Mining Engineering

Return to: School of Mines and Engineering

Mining Engineering is the founding program of Montana Tech. Mining Engineers design, construct, and manage surface and underground mines. Montana Tech offers Bachelor of Science and Master’s of Science degree programs in Mining Engineering. Faculty with strong, academic and industrial backgrounds teach the courses in the Mining Engineering Curriculum.

In addition to a comprehensive engineering foundation, the Mining Engineering program provides training in the mechanics of geologic materials, rock fragmentation, materials handling, mine valuation, ventilation, environmental considerations, and the design and operation of surface and underground mines. Students have access to the latest computer graphic equipment with support hardware and software or computer-assisted mine planning and evaluation. The computer lab in the Mining Engineering department provides students with advanced personal computer systems.

Mining Engineering students are urged to seek summer employment in the mining industry to gain experience to apply in the classroom and for the future. This combination of academic and “real world” experience helps to make Montana Tech a college where “theory and practice meet.”

Mining Engineering Program Mission

Program Educational Objectives

Mining Engineering graduates are expected within three-to-five years after graduation to:

• Build on their undergraduate education through personal career development through continuing education, advanced degree graduation (both engineering and management focused), professional registration (P.E. or P.Eng.), or other advanced recognition (e.g. as a qualified person).

Student Outcomes

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The Mining Engineering program believes that the quality of our academic program is ultimately defined by the long-term success of our graduates. Program objectives and the curriculum are assessed regularly on the basis of input from students, alumni, faculty, and industry practitioners.

The Mining Engineering department prepares students for future success by reinforcing that Mining Engineers:

• Must exhibit a positive safety culture, respect for the environment, and be actively involved in the community.
• Should demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility in all stages of their careers.
• Identify and solve problems utilizing first-principle engineering and economic fundamentals.
• Develop a skill set that incorporates current technological advances, computerized methods, and industry practices.
• Can function in multidisciplinary teams and demonstrate the ability to learn and react to changing situations.
• Communicate with people of various backgrounds to accomplish a common goal.

Programs

• Mining Engineering, B.S.

Return to: School of Mines and Engineering