Engineering topics are selected to meet this goal. Introduction to mine planning, design, operations and closure occurs in the mining methods courses; introduction to detailed mine design is in underground and surface mine design courses; engineering sciences underlying the mine planning, design, operation and closure requirements are studied in several basic areas, including thermodynamics, electrical circuits, hydraulics, strength of materials, etc.; and the design experience is capped in the senior capstone design course: a mine feasibility study.

The program begins with basic courses such as calculus, English, chemistry, geology, introductory mining and physics. The student progresses to fundamental engineering and UNR core curriculum courses. The final two years involve primarily mining classes with ample opportunity to use computer aided design packages to help students complete open-ended design problems. Practical laboratory experiences are part of many mining courses. Starting in the freshman year, field trips are organized so that students can visit mines and see theory turned into practice.

The degree program ends with a capstone course: the complete design of a mine from start to finish, including financial, social, and environmental concerns. Students present their design to a panel of engineers and managers from the mining industry.

The Fundamentals of Engineering examination, administered by the State Board of Engineering Registration, must be taken by all mining engineering students during their senior year of study.

Areas of Emphasis

There are three Areas of Emphasis available to students in the Mining Engineering Degree Program:

• General Option, which is patterned on the traditional broad based mining engineering program that prepares students for a wide variety of areas in the mining industry;
• Quarry Option, which focuses on the issues specific to the Construction Aggregates and Quarry sectors of the mining industry;
• Mineral Processing / Extractive Metallurgy Option, which focuses on the processing of minerals into salable commodities such as metals or chemical compounds.

Objectives

The Educational Objectives of the Mining Engineering Program are:

• Graduates will demonstrate the basic knowledge to be able to plan and design mines technically sound, moreover in an ethically, environmentally and socially responsible manner.
• Graduates will be able to apply mathematics, science, and engineering to identify, formulate, and solve practical mining engineering problems.
• Graduates will be prepared for entry-level positions in operations and management of mines.
• Graduates will be able to communicate plans, designs, and operational practices to colleagues, mine managers, regulators, interveners, and the public at large.
• Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in engineering topics such as rock fragmentation, materials handling, mineral processing, mine surveying, ventilation, and resource/reserve estimation.