Undergraduate Degrees

Undergraduate students in the UA Department of Mining and Geological Engineering choose from among four tracks to prepare for careers not just in the mining industry but also in areas such as oil and gas, construction, public health, environmental policy, and manufacturing.

Mine Operations

Courses focus on mine design and planning, equipment operations, big data analysis, mine valuation and mine finance. Students become engineers who:

• Optimize short- and long-term plans for mining.
• Develop and test autonomous mine equipment.
• Supervise surface and underground mining operations.
• Design production technology.

A minor in mathematics or geology is encouraged.

Geomechanics

Course subjects include excavation, rock mechanics, fracture mechanics, blasting and structural geology. Graduates go on to:

• Do blasting and explosives engineering.
• Design highwalls and excavations.
• Design tailings and waste containment facilities.
• Test and monitor rock strength.
• Mitigate landslides and collapses.

A minor in geosciences is encouraged.

Sustainable Resource Development

Classes focus on environmental science, resource economics, community development, public health and environmental remediation. Students become engineers who:

• Design plans to mitigate environmental effects of mining.
• Monitor mine sites for pollution and health hazards.
• Develop health and safety protocols for miners.
• Help indigenous communities develop natural resources.

A minor in environmental science or public health is encouraged.

Mineral Processing

Today’s students are tomorrow’s process engineers and metallurgists, turning rocks and minerals into the metals and compounds that make everything from AAA batteries to jet turbines. Graduates go on to:

• Extract valuable metals from ore minerals – chemically and thermally.
• Design and operate comminution and extraction technologies.
• Test new methods of extracting metals.
• Develop processing and metallurgical techniques for complex ores.

A minor in chemistry, chemical engineering or materials science is encouraged.

Accelerated Master’s Program 

The UA Graduate College gives exceptional students in mining and geological engineering the option to earn a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in as few as five years. See MGE graduate degrees for more information.

Curriculum

Four-Year Degree Plans

The College of Engineering's four-year degree plans provide the advised sequence of courses for a BS in mining engineering.

Undergraduate Courses

See the UA Catalog for individual course syllabi.

Advanced Standing

Engineering students wishing to take 300- and 400-level classes must first be granted advanced standing through the College of Engineering.