniques. The course spans equation solving, matrix computations, and numerical modeling of dynamic and geotechnical problems, with applications across structures, fluids, and transportation systems. Students gain hands-on experience with tools such as MATLAB, Python, ANSYS, PLAXIS, SAP2000, and OpenSees, while developing skills in calibration, validation, and simulation of real-world engineering scenarios. Balancing theory with implementation, the course places significant emphasis on geotechnical applications while maintaining breadth across civil engineering disciplines.
Fall 2025
Explore the fundamental principles of soil mechanics, including soil’s physical and mechanical properties, soil classification, and flow through soils. Topics include effective stress, consolidation, shear strength, and soil compaction. By the end of this course, students can analyze and solve fundamental soil mechanics problems and apply them to practical engineering scenarios.
Student comments 12
Honestly, this course is the most balanced course I have taken since coming to the school. And, it has by far been the most interesting one. I think practice problems are the way that I learn best, and this course has a lot of opportunities to see examples, and to work them myself.
Fall 2026
Felt fair, your tests are by far my most less stressful exams. I feel like you care about us and prepare us well and honestly not many teachers try to help you how you do. It’s very nice and refreshing. #2 threw me for a loop a little bit but given this is my fourth test this week and I’m cramming so much knowledge into my head at once I feel pretty good about it. Your class never really worries me grade wise. I understand a lot more about soils cause of you. Great class great teacher thank you for everything
Fall 2026
I felt like this is my best class because he actually explains things and sets expectations properly.
Fall 2026
Great exams. Professor Tiwari didn't hold back with the questions, expected us to apply ourselves fully, and challenged us to use the knowledge we gained to solve complex problems.
Both Dr. Tiwari and the TAs were well prepared in providing materials and answers. They also did their best to improve the comprehension of all students.
The practice exams are SOOOOOOOOO clutch. Those are beautiful. Never stop giving those out. Kids tend to learn what you want them to learn if you just put it on the practice exam.
Fall 2026
Nitin Tiwari accepted critisism throughout the semester and truly listened to us students. As the semester progressed our critisms were heard and responded with change. The class became much better throughout the semester. At the beginning there were definitely a lot of assignments packed together in small periods of time and the questions being asked on the assignments and quizzes were becoming overwhelmingly difficult for most students, but as the semester progressed and our concerns were listened to the course became much easier as we kept the same amount of assignments but were now more evenly spaced to make the course less exhausting. I learned a lot in this course and care about the subject matter, throughout the semester I feel I've gained a better understanding of how soil mechanics works and how it affects other civil projects.
Fall 2024
I really learn and practice with practice exams which were provided so I did love that. Also Twari is very knowledgeable and a good teacher, he made the course very doable for any type of student!
I don’t have any major suggestions for improvement. The course was well organized, the material was clearly explained, and the examples used in class were very helpful for understanding soil mechanics concepts. I felt the instructor supported my learning effectively throughout the semester.
The lab for this course was very enjoyable. The instructor along with the lab assistants were very helpful if the students had questions with the material. They taught the soil tests to where all of the students understood the material by the end of the lab section. This mad the lab a very enjoyable time slot.
Dr. Tiwari is nice, but he is still new. He would make a great instructor for graduate students who have decided that they enjoy the subject but still has skills to develop for instructing engineering undergraduate students. He showed a great amount of enthusiasm for the science behind soil mechanics. But I have no interest in soil mechanics. While enough of the coursework was rooted in math and physics for me to make it through, plenty of course material spoke only to the science behind intricate details of the discovery of soil mechanics. I don't care about that part. I just want to be able to solve the problems I will be presented with on the FE exam.
Great class overall. Growing pains in the beginning with a large workload but listened and worked with the students very well to find a compromise.
The Soil Mechanics Laboratory gives students hands-on experience with fundamental soil mechanics principles through laboratory exercises. It complements the theoretical material from lecture by offering practical applications and experiments.
Advanced Soil Mechanics
GraduateThis course presents an advanced treatment of soil mechanics with emphasis on the nature of soil and effective stress principles. It covers permeability and seepage, stress–strain–strength behavior of granular and fine soils, and consolidation theory with settlement analysis.
Student comments 2
I think the course as well planned with proper academic materials. Classroom environment was engaging as well. I appreciate this kind of learning environment.
Fall 2025
The class was very good. It was insightful and made us think critically about the subject matter.
Fall 2025
Spring 2025
Students apply soil mechanics principles to foundation design, focusing on subsurface exploration, bearing capacity, and settlement analysis of shallow foundations. Topics include lateral earth pressures, retaining wall design, and the capacity and settlement of pile foundations under vertical axial loads. By the end of the course, students have a practical understanding of foundation design for a range of structural applications.
Student comments 5
The course helped me gain knowledge of the basics of building/designing a foundation. It was a great course directly following Soil Mechanics. The instructor was very prepeared and prepared the class before the exams in order for the students to excel. The final project was an amazing experience where the students were able to calculate the equations and use problem solve skills on a real world scenario.
Professor Tiwari did an exceptional job organizing and pacing the course while making sure the students understood what was happening in the class. the workload for the class was very manageable and was helpful to prepare for exams. The notes were a great resource for homework and exams, however certain small steps were sometimes skipped and it would be slightly easier to understand if every step was showed. The exam reviews were very helpful in preparing for the exam, however it would have been nice if more was gone over during the review days to further prepare. Overall professor Tiwari did a great job with the class and I would recommend him to future students.
Great Instructor I had him last semester for soils and this semester he was even better, very smart and good teacher, I like how we tackle assignments and exams, he really puts himself in the students shoes and it shows. Amazing teacher!
Dr. Tiwari is hands down the best professor I have ever had in my time at SIU. The amount of pride this man takes in his job is off the charts. He cares for his students more than I felt like we deserved at times. I came into his CE 320 class not super interested in his course subject, but after taking this class, I now have developed an appreciation for soil mechanics and foundation design. I truly do not think that there is anyone who loves their job (and soil) more than Dr. Tiwari. He will definitely be one of the best professors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
I really enjoyed how you knew the professor cared about if his students understood him or not. He allowed plenty of time for questions and was always available for office hours in person or virtual. The course material was fairly difficult but he did allow lots of extra help. Sometimes some problems were really lengthy and difficult but he allowed as much as questions or help as possible to help his students. He was very supportive.
Fall 2024
Soil Mechanics
UndergraduateTAsSudarshan Shrestha, Mukul BhattaraiThis course explores soil’s physical and mechanical properties, classification, and flow through soils. It introduces effective stress, consolidation, shear strength, and soil compaction for solving fundamental soil mechanics problems.
Student comments 12
Honestly, this course is the most balanced course I have taken since coming to the school. And, it has by far been the most interesting one. I think practice problems are the way that I learn best, and this course has a lot of opportunities to see examples, and to work them myself.
Fall 2026
Felt fair, your tests are by far my most less stressful exams. I feel like you care about us and prepare us well and honestly not many teachers try to help you how you do. It’s very nice and refreshing. #2 threw me for a loop a little bit but given this is my fourth test this week and I’m cramming so much knowledge into my head at once I feel pretty good about it. Your class never really worries me grade wise. I understand a lot more about soils cause of you. Great class great teacher thank you for everything
Fall 2026
I felt like this is my best class because he actually explains things and sets expectations properly.
Fall 2026
Great exams. Professor Tiwari didn't hold back with the questions, expected us to apply ourselves fully, and challenged us to use the knowledge we gained to solve complex problems.
Both Dr. Tiwari and the TAs were well prepared in providing materials and answers. They also did their best to improve the comprehension of all students.
The practice exams are SOOOOOOOOO clutch. Those are beautiful. Never stop giving those out. Kids tend to learn what you want them to learn if you just put it on the practice exam.
Fall 2026
Nitin Tiwari accepted critisism throughout the semester and truly listened to us students. As the semester progressed our critisms were heard and responded with change. The class became much better throughout the semester. At the beginning there were definitely a lot of assignments packed together in small periods of time and the questions being asked on the assignments and quizzes were becoming overwhelmingly difficult for most students, but as the semester progressed and our concerns were listened to the course became much easier as we kept the same amount of assignments but were now more evenly spaced to make the course less exhausting. I learned a lot in this course and care about the subject matter, throughout the semester I feel I've gained a better understanding of how soil mechanics works and how it affects other civil projects.
Fall 2024
I really learn and practice with practice exams which were provided so I did love that. Also Twari is very knowledgeable and a good teacher, he made the course very doable for any type of student!
I don’t have any major suggestions for improvement. The course was well organized, the material was clearly explained, and the examples used in class were very helpful for understanding soil mechanics concepts. I felt the instructor supported my learning effectively throughout the semester.
The lab for this course was very enjoyable. The instructor along with the lab assistants were very helpful if the students had questions with the material. They taught the soil tests to where all of the students understood the material by the end of the lab section. This mad the lab a very enjoyable time slot.
Dr. Tiwari is nice, but he is still new. He would make a great instructor for graduate students who have decided that they enjoy the subject but still has skills to develop for instructing engineering undergraduate students. He showed a great amount of enthusiasm for the science behind soil mechanics. But I have no interest in soil mechanics. While enough of the coursework was rooted in math and physics for me to make it through, plenty of course material spoke only to the science behind intricate details of the discovery of soil mechanics. I don't care about that part. I just want to be able to solve the problems I will be presented with on the FE exam.
Great class overall. Growing pains in the beginning with a large workload but listened and worked with the students very well to find a compromise.
Soil Mechanics Laboratory
UndergraduateLaboratoryTAsSudarshan Shrestha, Mukul BhattaraiDesigned to give students hands-on experience in soil mechanics through practical laboratory exercises, connecting theoretical knowledge with real-world applications through experiments.
