Mining and Mineral Engineer

What it’s about:

Mining engineering is the application of scientific principles to the discovery, appraisal, and extraction of minerals from the earth and the sea. The engineer may work in underground mines or mines on the Earth’s surface, overseeing the recovery of mineral resources from the natural environment; processing the extracted materials; ensuring safety; and restoring the land.

What the study of this major is like:

Mining and mineral engineering is more hands-on than many other engineering fields. Like other areas of engineering, though, it is a highly technical field. These days, mining operations routinely use technologies such as global positioning, radio telemetry of data, satellite communications, computer-aided design, automation, and robotics. The equipment gets bigger and better; the industry’s health and safety record continues to improve; and the productivity of miners in the United States (and, generally, worldwide) keeps increasing.

ining engineers spend a considerable portion of their time out in the field. Accordingly, most majors consider themselves outdoorsy types. Often, students in the major started out in another science or engineering discipline. They took a summer internship at a mine operation, enjoyed the experience, and changed majors after returning to college in the fall.

Your course work generally includes math and science, basic engineering, mining engineering, geology, and the humanities and social sciences. Many courses, especially in mining and geology, are taught as a combination of lectures and laboratory experience. On the whole, though, most courses are still conducted at lectures. The greatest challenge most students encounter is to complete some of the other required engineering courses for example, an electrical engineering course. Most program in the United States are small, compared with better-known programs such as mechanical engineering. Therefore, students normally work in small groups with their instructors. Teamwork is emphasized; you’ll get to know your colleagues and professors well.

Many of the eastern colleges offering degrees in mineral engineering specialize in coal mining, whereas western colleges tend to specialize in hard-rock mining. Graduates of eastern colleges most often find work in the coalfields of the eastern and central states; whereas their counterparts in western colleges usually find jobs in the central and western part of the country. Although some colleges have a practical orientation, a few emphasize undergrad research and the utilization of research conducted by faculty members and graduate students. Some programs have started offering specialization in area such as quarry mining, underground construction, and management.

Career options and trends:

Mine engineer*; construction engineer*; mine manager*; environmental engineer, sales/technical representative.

In the United States, only about 125 students graduate each year with a degree in mining engineering. Recent studies have concluded that over 300 new graduates per year will be needed just to keep up with retirements. Starting salaries are expected to rise dramatically with this increase in demand.

Globalization is another trend affecting this field. Mining engineers frequently find opportunities overseas to introduce advances in technology or to assist in the development of the mining economy.

Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors