Mining engineers explore mineral and energy resources.
Mining engineering degree programs prepare you for an engineering career involving the exploration and production of mineral and energy resources. You will also learn about the health and safety aspects relating to such work, as well as get input on environmental protection. Various U.S. colleges offer graduate and undergraduate degrees in mining engineering.
Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech University's Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences offers graduate degrees in mining engineering. The training prepares graduates for careers in the earth sciences, geological engineering or geophysics. Students engage in research such as developing models of earth systems and field measurements of petroleum systems. The school offers access to specialized laboratories such as the Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing, the Environmental Magnetism Laboratory and the Seismic Petrophysics Laboratory.
West Virginia University
West Virginia University's mining engineering program is the offshoot of a mine-surveying course the university began offering in 1868. The program, which is the oldest mining engineering program in the U.S., offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in mining engineering. The program has laboratory facilities that expose students to mine engineering aspects such as rock mechanics and ground control, mine ventilation, mine equipment, mine design, health and safety, and mineral processing. As well the students get exposure to mining activities through the school's student chapter of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.
University of Alaska - Fairbanks
The University of Alaska - Fairbanks offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in mining engineering that also cover the economics of the mining business. You could opt to specialize in the areas of exploration, mining or mineral beneficiation. Coursework is also available to qualify students to get a minor in mining engineering. To register as a professional engineer in Alaska, candidates for the bachelor of science degree in mining engineering also take a state of Alaska exam relating to the fundamentals of engineering.
Careers in Mining Engineering
A degree program in mining engineering prepares graduates for jobs with mining and construction companies, as well as in consulting and research. The coal industry is a major employer of these professionals. Equipment manufacturers and commodities and investment firms also employ mining engineers. Graduates find employment with state and federal agencies. Mining engineers could work in operations or engineering management or as directors of government agencies. As well, mining engineers have opportunities in entrepreneurship.
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