In this thesis the behavior of slender, partially embedded columns under axial compressive forces is studied. The foundation is either represented by a linear model, which considers that the soil reaction is proportional to the column’s deflections or by a non-linear model in which this proportionality relation is not observed. The inextensional slender beam theory is used to model the column. Initially, the governing differential equations are deduced from the energy functional of the column-foundation system. In the linear problem, the critical loads and corresponding critical modes are looked for. In this case, an analytic solution is obtained by the solution of the associated boundary value problem, using a symbolic algebra software. An approximate solution is also found by Ritz’s method. A parametric study is conducted to study the influence of the column boundary conditions and foundation’s height and stiffness on critical loads and modes. However, in the non-linear case, differential equations are much more complex and an analytical solution is not possible. So, the Ritz’s method is used once again, in which the analytic solutions of the linear problem (eigenfunctions) are used as interpolation functions. After that, a non-linear equilibrium equation is obtained together with the column post-buckling path. These results are compared with the ones obtained using the finite element method.