Based on the premise of applied talents training, the paper conducts analysis and discussion of the problems existing in the traditional soil mechanics teaching process. Combined with the goals of applied talents training and requirements, it conducts research and reform of course teaching target, content and method. It attaches importance to taking engineering application and scientific research subject as the orientation, integrating and updating teaching contents, adopting case teaching and small class teaching driven by problems, and improving students’learning initiative and application ability.